Introduction to Topics in History (292-0-32)

Topic

Conspiracy Theories: A Global History

Instructors

Roberto Mazza
1800 Sherman Ave.
Office Hours: Mondays 10:00am - 12:00pm
Roberto Mazza is currently a Visiting Scholar at the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs, Northwestern University. An historian specializing in the modern Middle East, he has made significant contributions to the field of urban history and the study of Jerusalem during the late Ottoman and British Mandate periods. More recently, he has expanded his research interests to include the global history of conspiracy theories, exploring how conspiracy narratives have shaped political culture and social trust across different societies and historical periods. Roberto is the host of the popular "Jerusalem Unplugged" podcast, which explores various aspects of Jerusalem's rich history and contemporary issues. He also serves as a regular host for the New Books Network, where he interviews authors of recent publications in his areas of expertise. Additionally, he holds the position of Executive Editor of the Jerusalem Quarterly.

Meeting Info

University Hall 218: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

Conspiracy narratives have become one of the most enduring and consequential genres of modern political life. From anti-vaccination movements and QAnon to Great Replacement theories and claims of globalist control, conspiracy thinking has migrated from the cultural margins to the mainstream, reshaping democratic politics, public health, and social trust. The rise of social media and AI-generated content has dramatically accelerated this process, making the ability to critically evaluate information not just an academic skill but a civic necessity. Yet conspiracy theories are neither a modern invention nor a uniquely Western phenomenon. This course takes a global and long-term historical perspective, tracing the origins and evolution of conspiracy thinking across cultures and centuries, from early modern witch trials and anti-Masonic panics in Europe to colonial and postcolonial narratives in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Drawing on history, psychology, sociology, and media studies, we will ask: why do conspiracy theories form, who believes them and why, and what do they reveal about the relationship between citizens and the modern state? By the end of the course, students will be equipped to engage with contemporary public discourse as informed and critically independent thinkers. As a culminating project, student groups will design a historically and psychologically grounded conspiracy theory of their own — an exercise that, by requiring them to understand the mechanisms of persuasion from the inside, sharpens their ability to recognize and resist them.

Learning Objectives

Trace the historical development of conspiracy theories across different cultures and societies; 2 Analyze conspiracy narratives as historical sources; 3 Apply interdisciplinary frameworks drawn from history, psychology, media and sociology; 4 Critically evaluate contemporary misinformation and conspiracy narratives

Evaluation Method

mid-term paper, participation, final group project

Class Notes

History Major Concentration(s): Global, Americas, European, Asia/Middle East, Africa/Middle East
History Minor Concentration(s): Europe, United States, Middle East

Class Attributes

Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Historical Studies Distro Area