This node is an information repository and analysis of the distribution of power in the modern world. Feel free to add your own thoughts, facts and questions.

Power mainly depends on wealth. It is not acquired but rather inherited or awarded. Power is, however, also a question of definition. If we're talking about the potential scope of actions, investment bankers have the biggest power, as they can control even huge corporations through credits. The minds of these investment bankers is often determined by a religious (Catholic) worldview, especially in Germany.

The great investment banks are Morgan Stanley, Brown Brothers Harriman and probably several Japanese banks.

It would be interesting to examine what worldview the 360 "mega-rich" people have, those who possess 50 % of the world's wealth (according to Forbes), who these people are and how they got the money.

It is rather mysterious who the most powerful people are. In a certain way an investment bank is a secret society, because they are not obligated to reveal their financial transactions. The remaining economy is not much more transparent, because balance sheets can often be legally tuned to avoid taxes (in Germany, Daimler-Chrysler hasn't paid any taxes for several years, source: Monitor).

wars

Several wars (probably Korea & Vietnam) were mainly caused to keep the arms industry running. Mostly the investment bankers are responsible for this, because the arms industry belongs to them. During World War II, the arms industry became more and more relevant. Then the Cold War followed, an ongoing arms race, very expensive, very profitable. After the end of the cold war in the 90s it was necessary to create new enemies -- Kosovo, Iraq, Bin Laden ..