Conspiracy
Komaruddin Hidayat
The rapidly occurring and unpredictable economic, social and political changes due to globalization and industrialization have caused feelings of confusion, panic and being threatened among people, but it is difficult to identify the actors behind this. We are experiencing a kind of "intellectual dislocation" – the inability to understand what is happening and who or what is causing it.
It is from this that conspiracy theories develop; theories that are easily consumed by the public as a means of alleviating their frustration and confusion. Conspiracy theories generally emerge among educated people, because accepting or rejecting them requires complex and sophisticated thinking, even though it is difficult to factually verify their truth.
An intelligent and broad-minded person is needed to develop a conspiracy theory, which logical and true.
On the other hand, debunking a conspiracy theory is not easy if one does not possess the same level of intelligence. Therefore, conspiracy theories can have a more profound and long-lasting impact than hoaxes, which are easily disproved.
People who love superstition and stories of mysticism will easily believe conspiracy theories because they are used to enjoying fictitious tales, like the myth of Nyai Roro Kidul as the queen of the South Seas.
Anyone going out fishing must ask Nyai Roro Kidul’s blessings to survive and return with a large catch. Or if someone sees a black cat or snake while leaving their house cancels their trip, because these creatures portend misfortune if they continue with their trip.
Thus, many people today still believe in and follow superstition, which condition them to easily believe in conspiracy theories.
Death of expertise
Conspiracy theories have evolved alongside the growing trend of a gadget-fanatical society. People are free to post and spread any manner of ideas on the internet and social media. In The Death of Expertise (2017), author Tom Nichols writes that the American people, who are considered to be one of the most educated groups of people, have very poor knowledge of world geography. They view America to be the center of the world, so they do not feel the need to learn about other countries. For example, they know about the island of Bali, but do not know where Indonesia is.
With the development of various scientific fields down to their smallest subfields, the experts who are at the top of the pyramid in their fields are now seen as merely “ordinary” scientists. It is unsurprising that a patient argues with his doctor about his medical prescription. Trust and respect for experts has fallen dramatically.
The phenomenon Nichols mentioned is now occurring throughout the world, including Indonesia. People can easily access information, and are even flooded with information; they only want to hear and read things that suits their preferences, and they reject what they do not like. When discussing politics and religion, people only want to listen to what falls in line with their choices and beliefs.
The intellectual authority of experts has fallen. Here, “experts” refers to those who have dedicated themselves to in-depth studies in a particular scientific field, possess a wealth of relevant experience and knowledge, and are recognized by their peers in the scientific community.
Today, everyone feels they are equally as smart as anyone else; no hierarchy exists between experts and non-experts. This is apparent in televised debates. All speakers feel equal in responding to each other. The debates are designed to be fun for the viewers and to attract advertisements.
Political conspiracy
According to Nichols, such TV programs are like a hockey match without referees that even spectators can join. All are spectators and players; all are observers and analysts.
When people become confused by their inability to understand what is going on in an era in which the authority of experts are no longer trusted, then society easily latches onto conspiracy theories.
Like hoaxes, conspiracy theories are created and propagated through social media to have a significant impact on the public’s attitude towards politics, especially when a large country like Indonesia holds a general election.
When I was active during the 1970s in the Indonesian Islamic Students (PII) organization in Muntilan, I was very keen to listen to lecturers from Jakarta who stressed, in all seriousness, that Indonesian Muslims were in danger. Indonesia was targeted by the world Christianization movement, which would transform Indonesia just like Spain, which had once been the center of Islam.
Muslims would be eliminated and become a minority. Various arguments were offered: the percentage of Muslims was growing smaller, while that of Christians was increasing sharply. After leaving the forum, I was filled with hate every time I saw a church. However, the contents of the forum were corrected after many years had passed and I had traveled abroad to many countries like Russia, America and Europe.
There, Muslims and mosques are growing far more rapidly in their number than churches in Indonesia. Population migration and mobility between countries have made societies more pluralistic. Prestigious Islamic centers attached to top universities have emerged in the West.
The best-selling conspiracy theory at present is the existence of a global Zionist movement that controls the world economy and has turned Indonesia into their cash cow. The Jewish network is the culprit of all the catastrophe and chaos of Indonesian politics and economy. I had even heard it said that the tsunamis in Aceh, Ambon and Krakatoa were caused by a foreign conspiracy that was conducting an underwater nuclear test. Indonesia was chosen as the test site because it was an archipelago with many volcanoes that could easily camouflage the nuclear test.
Conspiracy theories are once again rising in the political sphere. Like a cake at a party, Indonesia is not only the central object of Western capitalism, but also Chinese communism. Relations between America and China may appear to be hostile, but this is a mere distraction so they can take advantage of Indonesia\'s natural wealth.
Data and arguments are arranged in such a way that the narrative seems rational and difficult to disprove. The Western and Chinese powers do not want a strong Indonesia, but neither do they want it to become a failed state because this would cause political and economic instability in Asia. The people\'s minds are awakened to see leaders as either Western or Chinese stooges.
Jaka Tingkir
Among the hoaxes and conspiracies designed to cause public unrest is a third theory, that of "setting and putting out fires".
As told in the Tanah Jawi chronicles, in the 16th century there lived a powerful warrior named Jaka Tingkir who desired a position in the kingdom of Demak. To gain the king’s attention and sympathy, Jaka Tingkir released a "magic buffalo" that he had placed a spell on to go on a rampage and create chaos and fear among the citizens of the kingdom.
Apparently, Jaka Tingkir’s plot was successful: The people of the city were frightened and ran around in a panic, no one could defeat the crazy buffalo. As the royal army could not quell the chaos, Jaka Tingkir went in and easily calmed the buffalo, because he was the only one who could control the animal. After hearing of the miracle of Jaka Tingkir, the king called him and renamed him Adipati Pajang and appointed him the title of Adipati Adiwijaya.
An interpretation of the story is that the magic buffalo is a metaphorical representation of a special army Jaka Tingkir sent to attack the Demak kingdom in a plot designed for him to save the kingdom and emerge as a hero.
Conspiracy theories and the story of taming the raging buffalo have always recurred on the historical stage with different titles, actors and settings. They are simply attempts to deceive the people. The question is, are our politicians so dishonest and our people so stupid that they would easily believe in such conspiracy theories and plots? It is possible that this is nothing more than an attempt to wash one’s hands and look for a scapegoat for our indolence and ignorance in managing the nation and state.
Stop looking for scapegoats. It is we who are solely responsible for the progress or deterioration of this nation.
(Komaruddin Hidayat, Lecturer at the School of Psychology of the Jakarta State Islamic University (UIN))
