Introduction to Topics in History (292-0-26)

Topic

Conspiracy Theories: A Global History

Instructors

Roberto Mazza

Meeting Info

Harris Hall L05: Mon, Wed 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

Conspiracy narratives have become one of the postwar period's most durable genres, as the popularity of recent no-vax, no 5G no-Covid campaigns attest, not to mention the resurgence of anti-Semitism through the theories of the New World Order controlled by George Soros. They have also become an important expression of social anxieties and desires, and an important way to understand the relationship between the individual and the modern state. In this course, we will approach conspiracy narratives and the theories they embody both as symptoms and as modes of knowledge. This module will provide students with the necessary historical and psychological knowledge to understand why these theories formed throughout history and how they have become widespread. The main purpose of this module is to allow students to engage with the society they live as informed and critical thinker individuals. Students will be required to work in small groups and produce a believable conspiracy theory which has to be based on psychological and historical research.

Registration Requirements

Instructor consent

Class Notes

Area of concentration: Global

Class Attributes

Historical Studies Distro Area