In this episode, we explore the Round Table Groups, elite networks formed in the early 20th century from the vision of British imperialist Cecil Rhodes. His dream of an Anglo-American world order inspired small circles of academics, businessmen, and politicians across Britain, South Africa, Canada, India, and Australia to meet privately and strategize about the future of empire.
Unlike occult orders, these groups had no robes or rituals—their secrecy came from exclusivity and discretion. They influenced key policies and promoted the idea of imperial federation, hoping to bind Britain and its dominions into one powerful bloc. Their ideas later shaped the creation of Chatham House in London and the Council on Foreign Relations in the U.S., both of which remain highly influential today.
Critics view the Round Table Groups as the blueprint for modern elite control, accusing them of laying the foundations of a “New World Order.” Supporters, however, argue they were visionaries, trying to design stability during a chaotic century. Either way, they reveal that secrecy does not always look like cloaks and symbols—it can also look like polished conversations in private rooms that shape the destiny of nations.
