While many people have obviously experienced increased material well-being, exploitation, poverty, and imperialism have been rampant, and the struggle for justice and equality has been ongoing. At the end of World War II, the U.S. achieved military and economic dominance of the globe, and the age of global corporatism began. Big Brother is knocking at the door. An interesting interpretation. I believe that the nobility did use ample methods to provoke the people.
Corporations depend upon a body of law in which they can operate without interference.
In the US at least it is the people who are battling one another over big brother and whether or not to let him in. Temperism became prohibition, and was eventually thrown out. We go through cycles of less then more freedom. Price fixing where evidence has been found would also result in a sound thrashing.