Conspiracism - what a load of hooey

[voltaires_priest]

Here follows a short introductory article which pretty much illustrates why I think those who believe that the world is governed by a cabal of conspirators, rather than by class and capital power, are talking a load of hooey.

Enjoy

V


http://www.publiceye.org/glossary/consp_gl.html

Too Close for Comfort:
Right Wing Populism, Scapegoating, and Conspiracism
by Chip Berlet & Matthew N. Lyons

Conspiracism sees secret plots by tiny cabals of evildoers as the major motor powering important historical events; makes irrational leaps of logic in analyzing factual evidence to assert connections that are fallacious; and blames social conflicts on scapegoats.

Although the specific allegations about the plots and plans by the alleged conspirators frequently are complex and Byzantine, the ultimate model is still simple: the good people must expose and stop the bad people, and then conflict will end and grievances will be resolved. Conspiracism is thus an action-oriented worldview which holds out to believers the possibility of change. As Kathleen M. Blee has observed through interviews with women in racist groups, "Conspiracy theories not only teach that the world is divided into an empowered "them" and a less powerful "us" but also suggest a strategy by which the "us" (ordinary people, the non-conspirators) can challenge and even usurp the authority of the currently-powerful." Thus conspiracist scapegoating fills a need for explanations among the adherents by providing a simple model of good versus evil in which the victory over evil is at least possible.

Just like in other forms of scapegoating, conspiracists sometimes target people who in fact have significant power and culpability in a given conflict--Wall Street powerbrokers, bankers, corporate magnates, politicians, government officials--but conspiracists portray these forces in caricature that obscures a rational assessment of their wrongdoing. It is not the individual people who have the power, but the roles they occupy in social, political, and economic institutions.

Scapegoating is not only about who is targeted but also about who is not targeted, and what systems and structures are not being challenged by focusing on the scapegoat. The Federal Reserve is a powerful institution that has made many decisions to benefit the wealthy and keep unemployment high. In any analysis of the Fed it is important to see how the Fed is presented and what is left out. Is it analyzed as a cabal of Jewish bankers or a significant institution of modern corporate capitalism with bipartisan support? No single power bloc, company, family, or individual in a complex modern society wields absolute control, even though there are always systems of control. Wall Street stock brokers are not outsiders deforming an otherwise happy system. As Holly Sklar argues, "the government is manipulated by various elites, often behind the scenes, but these elites are not a tiny secret cabal with omniscience and omnipotence." There is no secret team...the elites that exist are anything but secret. The government is not an alien force superimposed over an otherwise freedom loving and equitable society.

[Malik]

Originally posted by voltaires_priest
illustrates why I think those who believe that the world is governed by a cabal of conspirators, rather than by class and capital power.

Isn't that, in the end, the same thing

[Tawfiq]

Voltaire,

It is totally foolish and stupid for someone to look at history as a conspiracy. Therefore I agree with you.
BUT,
Its more foolish and more stupid to think there were/are no conspiracies in history.

History is not a conspiracy, but its full of many conspiracies.

[voltaires_priest]

Indeed Toufik, but the point is that (as you say) no one governing clique does, or ever has, governed the world.

...Which is also the answer to your question Malik. It is the power of capitalism as an entity, not a cabal or conspiracy of individual capitalists (or any other cabal for that matter) which holds sway.


V

[Tawfiq]

Therefore, there are conspiracies in history.
Are there NOT?

TOUFIK

[Tawfiq]

Voltaire,
Your theoretical foundations are destroyed.

[LDNgirl]

Hiya VP,

I hope that you are well.

I personally love conspiracy theories. Loved the X-Files and to some extent Us teen drama Roswell lol...

I just believe that there is no harm in really looking into things and making a judgement for yourself. We are too keen to take things on face value, and not looking into the reasons for somethings happening. Have you watched Fareinheight 9/11? I thought that it was amazing, to the extent that I brought all of Michael Moores books the very next day.

Some of my fav conspiracy sites:

http://etori.tripod.com/dajjalsystem/home.htm
http://www.theinsider.org/
http://www.conspiracyarchive.com/
http://www.parascope.com/mx/matrix02.htm

Plus there are some very funny conspiracies about Harry Potter! lol... You should speak to NAK, he is the resource on this sort of thing.