The Empire’s new clothes: a review of “Butler to the World: How Britain Became the Servant of Tycoons, Tax Dodgers, Kleptocrats and Criminals” by Oliver Bullough
The Empire’s new clothes: a review of “Butler to the World: How Britain Became the Servant of Tycoons, Tax Dodgers, Kleptocrats and Criminals” by Oliver Bullough
In Butler to the World Oliver Bullough examines Britain's central role in creating a financial system that caters to the needs of the super-rich, irrespective of their nationality or sources of wealth. He traces the United Kingdom (UK)’s historical evolution into this lucrative, yet morally dubious global intermediary role, metaphorically dubbed “Butler Britain”. The Butler analogy seeks to capture the subservience of British public and private institutions in offering covert, unwavering services to the world’s richest individuals. While the UK is not the only country to offer these services, it stands out as the largest, most sophisticated, and most reputable provider. As such, Britain has played an important role in shaping the global financial system, through liberalization and deregulation initiatives, but also through the promotion of tax and gambling havens, illicit financial flows, and close ties with oligarchs. These initiatives highlight the intricate interplay between global finance, corruption, wealth, and power, offering also new insights into the ethical and societal ramifications of these “butlering” activities.
Krammer, Sorin
24ce872e-5044-4846-bb35-88e12c74c854
Krammer, Sorin
24ce872e-5044-4846-bb35-88e12c74c854
Krammer, Sorin
(2025)
The Empire’s new clothes: a review of “Butler to the World: How Britain Became the Servant of Tycoons, Tax Dodgers, Kleptocrats and Criminals” by Oliver Bullough.
Journal of Bussiness Ethics.
(doi:10.1007/s10551-025-06190-8).
(In Press)
Abstract
In Butler to the World Oliver Bullough examines Britain's central role in creating a financial system that caters to the needs of the super-rich, irrespective of their nationality or sources of wealth. He traces the United Kingdom (UK)’s historical evolution into this lucrative, yet morally dubious global intermediary role, metaphorically dubbed “Butler Britain”. The Butler analogy seeks to capture the subservience of British public and private institutions in offering covert, unwavering services to the world’s richest individuals. While the UK is not the only country to offer these services, it stands out as the largest, most sophisticated, and most reputable provider. As such, Britain has played an important role in shaping the global financial system, through liberalization and deregulation initiatives, but also through the promotion of tax and gambling havens, illicit financial flows, and close ties with oligarchs. These initiatives highlight the intricate interplay between global finance, corruption, wealth, and power, offering also new insights into the ethical and societal ramifications of these “butlering” activities.
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Accepted/In Press date: 7 November 2025
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Local EPrints ID: 506717
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/506717
ISSN: 0167-4544
PURE UUID: 9fa7e986-9a6c-4aaf-95de-7dea18dcb167
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Date deposited: 17 Nov 2025 17:32
Last modified: 18 Nov 2025 03:12
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Sorin Krammer
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