Um número inteiro da Economist dedicado às teorias da conspiração: besteirol, mas perigoso...

 

The Economist this week A special edition on conspiracy theories

Most people like to think that conspiracy theories are confined to the margins of society, but they have never been merely peripheral. They are expressions of something important about the cultures from which they emerge. From the Manchester United superfan who believes that covid-19 was engineered by global elites to the 4chan-dwelling adherents of the “Great Replacement” theory, the people who invent and spread conspiracy theories are channelling the preoccupations of the societies in which they live. Three centuries ago Jonathan Swift wrote that “falsehood flies, and the truth comes limping after it; so that when men come to be undeceived, it is too late; the jest is over, and the tale has had its effect.” No-one will ever put an end to such theories—but as our coverage explains, by looking closely at them, and the reasons why some people are so keen to share them, something useful may be learned about real-world anxieties.

Adam Roberts Digital editor

Editor’s picks A selection of must-read articles

Conspiracy theories  How a Manchester United superfan became a conspiracy theorist  Is the internet to blame for the rise of conspiracy theories or are they a symptom of political malaise?

The Economist explains  What is the “Great Replacement” right-wing conspiracy theory?  And why has it spread to mainstream politics?

It’s all connected, man  From Congo to the Capitol, conspiracy theories are surging  Covid and the internet are fuelling a global boom in bonkers beliefs

Political fiction  In “The Unfolding”, A.M. Homes imagines a right-wing conspiracy  The novelist seeks to explain America’s current tumult. She falls short

Brave new word  From plandemic to breadcrumbs: conspiracy-theory slang  Those who think the world is full of intrigue and plots often have their own language

Extreme goes mainstream  The insurrection failed. What now for America’s far right?  Extremists are adapting to a post-January 6th America—by entering electoral politics

Distorting reality  The Alex Jones defamation case was less about the money than the truth  A conspiracy-monger at last faces the consequences of warping the facts

Rest in pieces  Georgia loses a bizarre landmark  Conspiracy theories about the Georgia Guidestones were common

Open Future  Conspiracy theories are dangerous—here’s how to crush them  An interview with Nancy L. Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead, authors of “A Lot of People Are Saying”