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Remarks on conspiracy theory entrepreneurs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Véronique Campion-Vincent
Véronique Campion-Vincent*
Affiliation:
Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme, Paris
*
Véronique Campion-Vincent, Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme, Paris 75006, France. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

This note presents an outline of the social and intellectual conditions accounting for the rise of “conspiracy entrepreneurs”, that is these heterodox thinkers who make a living from their denunciations and revelations on the malevolent organisations and characters who really lead the universe. A special attention has been focused on the reports concerning conspiracy entrepreneurs in the media, which describe them as eccentric and thus entertaining. After the presentation of some studies of David Icke's reptilian hypothesis, a question is raised: is it not legitimate to assert that academics studying conspiracy theories are themselves conspiracy entrepreneurs through their role in the spread of the subject of their studies.

Keywords

Conspiracy theory entrepreneursDavid IckeDavid Shaylermedia approachvampires
Type
Psychological and sociological approaches
Information
Diogenes , Volume 62 , Issue 3-4: Conspiracy Theories Today , November 2015 , pp. 64 - 70
Copyright
Copyright © ICPHS 2020

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