Luis Roniger - Conspiracy Theories and Latin American History: Lurking in the Shadows

Due to its theoretical perspective and the multiple case studies it addresses, this book illuminates the historical context of emergence of Latin American conspiracy theories, and, at the same time, calls us to reflect on the political culture of our time. The work has global relevance, as it dialogues and questions features of contemporary culture and the dire challenges we face living in democracy.

Emilio Crenzel, Professor of Sociology at the National University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and author of The Memory of the Argentina Disappearances

Conspiracy theories in Latin America get little if any coverage in English language literature. This book remedies that omission with sophisticated analysis and fascinating, deeply researched narratives.

Michael Barkun, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Syracuse University, USA, and author of A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic Visions in Contemporary America

This book is a systematic inquiry of conspiracy theories across Latin America.

Conspiracy theories project not only an interpretive logic of reality that leads people to believe in sinister machinations, but also imply a theory of power that requires mobilizing and taking action. Through history, many have fallen for the allure of conspiratorial narratives, even the most unsubstantiated and bizarre. This book traces the main conspiracy theories developing in Latin America since late colonial times and into the present, and identifies the geopolitical, socioeconomic and cultural scenarios of their diffusion and mobilization.

Students and scholars of Latin American history and politics, as well as comparatists, will find in this book penetrating analyses of major conspiratorial designs in this multistate region of the Americas.

Luis Roniger is Reynolds Professor of Latin American Studies in the Department of Politics and International Affairs at Wake Forest University, USA.

Leonardo Senkman is Research Fellow in the Harry Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.

Series Editors: Peter Knight,University of Manchester, and Michael Butter,University of Tbingen.

Conspiracy theories have a long history and exist in all modern societies. However, their visibility and significance are increasing today. Conspiracy theories can no longer be simply dismissed as the product of a pathological mind-set located on the political margins.

This series provides a nuanced and scholarly approach to this most contentious of subjects. It draws on a range of disciplinary perspectives including political science, sociology, history, media and cultural studies, area studies and behavioural sciences. Issues covered include the psychology of conspiracy theories, changes in conspiratorial thinking over time, the role of the Internet, regional and political variations and the social and political impact of conspiracy theories.

The series will include edited collections, single-authored monographs and short-form books.

Anastasiya Astapova, Eirikur Bergmann, Asbjrn Dyrendal, Annika Rabo, Kasper Grotle Rasmussen, Hulda Thrisdttir, Andreas nnerfors

Conspiracy Theories in and about Europe

Edited by Andreas nnerfors and Andr Krouwel

People, Power and Politics on RT

Ilya Yablokov and Precious N Chatterje-Doody

Lurking in the Shadows

Luis Roniger and Leonardo Senkman

Luis Roniger and Leonardo Senkman

First published 2022

by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

and by Routledge

605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2022 Luis Roniger and Leonardo Senkman

The right of Luis Roniger and Leonardo Senkman to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Roniger, Luis, 1949 author. | Senkman, Leonardo, author.

Title: Conspiracy theories and Latin American history: lurking in the
shadows / Luis Roniger and Leonardo Senkman.

Description: Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge, 2022. |

Series: Conspiracy theories |

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021013045 (print) | LCCN 2021013046 (ebook) |
ISBN 9781032052380 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032052373 (paperback) |
ISBN 9781003198048 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Conspiracy theoriesLatin America. |
Latin AmericaPolitics and government.

Classification: LCC HV6295.L29 R65 2022 (print) |
LCC HV6295.L29 (ebook) | DDC 001.9/8098dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021013045

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021013046

ISBN: 978-1-032-05238-0 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-1-032-05237-3 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-003-19804-8 (ebk)

DOI: 10.4324/9781003198048

Typeset in Bembo

by Newgen Publishing UK

We completed this book with the support of institutions and the advice of colleagues and friends. We gratefully acknowledge the generous financial and logistical support of the Office of Global Programs of Wake Forest University and that of the Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The Office of Global Programs and its director Vice Provost K. Kline Harrison supported a month-long research visit by Leonardo Senkman, which allowed us to conclude research and writing. The rich bibliographic and documentary repository of the Library of Congress in Washington DC, the Nacional Library in Buenos Aires and the Bloomfield Library of Social Sciences and Humanities of the Hebrew University have been also essential for conducting this research. The analysis of the Chaco War in The Chaco War: the Standard Oil Company and conspiracy theories of develops insights first presented in the journal Protosociology (The Logic of Conspiracy Thought: A Research Agenda for an Era of Institutional Distrust and Fake News, Frankfurt, vol. 36, 2019). The book follows and further elaborates the work published digitally in the Spanish book