Does a Deep State Exist?
The Epstein case shines a spotlight on political influence behind closed doors. State institutions appear to have lost control over the line between diplomacy and corruption, a shift that places democracy itself at risk.
February 23, 2026 | INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
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Deep state
The existence of a "deep state" has long been regarded as a conspiracy theory. However, for many, the Epstein revelations have become the primary example of how networks resembling a deep state actually exist. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a deep state as: An alleged secret network of especially non-elected government officials and sometimes private entities (as in the financial and defense industries) operating outside the law to influence and enact government policy.
Bill Clinton and Jeffrey Epstein
The MAGA movement (Make America Great Again), led by Republicans in the U.S., has claimed there is a deep state behind the Democratic Party—a suspicion that gained new momentum following revelations regarding Bill Clinton’s ties to Epstein. In a deep state, politicians are the targets of private actors seeking to influence policy. Democrats, for their part, argue that MAGA itself displays characteristics resembling a deep state.
Influencing politicians
The term "deep state" is controversial and tied to conspiracy theories; therefore, it can be useful to view the phenomenon from a different angle by using the definition presented above. There is no doubt that political influence exists; we know this because an entire industry of communication agencies and think tanks exists specifically to influence politicians—often referred to as lobbying. Much of this activity is hidden from the public, and we do not know how this influence actually unfolds. Several countries have lobby registers that record which agencies and think tanks contact politicians. In Norway, which has been hit hard by the revelations in the Epstein files, no such register exists. The Norwegian Parliament has repeatedly voted it down. However, following the Epstein case, several members of Parliament have changed their minds, and a lobby register may be approved in the next round.
Over the past year, geopolitics has demonstrated that politics and diplomacy are largely about trade. Trade power often translates into military strength, which in turn consolidates political power. We have seen Europe and the EU enter a state of crisis because they are dependent on trade imports that reduce their own independent capacity for trade and, consequently, their defense capabilities.
This connection between trade, security, and political influence shows that power is often moved away from open, democratic arenas and into closed negotiating rooms. This applies not only between states but also in the interplay between states and major corporations. Energy contracts, weapons deals, technology infrastructure, and financial systems are often negotiated without broad public insight. This is not illegal in itself—but it illustrates how decisions with enormous societal consequences are being made in networks where few have insight.
The Epstein case documented that powerful individuals in politics, business, and academia moved in the same social circles. This is a fact. The question is whether they operate "outside the law to influence and enact government policy," as the definition of a deep state suggests. A lack of transparency increases the possibility of diplomacy drifting into corrupt and lawless forms.
Mistrust
The current mistrust of state institutions is a consequence of decisions being made far beyond the control of voters. This is a democratic challenge: a lack of transparency, weak oversight mechanisms, and insufficient regulation of influence. There is a need for lobbying registers and conflict-of-interest rules, as well as disclosure of everything from participant lists to the funding of think tanks, in order to draw clear lines between the civil service and party politics. Without such mechanisms, the suspicion of hidden networks will persist.
There is likely no single, coordinated "deep state," but there are good reasons to argue that multiple informal power networks exist that, in practice, operate in accordance with the definition.
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