Conspiracy Theories by
Did you think the X-Files is fiction? If so, you must be one of those deluded fools who think Elvis is dead, believe that the US actually went to the moon, and don't know that the ruling elites did a deal with the extra-terrestrials after the Roswell crash in 1947...Boy, it really is getting strange out there. At one time, you could blame the world's troubles on the Masons or the Illuminati, or the Jews, or One Worlders, or the Great Communist Conspiracy. Now, in addition to the usual suspects, we also have the alien-US elite conspiracy, or the alien shape-shifting reptile conspiracy to worry about - and there are books to prove it as well! Conspiracy Theories - they are all in here - but not just lined up to be ridiculed and dismissed. OK, there is some of that, but the author also tries to sort out the handful of wheat from the choking clouds of intellectual chaff. For, among the nonsensical Conspiracy Theory rubbish currently proliferating on the Internet, there are important nuggets of real research about real conspiracies waiting to be mined. This book has done the mining for you. Fully sourced and referenced, this is both a serious examination of Conspiracy Theories and the Conspiracy Theory phenomenon, and a guide to further explorations of the subject.
Conspiracy Theories by
Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not after you ... Worried that the world is run by a sinister cabal operating at the very highest level of government? You could just be right. Bringing together startling evidence on topics ranging from the Sphinx to JFK, from life on Mars to Roswell, from Chernobyl to Men in Black and from Mozart's death to the truth about what the sun is really made of, The Book of Conspiracy Theories has a cover-up for every occasion.
Conspiracy Theories by
Through a series of specific questions that cut to the core of conspiracism as a global social and cultural phenomenon this book deconstructs the logic and rhetoric of conspiracy theories and analyses the broader social and psychological factors that contribute to their persistence in modern society.
The Philosophy of Conspiracy Theories by
Conspiracy theories are a popular topic of conversation in everyday life but are often frowned upon in academic discussions. Looking at the recent spate of philosophical interest in conspiracy theories, The Philosophy of Conspiracy Theories looks at whether the assumption that belief in conspiracy theories is typically irrational is well founded
Conspiracy Theories by
Narratives based on conspiratorial and paranoid thinking have become increasingly prominent throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. These stories range from sinister tales of malevolent reptilian beings infiltrating our government to fears that the forces of the New World Order rounding up patriotic Americans and putting them into internment camps. These concerns possess a long history in the United States and, often, have been bolstered by revelations of real conspiracies and cover-ups by private and public entities. From the prosaic to the outlandish, conspiracy narratives involve aliens and Nazis, underground bases and mind control technology. Conspiracy theories and the narratives constructed by those who believe them present a unique window into the history of the United States, highlighting fears both founded and unfounded.
The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories by
Who believes in conspiracy theories, and why are some people more susceptible to them than others? What are the consequences of such beliefs? Has a conspiracy theory ever turned out to be true? The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories debunks the myth that conspiracy theories are a modern phenomenon, exploring their broad social contexts, from politics to the workplace. The book explains why some people are more susceptible to these beliefs than others and how they are produced by recognizable and predictable psychological processes. Featuring examples such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks and climate change, The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories shows us that while such beliefs are not always irrational and are not a pathological trait, they can be harmful to individuals and society.
Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories in the Age of Trump by
This book focuses on the constant tension between democracy and conspiratorial behavior in the new global order. It addresses the prevalence of conspiracy theories in the phenomenon of Donald Trump and Trumpism, and the paranoid style of American politics that existed long before, first identified with Richard Hofstadter. Hellinger looks critically at both those who hold conspiracy theory beliefs and those who rush to dismiss them. Hellinger argues that we need to acknowledge that the exercise of power by elites is very often conspiratorial and invites both realistic and outlandish conspiracy theories. How we parse the realistic from the outlandish demands more attention than typically accorded in academia and journalism. Tensions between global hegemony and democratic legitimacy become visible in populist theories of conspiracy, both on the left and the right. He argues that we do not live in an age in which conspiracy theories are more profligate, but that we do live in an age in which they offer a more profound challenge to the constituted state than ever before.
Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories in American History [2 Volumes] by
This up-to-date introduction to the complex world of conspiracies and conspiracy theories provides insight into why millions of people are so ready to believe the worst about our political, legal, religious, and financial institutions. Unsupported theories provide simple explanations for catastrophes that are otherwise difficult to understand, from the U.S. Civil War to the Stock Market Crash of 1929 to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. Ideas about shadowy networks that operate behind a cloak of secrecy, including real organizations like the CIA and the Mafia and imagined ones like the Illuminati, additionally provide a way for people to criticize prevailing political and economic arrangements, while for society's disadvantaged and forgotten groups, conspiracy theories make their suffering and alienation comprehensible and provide a focal point for their economic or political frustrations. These volumes detail the highly controversial and influential phenomena of conspiracies and conspiracy theories in American society. Through interpretive essays and factual accounts of various people, organizations, and ideas, the reader will gain a much greater appreciation for a set of beliefs about political scheming, covert intelligence gathering, and criminal rings that has held its grip on the minds of millions of American citizens and encouraged them to believe that the conspiracies may run deeper, and with a global reach. Provides an in-depth, easy-to-access account of conspirators and secret organizations behind key plots to control American legal, political, and financial systems Presents the history of key American conspiracy theories, taking a longer view of how current conspiracy thinking developed over generations Explains the similarities and differences among conspiracy theories held by people on the far right and far left of the political spectrum Explores the cultural significance of widespread, popular reactions to advances in science, technology, and medicine, as well as the public's skepticism about highly trained professionals and their expert knowledge Offers an up-to-date survey of popular conspiracy theories regarding celebrity deaths and the popular distrust of the American media and police investigations Details the importance of the internet and social media in organizing conspiratorial movements and spreading conspiracy theories
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