I have read the book Enemies Within, and recently was on a National Public Radio interview program with the author. The book is one of the best of the bunch of recent books on conspiracism.
Conspiracism is to power structure research what antisemitism is to socialism...a misunderstanding of how power is excercised, scapegoating secret plots and evil indiciduals rather than challenging the systems, institutions, and structures of society.
Check out my pages on conspiracism at:
http://www.publiceye.org/tooclose/conspiracism.htm
http://www.publiceye.org/b_conspi.html
-Chip Berlet
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> [mailto:owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com]On Behalf Of Chris Burford
> Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 2:36 AM
> To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> Subject: Conspiracism
>
>
> 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
>