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Conspiracy Theory ‘Syrian Style

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In 2015, the University of Cambridge found that at least half of the British agreed with one of a list of five conspiracy theories, ranging from the existence of a secret group controlling global events to another group believing in extraterrestrial beings. According to Professor Chris French, a psychologist at Goldsmiths University in London, believers in conspiracy theories span all ages, including teenagers, young adults, and adults.

Perhaps the most entrenched aspect of conspiracy theory is the political side, leading to a lack of interest in increasing political knowledge and political engagement among the populace. Why? Because, in their view, everything is premeditated and planned, so knowledge is futile, and action is useless.

Examples of conspiracy theories include:
1- The assassination of American President John Kennedy, where the killer was considered a pawn for other murderers.
2- The events of September 11, 2001, widely believed to have been orchestrated by the American government.
3- The Hollow Earth theory, suggesting an advanced civilization lives beneath the Earth’s surface, and the Reptilian Elite theory, which claims the world’s leaders are shape-shifting reptiles.
4- The concept of a world control table, where believers see a table gathering the true world leaders who control medicine, economy, politics, wars, and plan for the next hundred years for all countries, even appointing presidents for each country.

Michael Barkun identified three reasons for the success of conspiracy theories:
1- The conviction that nothing happens by chance.
2- The belief that truth is not always revealed, and what is shown is only what is intended for the public to know.
3- The interconnection of all events worldwide, where events in America are linked with those in Africa and beyond.

Thus, conspiracy theory will be a form of wishful interpretations, attempting to systematically interpret events coherently.

In 2021, the book “Psychology of Conspiracy Theories” by Jan-Willem van Prooijen was translated, addressing the issue from a psychological perspective. It presents many examples of conspiracy theories that have prevailed in the consciousness of a large part of society and analyzes them from a psychological viewpoint. It also discusses their role in the spread of the cultures of domestication and alienation (cultural dependency on others) and their impact on political discourse and the emergence of populist currents in the world, fueled by unrealistic and untruthful conspiracy theories. The book is recommended for those interested in exploring various concepts and tools commonly used in analyzing and deconstructing reality.

However, there is a phobia of any critical thinking that reveals a conspiracy, due to fears of being influenced by conspiracy theory. The example of Hafez al-Assad’s rise to power clearly involves a conspiracy theme, as many refuse to acknowledge any conspiracy by influential powers in the 1970s, which played a hidden role in Hafez al-Assad’s prominence through two notable factors:
1- His rapid military promotion, with Assad graduating in 1955 from the Military Academy in Homs and rapidly ascending military ranks, culminating in his appointment as Minister of Defense. This swift advancement without the requisite experience is seen as evidence of at least some form of planning.
2- Assad’s role as Defense Minister during the Six-Day War in 1967, where he ordered the premature announcement of Quneitra’s fall and the subsequent withdrawal directive, further consolidating his control over Syria rather than facing accountability for the withdrawal.

Today, Bashar al-Assad aims to change the governance structure through three reformative directions described by his media:
1- Establishing the General Secretariat of the Presidency to replace the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, centralizing administrative, financial, and legal operations within the presidency.
2- Restructuring Syrian intelligence by merging some branches and changing long-standing leaderships, such as replacing Ali Mamlouk with Kifah Melhem.
3- Recent changes and elections within the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, marking a new development in Syria.

Are these reforms signs of a new conspiracy being imposed on the Syrian people, or are they just political plans that may succeed or fail like any other? While the situation is complex, what is clear is that there is indeed a plan being prepared in Syria. It is recommended to exclude conspiracy theory from political thinking to avoid inaction and replace it with future planning by opposition leaders, considering all scenarios to thwart conspiracies if they exist, or counter malevolent plans if they are drawn.