Why Are We So Obsessed with Conspiracy Theories?

Image Courtesy: Scientific American

Within most societies, there is a generally accepted narrative of ideas and events. Whether it be that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in his assassination of President John F. Kennedy or that the United States won the Space Race with the USSR when it landed on the moon in 1969, you are generally looked at strangely when you challenge these narratives. Mainly, you are labeled a “conspiracy theorist” someone who, according to Merriam-Webster, believes in “a theory that explains an event or set of circumstances as the result of a secret plot by usually powerful conspirators.” Generally, the term has a negative connotation, recalling a paranoid, tin-foil hat-wearing, borderline schizophrenic who will believe anything you tell them if it contradicts the sacred “official narrative” that is generally accepted by society. However, that hasn’t stopped a widespread belief and cultural obsession with conspiracy theories that have benefitted and harmed society on a massive scale.

It’s hard to label conspiracy theories as one thing, as they can vary and range from proven to likely to believable to sci-fi/fantasy. And like anything widespread, everyone has an opinion on it. The expression of these opinions tends to lead to conflict between people and has even ended relationships. For that reason, I think that with articles like these, it’s important to tread lightly when using examples to discuss the concept of a “conspiracy theory.” Independent from my own beliefs, in this article, I will refrain from calling any conspiracy theory, regardless of my or most people’s opinion on it, blatantly true or false.

Image Courtesy: Patrick Semansky/AP

However, conspiracy theories and the truth aren’t mutually exclusive. Ideas or interpretations of events that have been labeled as conspiracy theories, have in the past, turned out to be true. Before former National Security Agency (NSA) Edward Snowden leaked to the public in 2013 that the NSA, in cooperation with other intelligence agencies and telecommunications companies, uses the technology we use every day to gather information on private citizens, the idea that the government was spying on us was seen as tinfoil hat ramblings. The NSA had long been a mysterious organization before Snowden’s whistleblowing. Founded in 1952, its existence was not revealed until 1975, and to this day, most of its operations remain a secret.

Events like these are often used as justification by “conspiracy theorists” for their unpopular beliefs and often lead many to distrust the “official narrative” constructed by our institutions. I don’t consider any of what I’ve written so far to be a bad thing. Critical thinking and skepticism are important, especially when it comes to what the powerful tell us. However, one must be careful not to start doubting whatever anyone tells them because of paranoia or for the sake of rebellion. This idea of going against the grain and “doing your own research” is, in my opinion, the main appeal of conspiracy theories. The perception that you are discovering something that only you or a few people have seen is exciting and that excitement can be addicting.

The appealing nature of discovery is what drives many people in many occupations, but “conspiracy theorists” are unique in that what they “discover” goes against what is generally perceived as true. At a certain point, however, healthy skepticism and distrust of authority can become dangerous. A relatively obscure effect of this occurred in the early 2000s in the African country of Zambia.

Image Courtesy: Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters

At the time, Zambia, along with four other African countries, was suffering from a scarcity of the most important crop of the region, corn. The UN World Food Program began an operation to supply the countries with food that would have fed over 13 million people, with over a million Zambians being fed before the president, Levy Mwanawasa, announced he was rejecting the food over fear that it may be “genetically modified.”      

It is difficult to blame any African government for being distrustful of Western “aid” after centuries of exploitation, colonialism, and political interference committed by Western governments. However, this idea that Mwanawasa had about GMOs being “poison” is irrational, since almost every other nation in the world consumes genetically modified products, and other African nations insisted that the corn be milled before distribution. In response to this, a team of Zambian scientists was invited by the United States to meet with experts on GMOs to sway Mwanawasa’s concerns.

Unfortunately, the ban on GMO imports was not lifted in Zambia, a country where 8 million people were starving, until 2019. While this blatant rejection of aid is uncommon, this rejection of science due to the perception of its authoritative status is not. Conspiracy theories regarding science are widespread to this day. These conspiracy theories are the hardest to combat, as they are the least rational, and more rooted in distrust and emotion than evidence or reason.

Because of their ambiguous and varied nature, conspiracy theories are hard to denounce or praise outside of a case-by-case basis. Belief in them requires a specific interpretation or even rejection of facts that can both benefit and harm us on a wide scale. It is for this reason that it is important to maintain skepticism while making sure to keep yourself grounded.

Strike Out,

Writer: Matias Civita

Editor: Cristina Angee

Tallahassee