ABSTRACT
Early analyses of the rise of global society argued that the assumption of a complete global or transnational mobilization of populations is misleading. Although it can be assumed that the vast majority of individuals are directly or indirectly affected by the rise of global interdependency, only a few were seen as key actors participating in cross-border activities (Heintz 1976; see also Merton 1995). Literature on globalization and transnationalism highlights the role of social elites as the most active social group in this respect. Apart from migrant groups, many writers see the social and economic elites as being pioneers of globalization, as the transnational class of experts can expect the best benefits from the expansion of their activities beyond the nation-state borders (Sklair 1991):
Economic interests motivate global players to invest in emotional ties even across cultural and language barriers. They have access to all the technical means for the establishment and the maintenance of their social networks in post-Fordism, which enable economic globalization as well.
