Saudi Arabia, the World Bank’s Development Partner

Since time immemorial, merchants have aspired to establish monopolies for their markets. Among the most profitable for a time was the Dutch East India Company (DEIC), which eclipsed the East India Company in wealth and reach and secured a monopoly on trade in lucrative Asian markets. The Dutch merchant classes set the stage for kleptocratic conquest of the world. Its power grew to coalesce around the City of London, involve collaborations between the Dutch and British elite, and enlist Saudi Arabia as a key development partner.