Conspiracy (theories) in Post –Truth Society

• In Event: New Approaches to Crime and Surveillance in a Post-Truth Society

Abstract

Conspiracy theories are seductive not only because they provide simple answers to complex questions, but also because they invariably take the form of revealed truths. The true believer, in this sense, is someone that believes that s/he has discovered something important for society as a whole, or the whole world, through unique talent and ability, or by virtue of being more aware, independent, or less gullible than other people. The conspiracy theorist thereby is someone who looks to every attempt to discredit his/her claims as the result of ignorance, ideological indoctrination, or as part of a cover-up. Recently the range of targets of conspiracy theorists has broadened to include mainstream journalists, politicians, and academicians. At the same time, conspiracy theorizing has been effectively mainstreamed through the mixture of digital versions of print media with internet-based news publications, whereby the later appear without much in the way of entry-cost, and with greater public receptivity in a time when public trust in the political system and news media is historically low. The following paper examines the popularity of conspiracy theories as sources of explanation of criminological phenomena, including crime, gangs, and terrorism.

Author

• Louis Kontos, The Graduate Center, John Jay College / CUNY