“Down the rabbit hole” Conspiracy Ideology Vs. Conspiracy theory
This article was part of the "No World Order" project by Amadeu Antonio Stiftung, it has been translated from German for Get the Trolls Out!
Many of the conspiracy narratives we encounter in day-to-day life, over dinner with the family or on the Internet seem harmless at first sight. The people who espouse these conspiracies are often seen as a little “different” and aren’t taken entirely seriously. This is despite the fact that conspiracy narratives have the potential to be dangerous.
No World Order – Dealing With Conspiracy Theories| 14 July 2021 (Source: Unsplash)
“Down the rabbit hole” is the name of a new guide issued by No World Order, a project by the Amadeu Antonio Stiftung. It offers insights into background details, current developments and options for intervention. The following text is an extract taken from the brochure.
What are conspiracy theories?
“Conspiracy theories” are generally understood to be fantastic ideas (in the sense of occupying the realm of fantasy) positing that certain or all past and present social events are the result of a conspiracy. It is claimed that a certain group is pulling the strings behind the scenes. The term “conspiracy theory” is very widely used and tends to have a derogatory tone attached to it: a “conspiracy theory” is nothing more than a mad notion that has nothing to do with reality.
The term “conspiracy” theory is not used in this guide, as it fails to adequately encapsulate the socially problematic material involved. It is not so much the allegation being spread which is the problem; the theory is not a scientific one. These “conspiracy theories” are not dangerous because people immediately assume they cannot be refuted. Rather, the term is problematic as it obscures the ideological content behind these “theories”. Some academics actually believe “conspiracy theories” to be a legitimate tool for critiquing social ills from the basis of a stigmatised position. This view is dangerous insofar as it does not allow for a clear distinction to be made between the need to criticise societal relationships and the
problematic content of such “conspiracy theories”. Categorising this knowledge solely as suppressed or stigmatised is not a sufficient validation of its critical quality. “Conspiracy theories”, in particular those posited to be global conspiracies, are stigmatised for justifiable reasons. As a whole, they are not a legitimate form of social criticism, even if they do draw attention to various actual injustices, grievances or instances of suffering. On the contrary, they are ideological systems of thought that exclude the possibility of criticism or refutation. In extreme cases, they indirectly or explicitly reproduce antisemitic stereotypes. This is why, when referring in particular to civic disputes involving “conspiracy theories”, it is better to use the term “conspiracy ideology”.
What are conspiracy ideologies?
The term “conspiracy ideology” was proposed by Armin Pfahl-Traughber, a political scientist and researcher of extremism, to describe this type of socio-scientific dispute. Instead of using “conspiracy theory”, which, as the reasons above indicate, is lacking as a term, Pfahl-Traughber distinguishes between “conspiracy”, “conspiracy hypothesis” and “conspiracy ideology” or “conspiracy myth”. He does not question the existence of conspiracies. Time and again, people conspire in small secret groups with the aim of gaining or maintaining power in the short term. As conspiracies do exist, it can be legitimately assumed that one or more specific events are the result of a conspiracy. Pfahl-Traughber calls this suspicion a conspiracy hypothesis. It remains within the boundaries of legitimate democratic discourse, providing the assumption is open to be amended – as one possible interpretation of an event. If, however, the conspiracy hypothesis is disproved or the suspicion is not sufficiently fleshed out or is justified with misanthropic statements, it should be amended or jettisoned altogether. If, on the other hand, the assumption of a conspiracy is upheld and the hypothesis becomes impervious to criticism, it becomes a conspiracy ideology.
One aspect that all conspiracy ideologies have in common is that they assume a few people secretly control the fate of all humanity with evil intentions in mind. They describe conspiracies of a global nature, some of which have endured for hundreds or even thousands of years. Furthermore, the term “ideology” attests to the fact that the ideas behind it are not just unhinged private musings or false perceptions – they, too, have their origins in society. In simplified terms, this means there are things in
this society that lead its members to think that a small group has conspired against the majority – such as how modern examples of democratic communities work or how goods and services are produced and exchanged within the capitalist system. In both cases, abstract and anonymous constraints play a role – one that is not (and can not be) deliberately regulated by a few powerful individuals, but which comes about through the interaction of all parts of the system as a whole. In conspiracy ideologies, abstract processes such as these are personified, i.e. these processes and their outcomes are presented as intentional acts by a group of people and/or individuals. In conspiracy ideologies, the “invisible hand of the market” – a metaphor used by the economist Adam Smith to describe these abstract processes – is given a complete body along with a name and address.
Conspiracy myths can be seen as a variation on conspiracy ideologies. Where conspiracy ideologies hold real-life groups that actually meet in secret or not in public (e.g. secret services, business summits or Freemason lodges) responsible for everything that is bad in the world, conspiracy myths refer to imaginary groups when depicting an enemy. Examples here include the belief in an extra-terrestrial reptile conspiracy, the Illuminati order (outlawed in 1784/85) or a “Jewish world conspiracy” or “Zionist Occupation Government”. Conspiracy myths are less about evidence of a conspiracy than a belief in it.
The boundaries between conspiracy ideologies and conspiracy myths are variable and cannot always be clearly defined – in global conspiracy narratives, real-life and mythical groups overlap and merge depending on preference. The term “conspiracy ideology” will therefore primarily be used going forward for the sake of simplicity.
