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The Great Deception: Anglo-American Power and World Order
Shows how transnational corporations use lobby groups to shape EU policy. New updated edition
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
3 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Mark Curtis
37 books75 followersMark Curtis is an independent author and journalist. He is a former Research Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and Director of the World Development Movement. He is currently an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Strathclyde and has been Visiting Research Fellow at the Institut Francais des Relations Internationales, Paris and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Auswartige Politik, Bonn.
Mark has written six books and numerous articles on British and US foreign policies and international development and trade issues.
Alongside his work as an analyst of British foreign policy, Mark has worked in the field of international development for 18 years, including as Head of Global Advocacy and Policy at Christian Aid and Head of Policy at ActionAid. He is a graduate of Goldsmiths’ College, University of London and the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Mark has written six books and numerous articles on British and US foreign policies and international development and trade issues.
Alongside his work as an analyst of British foreign policy, Mark has worked in the field of international development for 18 years, including as Head of Global Advocacy and Policy at Christian Aid and Head of Policy at ActionAid. He is a graduate of Goldsmiths’ College, University of London and the London School of Economics and Political Science.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 8, 2023
The author:
1. Is wrong on many historical counts and assessments concerning the middle east.
2. For obvious reasons is blind to Israel's role in "Anglo-American Power". For instance, one of the earliest sections titled “The aims of US foreign policy” does not even mention the word "Israel".
3. Cares a lot about corporate lobbying, but somehow never (like most of politically correct analysts) realizes that much of American foreign policy is dictated is not beneficial, and rather actively harms American corporations. The author very conveniently skips the zionist lobby/parasitic class that has captured American policy making.
Folks, skip this book and read Thomas777's posts.
1. Is wrong on many historical counts and assessments concerning the middle east.
2. For obvious reasons is blind to Israel's role in "Anglo-American Power". For instance, one of the earliest sections titled “The aims of US foreign policy” does not even mention the word "Israel".
3. Cares a lot about corporate lobbying, but somehow never (like most of politically correct analysts) realizes that much of American foreign policy is dictated is not beneficial, and rather actively harms American corporations. The author very conveniently skips the zionist lobby/parasitic class that has captured American policy making.
Folks, skip this book and read Thomas777's posts.
October 12, 2021
Another book that barely moves beyond primer into world politics and power struggles and the factions that conduct those struggles. The book itself is worth owning and reading, but reads more like dry policy and history outlines than anything. I'd give it a 3.5. I hope Curtis' other books are more engaging and eyebrow raising. This one won't excite anybody that is already familiar with and half way read on its subject, hence the categorization of primer.
February 17, 2025
Mark Curtis’s The Great Deception: Anglo-American Power and World Order (1998) offers a critical examination of British and American foreign policies, challenging conventional narratives by exposing the extent to which Anglo-American interests have shaped the current world order. Curtis, an independent author and journalist with a background in international development, utilizes declassified documents and historical records to argue that the United Kingdom and the United States have consistently pursued policies aimed at maintaining global dominance, often at the expense of other nations’ sovereignty and well-being.
Curtis contends that the “special relationship” between the UK and the US has been instrumental in promoting a world order that serves their strategic and economic interests. He challenges the perception of this alliance as a force for global stability and benevolence, instead portraying it as a partnership that has frequently undermined democratic movements and supported authoritarian regimes to preserve Western hegemony.
Key themes include:
1. Postwar Foreign Policy and the Special Relationship: Curtis examines the alignment of British and American foreign policies since 1945, highlighting how both nations have collaborated to shape international institutions and norms in their favor.
2. Development and Economic Control: The book critiques the international development system, suggesting that it often serves as a tool for the UK and the US to exert economic control over developing countries, hindering genuine progress.
3. Middle East Intervention: Curtis provides an analysis of Anglo-American strategies in the Middle East, arguing that their interventions have been driven by a desire to control resources and geopolitical positioning rather than promoting regional stability or democracy.
4. Role of the United Nations: The work explores how the UK and the US have utilized the UN to legitimize their foreign policy objectives, selectively upholding international law when it aligns with their interests.
Employing a historical-analytical approach, Curtis draws extensively from declassified government documents, official statements, and historical events to substantiate his claims. His interdisciplinary method combines political analysis with historical context, providing a comprehensive critique of Anglo-American foreign policy.
The Great Deception has been lauded for its thorough research and provocative perspective. Journalist John Pilger describes it as “essential reading for anyone wanting to understand Britain and the United States’ true role in the world and the so-called order imposed by the Anglo-American alliance.”  Similarly, Victoria Brittain notes that Curtis “demonstrates how Britain remains the key supporting player in US domination, and how far from benign that domination is in its impact on the rest of the world.” 
However, some critics argue that Curtis’s analysis may be overly deterministic, potentially underestimating the complexity of international relations and the influence of other global actors. Additionally, while the book is rich in detail, its critical stance may be perceived as lacking balance by those who view Anglo-American interventions in a more favorable light.
Mark Curtis’s The Great Deception offers a compelling and meticulously researched critique of Anglo-American foreign policy. By challenging mainstream narratives, the book encourages readers to reconsider the ethical and strategic foundations of the “special relationship” and its impact on global affairs. It is a significant contribution to the discourse on international relations, providing valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of global power structures.
GPT
Curtis contends that the “special relationship” between the UK and the US has been instrumental in promoting a world order that serves their strategic and economic interests. He challenges the perception of this alliance as a force for global stability and benevolence, instead portraying it as a partnership that has frequently undermined democratic movements and supported authoritarian regimes to preserve Western hegemony.
Key themes include:
1. Postwar Foreign Policy and the Special Relationship: Curtis examines the alignment of British and American foreign policies since 1945, highlighting how both nations have collaborated to shape international institutions and norms in their favor.
2. Development and Economic Control: The book critiques the international development system, suggesting that it often serves as a tool for the UK and the US to exert economic control over developing countries, hindering genuine progress.
3. Middle East Intervention: Curtis provides an analysis of Anglo-American strategies in the Middle East, arguing that their interventions have been driven by a desire to control resources and geopolitical positioning rather than promoting regional stability or democracy.
4. Role of the United Nations: The work explores how the UK and the US have utilized the UN to legitimize their foreign policy objectives, selectively upholding international law when it aligns with their interests.
Employing a historical-analytical approach, Curtis draws extensively from declassified government documents, official statements, and historical events to substantiate his claims. His interdisciplinary method combines political analysis with historical context, providing a comprehensive critique of Anglo-American foreign policy.
The Great Deception has been lauded for its thorough research and provocative perspective. Journalist John Pilger describes it as “essential reading for anyone wanting to understand Britain and the United States’ true role in the world and the so-called order imposed by the Anglo-American alliance.”  Similarly, Victoria Brittain notes that Curtis “demonstrates how Britain remains the key supporting player in US domination, and how far from benign that domination is in its impact on the rest of the world.” 
However, some critics argue that Curtis’s analysis may be overly deterministic, potentially underestimating the complexity of international relations and the influence of other global actors. Additionally, while the book is rich in detail, its critical stance may be perceived as lacking balance by those who view Anglo-American interventions in a more favorable light.
Mark Curtis’s The Great Deception offers a compelling and meticulously researched critique of Anglo-American foreign policy. By challenging mainstream narratives, the book encourages readers to reconsider the ethical and strategic foundations of the “special relationship” and its impact on global affairs. It is a significant contribution to the discourse on international relations, providing valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of global power structures.
GPT
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews