Democracy Dialogues Book Discussion

Offshore: Stealth Wealth and the New Colonialism by sociologist Brooke Harrington is a book that exposes the hidden world of offshore finance, revealing how the ultra-rich use it to avoid taxes and regulations, creating a new “imperial class” that undermines democracy and the economy. Through extensive interviews with wealth managers, Harrington details how this system, rooted in colonialism, allows the wealthy to benefit from society while avoiding their obligations, leaving the public to bear the costs. The book argues this system erodes public goods like education and infrastructure, making it a vital resource for understanding global inequality.