I do believe there is a top level group that manipulates most of human civilization. However it's a flexible and decentralized entity, and usually manipulates as needed to advance their goals, and leaves the rest to the ordinary people.
It's like a guy who anonymously calls you unexpectedly to reveal revelations to you when you're in a major strife; something so bad you're royally fucked (like as in jail time soon). He somehow know everything about you, especially about the problem you have. They offer either to solve it or provide a solution, but first in exchange for your cooperation with them as in, a 'small' favour. Once done, they solve your problem, tie up loose ends so you're completely safe and you never hear from them again. Little do you know, this same anonymous guy might have caused your problem in the first place, indirectly, by playing the same trick on someone else to do a favour. Since the favour the caller asks might likely be illegal or very embarrassing; and since you're hiding your own problems too, you wouldn't dare mention about it to others and just be glad to be out of the entire mess clean. This caller then later recruits others into the game in exchange for immense wealth and the ability for them to grant each others favours when needed. Eventually enough people join in the game, and an entire organisation is formed and dedicated to this secret cabal of manipulative callers. It even gets to a point where public figures are recruited by this cabal to act as their voice, and allows more abilities such as in person manipulations.
No-one dares whistle blow on it with evidence, because this cabal is powerful enough to absolute destroy someone who defies them. Also as mentioned before, the whistle blower has his/her own skeletons in the closest, so he/she would end up incriminating themselves.
As far as this cabal would be concerned, they want people to believe it's only a conspiracy theory and think nothing of it. They are also careful to pick their targets, making sure that at no point, anyone curious enough can trace the trail of all calls to the original mystery caller or contact.
That's one theory on how such a secret cabal would operate. Based on a web of lies, deceit and fear.
Not saying that's how it really works, but it's an interesting concept.
phobia.