Voodoo Histories

1. Conspiracy Theories: Simple Answers to Complex Realities

I think a better definition of a conspiracy theory might be “the attribution of deliberate agency to something that is more likely to be accidental or unintended.”

Seeking order. In a world often characterized by chaos, accident, and unforeseen consequences, conspiracy theories offer a comforting, albeit false, sense of order. They posit a hidden, deliberate hand behind events that are more plausibly explained by incompetence, chance, or systemic issues. This simplifies complex realities into a digestible narrative of good versus evil.

Occam's Razor. The author champions "Occam's razor" – the principle that, all else being equal, the simplest explanation is usually the best. Conspiracy theories, by contrast, often involve an unnecessary "plurality" of assumptions, requiring intricate plots, countless participants, and improbable secrecy to explain phenomena that have far simpler, less covert explanations. For example:

• A magic trick is simpler to explain as sleight of hand than genuine supernatural ability.
• A moon landing is simpler to believe as real than a hoax involving thousands of silent participants.

Distorted views. The widespread acceptance of conspiracy theories is not merely harmless speculation; it distorts our understanding of history and the present. By attributing deliberate malice to complex situations, they prevent genuine analysis of underlying social, economic, or political forces, leading to potentially disastrous decisions and a pervasive sense that authorities are systematically corrupt and untruthful.

2. The Enduring Power of Fabricated Plots

“The extent to which the whole existence of the people is based on a continual lie is shown in an incomparable manner in The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which the Jews hate so tremendously. The Frankfurter Zeitung is forever moaning to the people that they are supposed to be a forgery; which is the surest proof that they are genuine.”

A foundational hoax. "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," a fabricated text purporting to reveal a Jewish plan for world domination, exemplifies how a baseless conspiracy can take root and persist. Despite being exposed as a plagiarism of a French satire and a German novel, it was embraced by figures like Henry Ford and Adolf Hitler, who found its narrative "fit" their existing prejudices and offered a convenient scapegoat for societal ills.

Prophetic appeal. The Protocols gained immense traction in the post-WWI era, a time of profound anxiety and upheaval. Its "uncanny note of prophecy" seemed to explain the collapse of empires, the rise of new political systems, and the general sense of a world turned upside down. This perceived predictive power, even if coincidental or retroactively applied, lent it an aura of authenticity that transcended its fraudulent origins.

Dangerous legacy. The belief in the Protocols had devastating real-world consequences. It fueled anti-Semitic pogroms in Russia, became compulsory reading in Nazi Germany, and continues to circulate in parts of the Middle East, notably influencing the Hamas Covenant. This demonstrates how a fictional conspiracy, once believed, can justify horrific acts and distort intergroup relations for generations.

3. Authoritarian Regimes Weaponize Conspiracy

“How can we account for our present situation unless we believe that men high in this government are concerting to deliver us to disaster? This must be the product of a great conspiracy, a conspiracy on a scale so immense as to dwarf any previous such venture in the history of man.”

Stalin's purges. The Soviet show trials of the 1930s, particularly the Pyatakov trial, illustrate how a state can fabricate elaborate conspiracies to consolidate power and eliminate opposition. High-ranking Bolsheviks "confessed" to impossible plots of sabotage and collaboration with fascists, under duress and psychological manipulation. These trials served to:

• Blame systemic failures on "enemies of the revolution."
• Justify mass purges and executions.
• Instill paranoia and demand absolute loyalty.

McCarthyism's internal enemy. In the post-WWII United States, Senator Joe McCarthy capitalized on fears of communist infiltration, accusing government officials of being part of a "great conspiracy" to undermine America. This "Red Scare" demonized dissent and blurred the lines between legitimate political activity and sedition, leading to blacklists and loyalty oaths. The underlying message was that internal enemies were responsible for perceived national "decline."

Convenient explanations. For authoritarian regimes or those seeking to control narratives, conspiracy theories offer a painless explanation for massive failures or unwanted outcomes. Instead of acknowledging systemic flaws or policy mistakes, they attribute problems to the deliberate, hidden actions of malevolent plotters, thereby diverting blame and justifying extreme measures against perceived internal threats.

4. Political Defeat Fuels Conspiracist Narratives

“The American elite, I am afraid to say,” he wasn’t afraid to say, “is almost beyond redemption. Moral relativism has set in so deeply that the gilded classes have become incapable of discerning right from wrong.”

