Conspiracy theory
A conspiracy theory is an attempted rationalization of an event or pattern of events that entails a often small yet powerful group of people who are plotting to preform an action on society, often with malicious intent. Conspiracy theories often reject commonly held knowledge or empirical fact, instead relying on a number of cognitive biases.
Conspiracy theories are often used by reactionaries and fascists as a means of overlooking the factor of capitalism in socioeconomic issues. Rather, they blame these issues on ethnic groups or vague "elites". In the past, conspiracy theories have been used to justify massive atrocities such as genocide.[1]
Examples
"White genocide"
"Jewish Bolshevism"
"Jewish Bolshevism" is an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory most popular in the 20th century which alleged that the Bolsheviks, October Revolution, and Soviet Union were funded and supported by Jewish bankers in Wall Street to undermine the Western powers. Similar variations of this conspiracy theory allege that Vladimir Lenin acted as an agent on behalf of Imperial Germany to support their interests in Russia. Little proof in any forms exists to suggest this took place.[2]
"Cultural Marxism"
See also
References
- ↑ Douglas, K.M., Uscinski, J.E., Sutton, R.M., Cichocka, A., Nefes, T., Ang, C.S. and Deravi, F. (2019), Understanding Conspiracy Theories. Political Psychology, 40: 3-35. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12568
- ↑ Max Parry (January 19, 2021). "Separatism truth from myth". New Age. Retrieved March 16, 2025.