Books The Hidden Globe: How Wealth Hacks the World Book by Atossa Araxia Abrahamian

"The Hidden Globe: How Wealth Hacks the World" by Atossa Araxia Abrahamian is a journalist's eye-opening investigation into a hidden parallel universe that exists within and beyond the borders of sovereign nations. This "hidden globe" comprises thousands of extraterritorial zones—special economic zones, flags of convenience, offshore centers, charter cities controlled by corporations, and even claims in outer space—that operate with relative autonomy and primarily serve the interests of the rich and powerful.

Abrahamian traces the history of this hidden world back to 13th-century Switzerland, where impoverished cantons commodified mercenary fighters. Over centuries, economists, statesmen, and consultants developed increasingly sophisticated ways to export and exploit statelessness and sovereignty through various zones that bend or bypass conventional laws and regulations.

The book exposes how these exceptional areas shape global economic and political order—determining who benefits and who loses—and critiques the impact of this system on global inequality, governance, and rights. Abrahamian combines detailed historical context, interviews with key figures, and analysis to reveal how wealth hacks the world's geopolitical map, creating a counter-geography that challenges conventional notions of sovereignty.