Losers' history. Conspiracy theories often take root among those who feel politically, socially, or economically defeated. They offer an explanation for why their cause failed, attributing it not to inherent weakness or unpopularity, but to the ruthless, almost demonic actions of an omnipotent enemy. This provides a "psychic cop-out," allowing them to believe they were "robbed" rather than simply outmaneuvered or outvoted.

Examples of "losers' history":

• America Firsters: After failing to prevent US entry into WWII, they blamed FDR for deliberately provoking Pearl Harbor.
• Anti-New Dealers: Saw Roosevelt's policies as a "fascist" plot to undermine American liberty.
• Anti-Clinton/Obama: Right-wing groups, feeling culturally and politically marginalized, accused Democratic presidents of vast criminal conspiracies (e.g., "Clinton Body Count," "Birtherism").

Moral outrage. This sense of defeat is often coupled with a profound moral outrage, where the "other side" is depicted as utterly corrupt, amoral, and capable of any atrocity. This demonization allows for the projection of one's own "unacceptable aspects" onto the enemy, while simultaneously justifying extreme opposition.

5. "Impossible Facts" Often Anchor Conspiracy Beliefs

“All of the Commission’s obfuscation notwithstanding, Oswald was a poor shot and his rifle was inaccurate. Experts could not duplicate the alleged feat of two hits out of three shots in 5.6 seconds, even though they were given stationary targets and ample time to aim the first shot.”

The "magic bullet." Conspiracy theories frequently hinge on a single, seemingly "impossible" fact that, if disproven, would unravel the entire official narrative. For the JFK assassination, the "magic bullet" (one bullet causing multiple wounds) and Oswald's supposed poor marksmanship were central. However, later forensic analysis and computer simulations demonstrated the plausibility of the official account, showing Oswald was a decent shot and the bullet's trajectory was feasible.

Marilyn's overdose. The claim that Marilyn Monroe could not have ingested the amount of barbiturates found in her system, leading to theories of forced injection or enema, is another example. These "impossible facts" ignore the complexities of toxicology and the possibility of post-mortem drug concentration changes, preferring a more dramatic, conspiratorial explanation.

Diana's seatbelt. In the Princess Diana case, the "impossible" nature of a high-speed crash leading to her death was countered by the simple fact that she likely would have survived had she worn a seatbelt. Theorists then invented increasingly complex scenarios, such as tampered seatbelts, to maintain the murder narrative, demonstrating how "impossible facts" can lead to ever more convoluted explanations.

6. Pseudo-Scholarship Lends False Credibility

“For such an undertaking the techniques of academic scholarship were sorely inadequate. To make the requisite connections between radically diverse bodies of subject matter we were obliged to adopt a more comprehensive approach, based on synthesis rather than conventional analysis.”

"New historiography." Authors of popular conspiracy theories often claim to employ a "new" or "more comprehensive" form of scholarship, rejecting "conventional analysis" as too narrow or biased. This allows them to synthesize disparate, often unrelated, pieces of information into a "coherent pattern" that supports their predetermined conclusions, regardless of factual accuracy or logical consistency.

Examples of pseudo-scholarship:

• The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail: Claimed Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had descendants, based on forged documents and speculative interpretations of art and history. Its authors explicitly stated academic techniques were "inadequate" for their "requisite connections."
• Immanuel Velikovsky: Argued Venus was a comet that caused biblical plagues, based on selective readings of mythology and ignoring scientific consensus.
• Erich von Däniken & Graham Hancock: Interpreted ancient artifacts and structures as evidence of extraterrestrial or super-civilization contact, dismissing mainstream archaeology.

The "soul's version of truth." This approach often appeals to a desire for hidden knowledge and a sense of intellectual superiority over "conventional" experts. It suggests that "truth" is not about verifiable facts but about a deeper, intuitive understanding, a "soul's version of the truth" that resonates with underlying anxieties or desires, even if factually incorrect.

7. The Internet Amplifies and Legitimizes Conspiracism

“My new book,” he tells us, reveals how 9/11 was “an own goal by a faction within the intelligence community . . . A faction that has been around for a hundred years. The Secret Team. The Invisible Connection. The Parallel Network.”

Digital echo chambers. The Internet has revolutionized the spread of conspiracy theories, creating vast, self-reinforcing communities where like-minded individuals can connect and validate each other's beliefs. Websites, forums, and video platforms (like YouTube) allow for the rapid dissemination of undifferentiated information, blurring the lines between credible sources and speculative claims.

