Modern Conspiracies in America

March 7, 2022
Historian Gambone (Long Journeys Home) expands on a course he teaches at Kutztown University in this accessible study of “modern conspiracy beliefs.” Noting that “Donald Trump and the Tea Party before him brought conspiracy beliefs to our living rooms and kitchen tables,” Gambone discusses how the internet fosters the search for unifying theories that “make the vastness out there easier to handle” and cites research suggesting that “establishing patterns satisfies the desire to impose some type of control over our environment.” Turning to specific conspiracies, he examines how economic and political turmoil in Europe after WWI contributed to the popularity of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a hoax book purporting to outline an “international Jewish conspiracy” to take over the world; explains how real evidence of “clear and consistent communist efforts to infiltrate U.S. institutions” was exploited for political gains by Sen. Joseph McCarthy and others during the Red Scare of the 1950s; and delves into the flurry of conspiracies in the 2016 presidential election, including allegations that Donald Trump was a Russian agent, Sen. Ted Cruz’s father had helped assassinate JFK, and Hillary Clinton was part of a pedophile ring. Though Gambone sticks to well-trod ground, he succinctly summarizes and contextualizes each conspiracy. Readers will gain a better grasp on how central conspiracy thinking is to American politics and culture.

Starred review from April 1, 2022
There are real conspiracies in America, secret plans for unlawful or harmful acts. Historian and professor Gambone's premise is that there is also a vigorous industry of fake conspiracy theories that are projected onto actual tragedies and social problems to serve political agendas and/or make a profit. Gambone applies scholarly methods and shares case studies and other findings to illuminate the facts and help readers distinguish between actual and alleged conspiracies. Well-known conspiracy theories of the past century are scrutinized, including the Red Scare and JFK's assassination, on to the lies surrounding 9/11 and Q-ANON. This is a wild ride through the fevered imaginations of many conspiracy theorists and partisans. Gambone informs readers with the reassuring style of a great teacher, grounding many fantastical claims in historical context and defining terms that are often opaque or malleable in service of ever-morphing debates and propaganda. While there may be no easy way to bring conspiracy theorists back to reality or rebuild trust in targeted institutions, Gambone's inquiry is an excellent guide to logic and credibility for all who are curious about this complex and urgent subject.

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