Behind the Bastards Part One: The Conspiracy to Begin All Conspiracies
Apr 13, 2021
Langston Kerman, a comedian and actor known for his roles on *Insecure* and *The Boys*, joins to delve into the notorious *Protocols of the Elders of Zion*. They explore how conspiracism distorts history and the allure of simplistic explanations for complex issues. Kerman and the host discuss the characteristics and origins of modern conspiracy theories, tracing antisemitism's evolution through history, including its ties to Nazism. They also reveal how the Protocols emerged as a tool of propaganda and their devastating global impact.
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Real Conspiracies vs. Conspiracism
- Many real conspiracies exist, but conspiracism wrongly elevates hidden plots to the primary cause of history.
- That shift obscures structural explanations and fuels endless, unfalsifiable theories.
Conspiracies Promise A Single Fix
- Conspiracism offers a comforting 'magic bullet' narrative: remove one cabal and society's problems vanish.
- That simplistic promise helps conspiracies endure despite being false for complex systemic issues.
Conspiracism Emerged With Revolutionary Upheaval
- Modern conspiracism (belief that conspiracies drive history) rose after the French Revolution and tied to rising anti‑Semitism.
- This worldview treats complex social change as the work of hidden cabals instead of structural forces.