Over the last century, global inequality has developed and continues to develop in unexpected and disturbing patterns. In this important new book, Therborn and his colleagues connect current world inequality to different national constellations of class and power and transnational processes. Ranging from the US and post-Communist Russia to France and China, and spanning social mobility, labor markets, working-class cultures and global science, this volume is a major contribution to our understanding of contemporary world politics and development. Contributors include Louis Chauvel, Michael Hout, Arne Kalleberg, Markku Kivinen, Michele Lamont, Huang Ping, Elisa Preis, Denny Vagero and Peter Weingart.