How Matt Kennard Exposes Global Power and Corporate Influence

Matt Kennard, an investigative journalist and author, has made significant contributions to the field of investigative journalism, with a particular focus on British and American foreign policy, corporate influence, and military matters. As co-founder of Declassified UK, a platform that shines a light on Britain’s often hidden foreign policy, Kennard has gained recognition for his deep dives into subjects often overlooked by mainstream media. His career reflects a commitment to challenging established narratives and exposing the darker corners of power.

Early Career and Work with Major Publications

Matt Kennard began his journalistic journey at the Financial Times (FT), where he worked as a staff writer in various international cities, including Washington, DC, and London. His work at the FT primarily focused on finance and economics, but his interests quickly expanded to more political topics, especially concerning foreign policy and military affairs. His tenure at the FT introduced him to global capitalism’s mechanisms, which later became a central theme in his books.

After leaving the Financial Times, Kennard became more deeply involved in investigative journalism. His desire to expose injustices in global affairs and highlight the misuse of power became evident in his later writings and reports. One of his most notable works during this period was his investigation into the GCHQ schools program in 2020, where he faced significant pushback from UK government agencies, leading to claims of being “blacklisted” by GCHQ. Despite this, Kennard continued his work, bringing attention to how government agencies avoid transparency and accountability when confronted with investigative journalism.

Founding of Declassified UK: A Mission for Accountability

Declassified UK was founded in 2019 by Matt Kennard and historian Mark Curtis as a response to the lack of in-depth and critical reporting on British foreign policy in mainstream media. The organization aims to provide comprehensive, investigative journalism focused on the UK’s often secretive and controversial actions in the international arena, particularly in relation to military interventions, arms sales, and diplomatic manoeuvring.

The outlet’s mission is rooted in the belief that the British public has the right to know about the government’s involvement in global conflicts and the impact of its foreign policy decisions on human rights, democracy, and international law. In a media landscape dominated by corporate interests and aligned with government narratives, Declassified UK seeks to challenge these hegemonic perspectives by offering meticulously researched reports that are largely independent of external influence.

One of the central goals of Declassified UK is to shed light on areas that are deliberately kept in the dark by government bodies. Kennard and Curtis recognized that critical investigations into Britain’s foreign policy were either ignored or marginalized by mainstream outlets, often due to the close relationships between media organizations and political elites. To address this, Declassified UK has dedicated itself to transparency and public accountability.

Their investigations not only target government departments, such as the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Office, but also scrutinize private sector companies and their role in military and intelligence operations. The outlet takes a data-driven approach, often using freedom of information requests to uncover hidden documents, which they then publish in accessible formats to engage the wider public.

UK Involvement in the Yemen War

One of Declassified UK’s most influential investigations focused on Britain’s role in the ongoing war in Yemen. In a series of articles, the platform revealed how the UK government has been deeply complicit in the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Yemen by supporting the Saudi-led coalition with arms sales, military training, and intelligence sharing. The investigation found that the UK government had granted billions of pounds worth of arms export licenses to Saudi Arabia since the war began, despite overwhelming evidence that these weapons were being used to commit war crimes against Yemeni civilians. Declassified UK’s coverage of this issue has highlighted the moral and legal implications of the British government’s actions, sparking debates within Parliament and civil society.

The impact of this investigation has been significant. Following the publication of these reports, multiple human rights organizations increased pressure on the UK government to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The exposure also contributed to a 2019 Court of Appeal ruling that declared the UK’s arms exports to Saudi Arabia unlawful, forcing the government to temporarily suspend new export licenses. Although arms sales resumed after the government claimed to have conducted a “revised assessment,” Declassified UK’s investigation played a crucial role in elevating public awareness and political discourse around Britain’s involvement in the Yemen conflict. It continues to be cited by activists and policymakers as evidence of the need for more stringent oversight of arms exports.

British Military Footprint in Africa

Declassified UK has also brought attention to the UK’s expanding military presence in Africa, an issue that has received little media coverage despite its geopolitical significance. In a 2020 investigation, Declassified UK uncovered the extent of Britain’s military involvement across the continent, including covert operations, military bases, and training programs for local forces. This investigation demonstrated how Britain is attempting to reassert its influence in its former colonies under the guise of counter-terrorism operations, often in regions where it has strategic interests, such as access to natural resources. The report documented the presence of British Special Forces and intelligence agents in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and Somalia, as well as British support for authoritarian regimes accused of human rights abuses.

