There is no 'system' large enough to 'control' the world that could possibly also exist in secret. People are weak, and anything that 'big' would be public within a few days.
More shifty deals, power plays, and corrupt agreements have occurred in the bars around Wall Street, or the student digs at Oxford University, than in any Masonic chamber or grand 'central control system' headquarters.
There are 7 billion corrupt individuals in existence, whose values are contingent only on shaky reasoning and the slightest whiff of personal gain. The world is thus full of dangerous and detestable power transactions. These are between individuals and small groups, and to invent a large overreaching conspiracy is completely miss the absolute and absurd beauty of it all.
*Also, regarding your exoteric and esoteric edit. I think i'll be okay without any explanation, but thanks ;)