Global Control of Economic Super-Network

Brian Wang links to a 36 page PDF report which attempts to tease apart the tangles of the global financial super-network of control. Who is pulling the strings of global economies and governments?

36 page PDF at ArXiv

In 2007, a mere 147 companies controlled nearly 40 percent of the monetary value of all transnational corporations, researchers report in a paper published online July 28 at arXiv.org.

...The structure of the control network of transnational corporations affects global market competition and financial stability. So far, only small national samples were studied and there was no appropriate methodology to assess control globally. We present the first investigation of the architecture of the international ownership network, along with the computation of the control held by each global player. We find that transnational corporations form a giant bow-tie structure and that a large portion of control flows to a small tightly-knit core of financial institutions. This core can be seen as an economic "super-entity" that raises new important issues both for researchers and policy makers. _NBF

NBFThe superentities listed above exist in order to acquire more control so as to climb ever higher on the ladder and especially to avoid dropping to a lower rung. In order to achieve this goal, superentities must maintain close connections with national governments around the world, and with supranational and multinational entities of all kinds.

At this level of action, all is fair as long as one is not caught or punished too severely.

Libertarians typically focus their efforts against government regulations, taxes, and controls of all kinds -- because government entities are a more immediate problem and conern. But multinational and supranational entities can cause severe limitations of freedom just as surely as local, regional, and national governments. But the superentities must act through the authority of local, regional, and national governments -- which is a key point.

These superentities could not exist without the complicity and cooperation of national governments. Powerful individuals frequently occupy positions of authority in either governments, multinational entities, international agencies, or superentities -- at any given time. The movement of persons of influence at these high levels of power, between these various power structures, is quite fluid.

Popular media tends to ignore the actual wielding of power, in favour of circus side shows to keep the public's attention occupied. The public, of course, is complicit in the entire charade, and would apparently prefer to be kept in the dark so as to avoid responsibility on a personal level.

Men of peace have long dreamed of a supranational entity which could limit the power of governments to make war on each other, or on their own people. High hopes were placed in the League of Nations after WWI, and in the United Nations after WWII. But what has evolved instead of a world government is a shadow network of superentities which exert significant -- although not total -- control of most of the world's governments.

As noted, competition within this network can be fierce and brutal. While the supernetwork would generally prefer to handle differences via established channels, there is always the possibility that a superentity will consider the risk of limited war to be acceptible.

Larger wars would upset the balance of power unduly, and are generally discouraged by the supernetwork. This attitude is important, given the large influence which superentities exert upon national governments.

But if something unexpected were to come along to potentially upset the balance of power, it is possible that a portion of the supernetwork would be willing to go to war on a large scale pre-emptively, to maintain its clout. Issues of war and peace are often considered, like other bargaining pieces on the table, albeit behind the scenes and secretly.

If these ideas make you uncomfortable, your best means of protecting yourself is probably via your representative government. But since governments are so deeply interconnected with supranational entities, your task will be very difficult if you actually want to change anything about the influence of the supernetwork on your life.

Best to start with your own situation, then work outward from there. Take care of things -- and make suitable preparations -- on a local level first. Then proceed as you can. Take your time. If you are old, try to inform persons of the younger generation, so that they can work to expand personal freedoms in the future.

Superentities exist in many forms -- not just as financial, commercial, and industrial powerhouses. The environmental-political complex has become a global superentity with enormous influence and power -- a significant threat to personal freedoms. It must be considered along with the rest. And so on.

Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. In general, group action is more effective than individual action. Focus on what you can do, not on what you can't.