Conspiracism

[Chris Burford]

I see from a review in the International Herald Tribune there is a new book 
on the USA's love for conspiracy theories: Enemies Within:The Culture of 
Conspiracy in Modern America, by Robert Alan Goldberg.

I presume this is a populist trend that indignantly fails to understand the 
class prejudices of older societies. In England, the "old boy network" is a 
term that is well understood and immediately links to class.

The IHT review does not get to class issues, but it does note that the 
origin of conspiracy means to breathe together. This is a much more subtle 
process that conspiracism understands. Bush and his associates may not be 
guilty of any provable conspiracy about Enron (and anyway these scandals 
always come to light during a recession).

But they did all breathe together at various times.

Does anyone have more explanation about what to a non-American is this 
strange culture of conspiracism?

Chris Burford

London