The publication of this investigation had wide-reaching effects. It forced government officials to address Britain’s post-colonial military footprint in Africa and sparked debates about the ethics of supporting regimes with poor human rights records. Civil society organizations, particularly those based in African countries affected by British interventions, used the findings to demand greater transparency from their own governments and to call for the cessation of foreign military aid. The investigation has also influenced academic discussions on neo-imperialism and military strategy in the Global South, reinforcing concerns that Western powers continue to exert undue influence over African nations under the banner of counter-terrorism and security cooperation.

GCHQ’s Role in British Schools

Another significant investigation by Declassified UK focused on the role of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the UK’s intelligence agency, in British schools. Published in 2020, this report revealed how GCHQ had initiated a program aimed at recruiting young people into the world of cyber-espionage by embedding itself within the education system.

Kennard and his team uncovered that GCHQ was providing schools with specialized teaching materials and organizing competitions that encouraged students to pursue careers in intelligence work, framing it as a prestigious and high-tech field. The investigation questioned the ethical implications of introducing such programs at an early age, particularly given the lack of public oversight and debate about the role of intelligence agencies in society.

The investigation provoked a national conversation about the appropriateness of intelligence agencies targeting young people in schools. It also raised questions about how much influence such agencies should have over educational content and the potential risks of grooming future generations to work in surveillance and espionage without a clear understanding of the moral and legal responsibilities involved.

While GCHQ defended its involvement in schools as a means to fill skills shortages in cyber-security, the investigation highlighted the dangers of normalizing intelligence work and surveillance in civilian life. The fallout from the article led to calls for greater transparency in the relationships between schools and intelligence agencies, and for more scrutiny of how such programs are designed and implemented.

Major Works: Books and Articles

Kennard has authored three prominent books that reflect his investigative ethos. Each of these works tackles the relationship between power, capital, and military force.

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Irregular Army (2012)

In Irregular Army: How the US Military Recruited Neo-Nazis, Gang Members, and Criminals to Fight the War on Terror, Kennard explores how the U.S. military drastically lowered its recruitment standards to maintain troop numbers during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the conflicts dragged on and volunteer enlistments dwindled, Kennard reveals how the military began accepting individuals with criminal records, gang affiliations, and even links to extremist groups like neo-Nazis.

He meticulously documents cases where individuals with violent or criminal pasts were allowed into the military, demonstrating how these decisions had grave consequences for both the U.S. armed forces and the civilians in war zones. Kennard argues that this move not only compromised the moral integrity of the military but also fuelled violence and atrocities in conflict areas.

Kennard’s book also delves into the broader socio-political implications of this recruitment policy. By exploring how the military’s decision to lower standards reflected desperation within the U.S. government, Kennard paints a grim picture of a country willing to sacrifice ethical principles in pursuit of military objectives. He argues that this policy exacerbated the problems of militarization in American society, as individuals who had been rejected in other areas of life due to their criminality or extremist views were now being armed and sent into combat. The book presents a damning critique of how the war on terror led to a significant erosion of ethical standards within the U.S. military system.

Irregular Army was well-received by critics for its fearless exposure of the hidden underbelly of U.S. military recruitment practices. Kennard’s thorough research, combined with interviews and testimonies from soldiers and officers, provided an eye-opening narrative. His emphasis on the intersection between militarism, racism, and criminality marked the book as an important critique of American foreign policy and military culture during the post-9/11 era. Kennard’s work was praised for its clarity and its courageous tackling of a sensitive topic that had been largely underreported in mainstream media.

The Racket (2015)

In The Racket: A Rogue Reporter vs the Masters of the Universe, Kennard takes a sweeping look at the global structures of power, exploring how military force, multinational corporations, and Western governments collaborate to sustain an exploitative global system. The book highlights the ways in which the U.S. and other Western powers use military interventions, financial manipulation, and covert operations to maintain control over weaker nations. Kennard uses case studies from around the world, including Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, to show how these powers intervene in local politics, crush resistance movements, and extract resources under the guise of promoting democracy and development.

Kennard frames his argument around the concept of a “racket,” a system where those in power profit at the expense of the most vulnerable. He traces the roots of this system back to the colonial era, arguing that the structures of imperial exploitation have persisted into the 21st century, albeit under different guises. One of the central themes of The Racket is how international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, along with Western-backed corporations, play a key role in maintaining global inequalities. Kennard shows how these institutions impose austerity measures, privatization, and trade policies on developing countries, often leading to economic hardship, political instability, and widespread social unrest.

