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News Literacy Guide: Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracy theory definition

noun

a theory that rejects the standard explanation for an event and instead credits a covert group or organization with carrying out a secret plot:One popular conspiracy theory accuses environmentalists of sabotage in last year's mine collapse.

a belief that a particular unexplained event was caused by such a covert group: A number of conspiracy theories have already emerged, purporting to explain last week's disappearance of a commercial flight over international waters.

the idea that many important political events or economic and social trends are the products of deceptive plots that are largely unknown to the general public: The more I learn about the activities of intelligence agencies, the less far-fetched I find many geopolitical conspiracy theories.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/conspiracy-theory

Walker's Five Kinds

Jesse Walker (2013) has identified five kinds of conspiracy theories:

  • The "Enemy Outside" refers to theories based on figures alleged to be scheming against a community from without.
  • The "Enemy Within" finds the conspirators lurking inside the nation, indistinguishable from ordinary citizens.
  • The "Enemy Above" involves powerful people manipulating events for their own gain.
  • The "Enemy Below" features the lower classes working to overturn the social order.
  • The "Benevolent Conspiracies" are angelic forces that work behind the scenes to improve the world and help people.[59]

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory

Eye of Providence

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory