Conspiracy – A Secret Plot with Questionable Purpose

A conspiracy refers to an act of deception used to disrupt some aspect of society for the personal or ideological gain of the conspirators and their supporters. A conspiracy must always involve more than one person participating in some form of subterfuge. Conspiracies are also discussed as “conspiracy theories.” These plots are claimed to be developed by some influential group or organization to conceal information from the public.

The term “conspiracy theory” was first used in 1909. However, it was not popularized until the 1960s. At that time, historical events encouraged such speculation. For example, there were undoubtedly conspiracies executed by governments and private entities alike during the Cold War. There were also many theories surrounding America’s involvement in Vietnam. Over the last several decades, theories have expanded to encompass almost every major historical event as well as numerous natural disasters and diseases.

Several major historical events are said to be the result of conspiracy theories. Perhaps the most recent event to result in the proliferation of countless conspiracy theories was the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Some have actually suggested the attacks were planned and executed with assistance from the United States government. Others have suggested the attacks were actually planned by Mossad, an Israeli group. Those who believe conspiracies have specifically influenced history are said to be believers in conspiracism. Recently, this term has adopted negative connotations associated with a paranoid psyche. However, many renowned scholars support some conspiracy theories and have evidence supporting their historical impact. Thus, there is a field of academic study devoted to conspiricism.

In addition to historical events, several notable groups have been specifically created for the purpose of planning conspiracies, or accused of participating in devious activities. For example, the dealings of the Mafia fall under the heading of conspiracies. Other historical groups, such as the Illuminati and the Free Masons, have also been repeatedly accused of conspiracy activities. In many countries, such groups can actually be prosecuted under criminal conspiracy statues.

Although the aforementioned theories remain speculative, there are several important confirmed cases of conspiracies occurring in history. Many of these focus on assassinations, such as the murders of Julius Caesar and Abraham Lincoln. Both these conspiracies involved a small group of influential individuals who wished to bring about change by killing their society’s leader. Other conspiracies have been perpetrated by governments to cover-up their acts. For example, Operation Paperclip, in which the United States extracted Nazi scientists from Germany, is considered a conspiracy. The American government also tried to cover up the controversial study of syphilis using human subjects at the Tuskegee Institute. Additionally, the infamous Watergate scandal could also be considered a conspiracy; one in which the U.S. President was directly involved.

Some critics associate conspiracies with paranoia. However, the confirmation of these and other conspiracies has given support to other, unverified conspiracy theories. Some of the most prominent theories are those related to politics. For example, many people disagree with the Warren Commission’s report on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Countless books, articles, documentaries, and web pages have been devoted to the array of conspiracies which exist. Some of these are true occurrences where a small group formulated and executed an illegal plot. However, most are unsubstantiated and based upon incomplete information. Thus, these remain “theories” and have not been definitively categorized as true conspiracies. Despite the many improbably claims, though, there have always been, and will always be, deceptive plots planned and executed by inconspicuous conspirators.