The Racket is widely regarded as a bold critique of global capitalism and imperialism. Kennard’s ability to connect the dots between seemingly disparate events—such as a military coup in Latin America, economic collapse in Africa, or a corporate scandal in the Middle East—helped readers understand the interconnectedness of global power structures. The book’s investigative depth and accessible writing style made it a valuable resource for those interested in the hidden dynamics of global power. It was praised for its unflinching analysis and for shedding light on the often-overlooked consequences of Western economic and military dominance.

Silent Coup (2023)

Matt Kennard’s most recent book, Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy, explores how multinational corporations have quietly gained control over the world’s governments and legal systems, undermining democratic processes. Focusing particularly on the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system, Kennard illustrates how corporations have been able to use this mechanism to challenge and overturn national laws and policies that threaten their profits. ISDS allows corporations to sue governments in secret tribunals, circumventing national courts and undermining sovereignty. Kennard presents numerous examples of how ISDS has been used to block environmental regulations, labour protections, and other social policies, creating a corporate-driven world order.

The book delves into several case studies, including how corporations have used ISDS to challenge regulations in areas such as environmental protection and public health. Kennard details how corporations have filed lawsuits against countries attempting to limit fossil fuel extraction, regulate pollution, or introduce laws to protect public health. He argues that this system effectively gives corporations the power to act as sovereign entities, free from the democratic accountability that would otherwise constrain their actions. Silent Coup posits that this has profound implications for the future of democracy and governance, as corporations increasingly become the architects of global policy.

Silent Coup has been lauded for its timely examination of corporate power in an era of rising inequality and environmental crisis. Kennard’s deep research and incisive writing make the book a powerful critique of corporate influence, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of how democracy is being eroded from within. The book has been praised for its ability to distil complex legal and economic concepts into a narrative that is both engaging and alarming. As governments around the world face growing corporate influence, Kennard’s work serves as a call to action for those concerned about the future of democracy.

In addition to these books, Kennard has written extensively for The Guardian, openDemocracy, and The Intercept, among others. His articles often examine issues such as corporate malfeasance, British foreign policy, and military interventions. His investigative reports highlight how the UK’s foreign policy frequently aligns with U.S. imperial interests, especially in the Middle East, and challenge the ethical implications of these policies.

Investigations and Controversies

Kennard’s investigative work has not been without controversy. His deep dive into the UK’s foreign policy and its military alliances with oppressive regimes has attracted criticism from government officials, resulting in attempts to silence or discredit his work. As mentioned earlier, after Kennard had reported on GCHQ’s involvement in schools, he was blacklisted by the UK intelligence agency, a move he condemned as a violation of press freedom. Similarly, his investigations into the British arms trade and its role in the Yemen war have drawn criticism from government departments, which have sometimes refused to engage with Declassified UK.

These government responses, while contentious, only further highlighted the importance of Kennard’s work in promoting transparency and accountability. His investigations have frequently pushed back against the opaque structures of power that dominate British and American politics, giving voice to those affected by these systems but often ignored by the mainstream press.

Legacy and Continuing Work

Kennard’s career stands as a testament to the power of investigative journalism in challenging the status quo. Through his work with Declassified UK and his published books, he has become a key figure in exposing the harmful impacts of corporate and military power on both domestic and global levels.

Beyond journalism, Kennard has also been an outspoken critic of the British establishment. He has called for the abolition of the British monarchy and private schools, advocating for a more egalitarian society that breaks down entrenched systems of privilege. His collaboration with artist and activist groups, including an installation with his father, the well-known artist Peter Kennard, reflects his commitment to intertwining art and activism.

Matt Kennard’s career as a journalist and author exemplifies the courage and persistence required to challenge powerful institutions. From his early work at the Financial Times to his ground-breaking investigations at Declassified UK, Kennard has consistently sought to hold those in power accountable. His books and articles have exposed the dark undercurrents of global politics, making him a prominent voice in contemporary investigative journalism.

In a media landscape often constrained by corporate interests and government influence, Kennard’s voice remains vital. His commitment to unveiling uncomfortable truths about the relationships between power, capital, and military force undoubtedly ensures that his work will continue to resonate in discussions about democracy, freedom, and justice.

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