Abstract

To what extent have power relations changed in the age of globalization? Contemporary Marxism offers various answers. One of the most innovative and persuasive perspectives is that suggested by Leslie Sklair, who recently theorized the dominance of a transnational capitalist class. After explaining Sklair’s core theses, the article focuses on four questions raised by the English sociologist : (i) is there only one global class or are there multiple global classes? ; (ii) can the current dominant class be considered to be really transnational, or is it merely “Atlantic”? ; (iii) who are the members of the new capitalist class? ; (iv) is the transnational capitalist class a ruling class or is it a dominant class? Without examining the empirical research methods, the intention of the article is to outline the main available hermeneutical alternatives, while clarifying the strongest arguments in support of each of them and delineating their theoretical consequences. To this end, the various criticisms which neo- and post-Marxist interpreters have addressed to Sklair over the last fifteen years will be analyzed.