Conspiracy theory

:For the fictional film, see Conspiracy Theory (movie).

Introduction

The term 'conspiracy theory' is typically used disparagingly to undermine confidence in an interpretation of facts that is counter to the one being promoted. A conspiracy theory can come into existence in order to explain how alleged conspirators are preventing knowledge of an earlier conspiracy becoming public. This is commonly referred to as a 'cover up'. For the purposes of this entry, both manifestations of conspiratorial behaviour/thought will be referred to as conspiracies since they only differ in intended outcome and not mode of execution.

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Conspiracy theories often defy an official or dominant understanding of events. Sometimes, the proponents of a conspiracy theory are proven correct. Emile Zola's famous work on the Dreyfus Affair is perhaps the single most famous historical example of a conspiracy (to cover up a high level espionage blunder and a consequent wrongful imprisonment) being 'rumbled'.

Related Topics:
Emile Zola - Dreyfus Affair

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There have been plenty of examples of private citizens successfully pursuing investigations with dramatic results (e.g., the Kirkstall Valley campaign) - merely that the subject has a low signal to noise ratio.

Related Topics:
Kirkstall Valley campaign - Signal to noise ratio

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When conspiracy theories are propounded as official claims (i.e., originated from a Governmental authority, such as an intelligence agency) they are not often referred to as conspiracy theories. For example, the activites of the House UnAmerican Activities Committee are a good example of an official conspiracy theory that failed to stand up. It is seldom referred to as a conspiracy theory.

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Another situation in which a conspiracy theory is not called a conspiracy theory is when the conspiracy theory is proven correct, underlining the use of the term in a solely disparaging sense.

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In such cases, the theory becomes fact and is assimilated into orthodox accounts. A good example of the transition of a conspiracy theory into the realm of historical fact is the uncovering of the Watergate scandal, which was both a conspiracy to commit crimes and a cover-up, but which only existed as a series of initially-unbelieveable allegations in newspaper reports for several years.

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The term is sometimes used to refer to events with which no association to an actual "conspiracy" in the legal sense (two or more persons agreeing to commit an unlawful act and the commission of one overt act in furtherence of the agreement) is claimed. In this sense "conspiracy theory" is often presented by its detractors as simply an allegation of clandestine action, based on little or no solid evidence. Thus the expression "conspiracy theory" is often used by opponents of such theories as a term of derision for an allegation that they consider unproven, unlikely, or false.

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Conspiracy theories in general allege that some particular event — such as an assassination, a revolution, or even the failure of a product — resulted not solely from the visible action of overt political or market forces, but rather from intentional covert action.

Related Topics:
Assassination - Revolution - Market

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