Postmodernism as a broad intellectual, social, and literary movement is difficult to capture and define, not least because of the deliberate wishes of some of its protagonists that the paradigm remain enigmatic. As many postmodernists question the practice and extension of meta and universal theories based on “truth” frameworks, there are obvious overlaps between postmodernism, philosophy, and the social sciences. This is in terms of both the topics of knowledge and the products of the research and literature. For postmodernism, the role, use, and application of theory are not only central to epistemological questions, but have fundamental consequences on conceptions of reality.

One completely overlooked area is the relationship between conspiracy theory and postmodernism. A tenet of postmodernism, as the name directly suggests, is that the analysis of knowledge, society, and ontology requires a framework that goes beyond the universal rationalism espoused by the Enlightenment period. The Enlightenment bore the birthmark of Modernity but is now dead. Therefore, we require a postmodern theory to remove the shackles of the Modern period. For the sake of brevity, this usually implies contextual sensitivity and relativism as opposed to universalism and absolute truth.

Although conspiracy theories have always been present throughout history, the genesis of modern conspiracy phenomena is considered to be that of JFK. This saw the start of a meta-conspiracy theory in which political phenomena were not what they seemed. Behind what appears to be the establishment is a ruling elite, an organization of individuals who act as puppet masters; the real elite behind the masked elite.

This has undoubtedly given rise, over the last forty years, to the Meta conspiracy theories encompassing the Illuminati, the Bilderberg Group, the Freemasons, and the New World Order. He then began to propagate continuing historical Meta conspiracy theories. For example, the New World Order or the Illuminati not only control all facets of political, economic and social activity, but this plot has been deliberately designed and executed throughout history. This changes the dimension of modern conspiracy theory from being just metacausal to being historically encapsulating. This gave way to new questions, not just about current affairs, but about the nature and validity of history itself.

The foregoing illustrates one aspect of modern conspiracy theories embedded in the postmodern tradition. For contemporary conspiracy theorists, we now require a philosophy and conceptual framework that goes beyond the proposals of liberalism and representative government of the Enlightenment period. This is because in the world of conspiracy theorists, the latest paradigms are patently fallacious. Therefore, we need new theories to analyze incidents like JFK, the Iraq war, 9/11, and observable inequalities in wealth and living standards. To the conspiracy whistleblower, the old political ideologies and theories of government, society, and civil interaction are inept. Instead, the conspiracy theory serves as a better explanation for the postmodern world.

It is these arguments put forth by conspiracy theorists to suit the postmodern political world that paradoxically have their roots in the postmodernist tradition. Certain aspects of postmodernism imply a renewed romanticism, the void left by the insufficient affirmation of universal truth and knowledge being filled with an “anything goes” epistemological trend. In a postmodern world in which scientific claims of “true knowledge” are challenged and simply labeled as social constructionism, it is the social process and practices of institutions such as universities and scientists that perpetuate science as “truth”; the discourse of science for some postmodernists is archived under oppressive regimes that perpetuate universal truth.

Instead, Jacques Derrida’s notorious Deconstruction Theory comes vividly to life in that any subject is not only open to interpretation, but the possibilities for interpretation are endless. In today’s world we see conspiracy theorists operating within this framework. Distrust of scientific facts and agents of established social institutions, especially those who support the official version of 9/11, is combined with the ability and license to observe phenomena such as 9/11, the Iraq War, JFK and the banking crisis and interpret them. in any way possible. In fact, this is incredibly important to conspiracy theorists. Deconstruction Theory rings true in the sense that the Conspiracy Theory narrative is applicable to any phenomenon imaginable. Postmodernists cry out that any phenomenon is open to infinite alternative explanations and conspiracy theorists sixteen at a time.

Ironically, under the postmodernist tradition, the conspiracy theory is a victim of its own claim and purchase of “truth” through its own self-created discourse. By dismissing the “truth” presented by established institutions, conspiracy theorists explain their own version of “truth.” However, both opposing factions are speeches and the conspiracy theory mirrors the Liberal government’s narrative but with its own formation of “truth”.

Postmodernism under Foucault and Derrida uttered prophetic phrases as “forms of discourses of the objects they speak of” and thus instead of “truth” remaining outside narratives and discourses, separation is not possible. since the discourses themselves form “truth” and “reality”. circular and intertwined.

This is precisely what the Conspiracy Theory discourse does by proposing the “truth” behind social and political phenomena. For example, the movement called the 911 “Truth” Movement. By rejecting the modern explanation of social and political phenomena, by employing an open-ended interpretation that does not require reference to established scientific facts, and by creating a discourse that forms “truth” and thus a notion of “reality,” the phenomena modern conspirators find their foundations in postmodernism. .

Postmodernism is the genesis of contemporary conspiracy theory

Post navigation


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *