The making of an Atlantic ruling class

Kees van der Pijl traces the historical development and institutional networks of an Atlantic ruling class that coordinated political and economic strategies across Europe and the United States.

The book examines how elites used institutions like NATO, financial networks, and diplomatic channels to sustain shared interests and policy frameworks.

It analyzes ideological, economic, and strategic mechanisms that enabled transatlantic cooperation and dominance.

Van der Pijl situates this ruling class within broader patterns of imperial governance and postwar reconstruction.

The work remains a foundational study for understanding elite power relations in the late 20th century.