An Empire of Deception; An Economy of Deception
Empire and commerce have long been understood as intertwined. Many of the imperial agents who set forth from Britain to expand commercial territories, however, did so in costume, assuming the clothes and even religions of the territories in which they worked. Seeking to expand trade, negotiate treaties, and even encourage the rule of law, such agents also intentionally employed deception, frequently under orders to do such from London. London, as this seminar will show, was already operating under the presumption that deception and fraud was a part of commercial exchange, that crime inevitably accompanied capitalism. This working assumption had profound effects for the development of principal-agent and commercial relationships within London and the Empire—and holds valuable lessons for those concerned with fraud and financial reform within the United States today.
Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come–first served basis.
