Divided World Divided Class: Global Political Economy and the Stratification of Labour Under Capitalism

Divided World Divided Class charts the history of the labour aristocracy in the capitalist world system, from its roots in colonialism to its birth and eventual maturation into a full-fledged middle class in the age of imperialism. It argues that pervasive national, racial and cultural chauvinism in the core capitalist countries is not primarily attributable to false class consciousness, ideological indoctrination or ignorance as much left and liberal thinking assumes. Rather, these and related forms of bigotry are concentrated expressions of the major social strata of the core capitalist nations shared economic interest in the exploitation and repression of dependent nations.