Społeczne niepokoje jako motyw powstawania teorii spiskowych

Social unrest as a motive for the emergence of conspiracy theories Following the typical metanarrative established in the XX century, conspiracy theories are groundless and irrational by their origin; however, considering the modern relativistic paradigms, this narrative is no longer in wide use. Conspiracy narratives, like all other social and psychological phenomena, have a cause that must be known to understand their phenomenon and the principles driving them.To do so, the author made a profound overview of the scientific publications of recent years that have tried to inquire into the genesis of conspiracy theories other than those anticipated by Popper, Hoffstadter, and other classics.The conclusion seems to be quite clear: very often conspiracy theories are constructed in the face of social disasters, tensions, and conflicts - ones that occur between social groups as well as in the context of power relations. It appears that the rigid social hierarchy, the complexity of political mechanisms, and the lack of participation in the management of the common interest provide excellent fodder for the emergence of conspiracy theories. Some scientists argue that conspiracism can have a positive influence on developing a conscious and active civil society and redouble its awareness of anti-democratic threats.The „black genocide” theory, popular among African Americans, is a very good example in this context, it assumes that the U.S. government wants to dispose of its black citizens in soft ways by discriminating against them in their daily lives. This paradigm, although not proven by its proponents, has some legitimate premises behind it, such as the issue of police violence against African Americans or the still persistent afterimages of Jim Crow laws. Thereby, it is a narrative growing out of an existing social problem that drives its supporters to emancipation and to confront the authorities.