A People’s History of the United States
by Howard Zinn
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The Trilateral Commission Symbol Analysis

The Trilateral Commission Symbol Icon
The Trilateral Commission Symbol Icon

A People’s History of the United States contains few symbols, since it’s a work of nonfiction. One interesting exception to the rule comes in Chapter Twenty, when Zinn discusses the Trilateral Commission, a 1973 meeting of political leaders from Japan, the U.S., and Western Europe. The Trilateral Commission brought leaders together to discuss the need to control their own populations and strengthen corporate interests. Thus, the Trilateral Commission is a powerful symbol of the Establishment: the alliance between the most powerful intellectuals, politicians, and businessmen, designed to help them maintain their power.

The Trilateral Commission Quotes in A People’s History of the United States

The A People’s History of the United States quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Trilateral Commission. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The American People Theme Icon
).

Chapter 20 Quotes

The Trilateral Commission apparently saw itself as helping to create the necessary international links for the new multinational economy. Its members came from the highest circles of politics, business, and the media in Western Europe, Japan, and the United States. They were from Chase Manhattan, Lehman Brothers, Bank of America, Banque de Paris, Lloyd's of London, Bank of Tokyo, etc. Oil, steel, auto, aeronautic, and electric industries were represented. Other members were from Time magazine, the Washington Post, the Columbia Broadcasting System, Die Zeit, the Japan Times, The Economist of London, and more.

Related Symbols: The Trilateral Commission
Page Number and Citation: 561
Explanation and Analysis:
Zinn ends Chapter Twenty with a discussion of the Trilateral Commission, an international symposium on democracy, leadership, and state administration that united business, political, and media elites from dozens of different countries. As Zinn describes it, these elites met, exchanged ideas, and discussed different ways of maintaining their own power. One of the lasting consequences of the Trilateral Commission, Zinn shows, was that businesses became truly international—for example, banks and investment firms set up branches in many different countries. Another important consequence was that political leaders tried to curb their people’s activism. Zinn spends several pages discussing the Trilateral Commission, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut.
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The Trilateral Commission Symbol Timeline in A People’s History of the United States

The timeline below shows where the symbol The Trilateral Commission appears in A People’s History of the United States. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 20: The Seventies: Under Control?
The Establishment Theme Icon
Radicalism Vs. Reform Theme Icon
Militarism and Conquest Theme Icon
...statement ever made by an Establishment adviser.” Huntington presented his paper in 1973 to the Trilateral Commission , a meeting of political leaders from Japan, the U.S., and Western Europe, and advised... (full context)
The Establishment Theme Icon
Another issue facing the Trilateral Commission —and, for that matter, the powerful elite of all countries—was the growth of a truly... (full context)