Lest we forget, conspiracy theories have a crucial role in the mismanagement of the covid-19 crisis across the world. Let us take the examples of US, Brazil and India. Rulers of all the three nations ignored the virus, used conspiracy theories to consolidate their power to varying degrees, and now are paying the price.

What are conspiracy Theories?

What are conspiracy theories and why do people believe in them? Conspiracy theories are in simple terms ‘an attempt to explain harmful or tragic events as the result of the actions of a small powerful group.’ The classic example is of Nazism. Though we most often think of Nazism as an ideology in its basic form it was a conspiracy theory. Nazism claimed that ‘a cabal of Jewish financiers secretly dominates the world and are plotting to destroy the Aryan race’. You know from history how the growth of this theory led to one of the cruellest episodes of human history where six million Jews were murdered and two world wars were waged causing unimaginable pain to humankind, the effects of which still linger.

Why do people believe such horrendous theories? Men and women look for explanations to their lives, especially of hardships and death. Conspiracy theories offer ‘single, straightforward explanation to countless complicated processes. Our lives are repeatedly rocked by wars, revolutions, crises and pandemics. But if I believe some kind of global cabal theory, I enjoy the comforting feeling that I do understand everything’ (Harari, 2020).

Conspiracy theories come in all shapes and sizes and affect every domain of human lives. The challenge is to question the theories and expose their hollowness and brutality.

Use of conspiracy theories in US, Brazil and India

Donald Trump and his team used an enormous number of conspiracy theories including some on the corona virus and he refused to take appropriate action because of which U S became one of the leading victims of the virus, almost 32 million affected and 5, 84,226 deaths as of now. In Brazil, the situation became equally tragic. Brazil has already 13 million and above infections and over 2, 50,000 deaths.

In India as of today, on every day over three million fresh infections are reported (there are reports that cases are under reported) and an average of 1000 deaths. The projections of infection and death are scary. The biggest conspiracy theory promoted in India was that one specific religious group was responsible for the spreading and large number of litigations were initiated against them.

Current Reality

Brazil is in pathetic conditions with increasing infections and lack of health infrastructure. Analysts say, “Much of the blame for Brazil’s disastrous health crisis lies squarely at the feet of the country’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro. Over the past year, he has downplayed the threat, peddled conspiracy theories, ridiculed health measures, denounced lockdowns, sabotaged vaccination efforts and even contracted the illness.”(Robert Mugga). As a result, ‘19 million people have gone hungry over the past year. And about 117 million people or roughly 55 per cent of the country’s population faced food insecurity…The way the government has handled the virus has deepened poverty and inequality’, said Douglas Belchior.

In India, experts believe that the current tragic scenario is the making of the government “The coronavirus situation has abruptly and rapidly changed since mid-February(2021)…Due to the lowering of guard, many people believed that there is nothing like COVID and it is only a conspiracy by vested interests. This feeling is reinforced if leaders address mass election rallies all over the country and the Maha Kumbh is allowed to go on as usual. The attention of leadership is diverted to matters other than fighting the disease. We should have used our better luck since September 2020 to prepare for the worst but complacency set in and we are now paying for it. The workers and small businesses will again be the hardest hit due to partial lockdowns and closures… The lackadaisical attitude of the leadership added further to `vaccine hesitancy’. (Arun Kumar, 2021)

The U.S., in contrast, present a relatively optimistic scenario. With the change of governance and riddance of conspiracy theories, and a massive effort at vaccination, things are looking better in the country. ‘A plurality of Americans now think the federal government has gotten better at handling the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the beginning of the outbreak in March and April. Currently, 45% say the federal government has gotten better, compared to 26% who say worse and 28% no change.’(Ipsos.com)
Lessons and responses

Holding the governments accountable and ridding of conspiracy theories are the biggest challenges for the ordinary citizen.

Remember, when crises deepen it is the ordinary men and women who hold up the mirror to the rulers. The acts of charity of the ordinary men and women, the groans of the bereaved who wait in line for the funeral pyre and the angst of those waiting in line for a bed in the hospital, a drop of oxygen , they all become redemptive in a truly Christ-ian model.

Let us not forget, personal reactions to crises will have national implications.

(Father George Mutholil is the Jesuits’regional assistant for South Asia. The social scientist is based in Rome.)