9/11 Truth movement. The 9/11 Truth movement is a prime example of this phenomenon. Theories, ranging from "controlled demolition" to "hologram planes," gained massive traction online, attracting diverse proponents from academics to celebrities. The sheer volume of online content, regardless of its veracity, creates an illusion of widespread support and legitimacy.

Ideological convergence. The Internet also facilitates unexpected alliances between disparate political factions. The 9/11 Truth movement, for instance, saw a "red-brown" convergence of far-left anti-imperialists and far-right anti-Semites/anti-Zionists, united by a shared distrust of authority and a willingness to believe in vast, hidden plots. This demonstrates how the digital realm can foster ideological fluidity and the mainstreaming of once-fringe ideas.

8. The "Cui Bono?" Fallacy Distorts Motive

“The principal beneficiaries of the destruction of the World Trade Center,” Martin argues, “are in the United States: the Bush administration, the Pentagon, the CIA, the FBI, the weapons industry, the oil industry. It is reasonable to ask whether those who have profited to such an extent from this tragedy contributed to bring it about.”

Assuming intent from outcome. The "cui bono?" (who benefits?) fallacy is a common conspiracist tool, assuming that if a party benefits from an event, they must have caused it. This reductionist approach ignores other motives, accidental outcomes, or complex chains of events, substituting a perceived economic or political gain as proof of malicious intent.

The historian's fallacy. This is compounded by the "historian's fallacy," which assumes historical actors possessed foreknowledge of future outcomes. For example, claiming the Bush administration "benefited" from 9/11 by gaining a pretext for war ignores that the attack was unexpected and caused immense disruption, not a planned advantage. It also assumes the perpetrators knew the exact political response.

Ignoring counter-evidence. The "cui bono?" argument often leads to ignoring overwhelming evidence that contradicts the desired conclusion. For instance, despite Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda repeatedly claiming responsibility for 9/11 (consistent with their stated ideology), conspiracists insist the US government was involved because they "benefited" from the subsequent wars.

9. Conspiracy Theories Reflect Societal Anxieties

“It was hard, these last two weeks, to feel much pride in being an American.”

Disorder and helplessness. Major traumatic events, like the JFK assassination or 9/11, can leave societies feeling chaotic and vulnerable. A lone gunman, far from being a simple explanation, can suggest a sick and unpredictable society. Conspiracy theories, by contrast, offer a hidden order, even if malevolent, providing a sense that someone, somewhere, is in control, which can be strangely comforting.

Externalizing internal fears. Conspiracy theories often serve as an externalization of internal fears about societal change. For example, the "Birther" movement's insistence that Barack Obama was not a natural-born citizen reflected anxieties about a changing America, particularly among conservative, white demographics. The "foreign" president became a symbol of unwanted transformation.

Psychic release. There can be a perverse gratification in believing in vast, hidden plots. It allows individuals to feel they possess unique insight, are part of an enlightened few, and are bravely confronting a powerful, deceptive establishment. This can be a way of reclaiming agency and disclaiming responsibility for societal problems, projecting blame onto an "other."

10. Persistence in Belief Defies Debunking

“I do not know whether Vincent Foster was depressed before his death. It is irrelevant anyway. The hard evidence indicates that the crime scene was staged, period. Even if Foster was depressed, somebody still put a gun in his hand, somebody still inflicted a perforating wound on his neck, his body still levitated 700 feet into Fort Marcy Park without leaving soil residue on his shoes, and he still managed to drive to Fort Marcy Park without any car keys.”

Immunity to evidence. A defining characteristic of conspiracism is its remarkable resilience to debunking. Even when "impossible facts" are disproven, or key sources admit to hoaxes, believers often refuse to abandon their theories. Instead, they:

• Invent new, more complex layers of conspiracy (e.g., the debunkers are part of the cover-up).
• Dismiss contradictory evidence as "disinformation" or "official lies."
• Insist on "unanswered questions" even when answers have been provided.

The "truth" is out there. This persistence is driven by a deep-seated distrust of official narratives and a conviction that "the truth" is being deliberately suppressed. For many, the very act of official denial or debunking serves as further proof of the conspiracy's existence and the power of its perpetrators.

Self-validation. Ultimately, the belief in conspiracy theories can become a self-validating system. The emotional and psychological investment in the narrative outweighs any factual discrepancies. For the believer, the theory provides a coherent worldview, a sense of belonging to an enlightened group, and a justification for their distrust, making it incredibly difficult to dislodge, regardless of the evidence presented.

Last updated: July 30, 2025