The Bilderberg Group: Global Thinktank or Secret Government?

The Bilderberg Group has long been a source of controversy. Shrouded in secrecy, this yearly gathering of powerful people for some unclear purpose has spawned quite a few conspiracy theories, many of which are represented on rather incoherent websites. No really. Google it. But really, is the Bilderberg Group shaping the world as we know it? Are they creating wars and political coups? We'll see.

What is the Bilderberg Group?

Named after the Netherlands hotel in which the group first assembled in 1954, the Bilderberg Group is an assembly of powerful people from North America and Europe. According to the group's wikipedia entry, Bilderberg was initiated that year by Joseph Retinger, who was an important Polish political entity. He was concerned with growing tension in Europe as well as substantial anti-American sentiment, so he called together many important figures to discuss what could be done. The group has been meeting at least once a year ever since. The conference was canceled only once, in 1976, due to political scandal. Usually they meet for about four days at a time. Ostensibly they meet to discuss world matters. If that sounds vague, you're right. The group is so vague and semi-secretive that many people insist it must be up to something sinister.

Who's in the Bilderberg Group?

There is no set group of people that make up the Bilderberg Group, though there are certainly quite a few individuals who attend for many consecutive years. It makes more sense to refer to individuals as attendees rather than members, for there is no concrete membership in this group. Sources vary on number of yearly attendees, but it's certainly over 100. Approximately one third are political types, and two-thirds are from business and social fields.