Conspiracism: Archaeology and morphology of a political myth

Julien Giry (1)

1 IDPSP - Institut du droit public et de la science politique

Through an empirical approach of several conspiracy theories (Knight Templars, Jesuits, Illuminati, Freemasons or Jewish conspiracy), I have noticed they develop six main characteristics. First, the conspiratorial myth points out scapegoats in a non-aleatory way. They usually belong to ethnical or religious minorities. Secondly, those scapegoats try to acquire an overwhelming power in all fields. Thirdly, to achieve this goal, they corrupt the whole society, especially on mores and sexuality. Fourthly, to set up their domination the scapegoats use the art of simulation and dissimulation. They yield a cult of secrecy. Fifthly, the scapegoats are consistently portrayed through symbolic morphological types, frequently as animals. Finally, conspiratorial myths undergo a process of hybridization and creolization. They go through transformations, alterations and medleys. Every conspiracy theories mix up into one another.

Mots clés: Conspiracy theory; political myth; antisemitism; antimassonism; functionalism

Domaines: Science politique

Julien Giry. Conspiracism: Archaeology and morphology of a political myth. Diogenes (Engl. ed.), In press, ⟨10.1177/0392192120924534⟩. ⟨hal-02651119⟩