Covert Intervention

Covert intervention refers to the use of secret agents, special forces, and black operations to manipulate, disrupt, or influence political events and outcomes. In this alternate timeline, the term is used in the context of a network of secretive groups which have operated around the world for decades, often in the shadows of legitimate government structures.

Influential Figures

The members of the Consortium comprise some of the world's wealthiest and most powerful tycoons and oligarchs. They control industries from banking and energy to defense and technology and wield significant influence over global events. These individuals are often referred to as the "clandestine masters of the world's affairs."

Organization

Little is known about the inner workings of the Consortium or its members, but they are believed to collaborate in order to maintain their power and wealth. The Consortium appears to value stability and order, and it often uses covert interventions to secure these goals. It is capable of operating in many countries, but politically unstable areas are often a focus of its attentions.

History and Examples

The Consortium's operations have had significant impacts on global politics, and examples of their covert interventions can be found in many parts of the world. In some cases, the Consortium has even collaborated with intelligence agencies and special forces units of national governments.

One notorious example was the intervention in a Middle Eastern country known as Tarkistan (fictitious). Amid the chaos of a civil war, the Consortium helped install a new strongman government that was favorable to its economic interests. Other examples include the Color Revolutions that swept through several former Soviet States in the early 2000s, the Arab Spring in the Middle East and North Africa in the 2010s, and various Regime Change operations around the world.

Consequences

The Consortium's interventions have left a "dark side" to the world of international relations, a pattern of deception, manipulation, and violence that lurks beneath the surface of official diplomacy and government policy. Critics argue that these activities have contributed to inequality, corruption, and political instability, with disproportionate levels of harm to developing countries and marginalized communities. However, proponents maintain that the Consortium's efforts protect the international order and safeguard the interests of its powerful members.

The true extent of the Consortium's covert interventions remains unknown, but its influence can be seen in many of the world's most contentious conflicts and political upheavals.