Origins of the New World Order

[dogsmilk]

Howdy.

I'm posting this because I'm wondering if any of you guys can help me with something I've found myself wondering -

What is the origin of the New World Order as a conspiracy narrative?
Who first used the term to describe a big conspiracy, what was the content of their narrative and how did the concept evolve from there?

Wikipedia seemed the logical first stop, but what is said there:

Prior to the early 1990s, New World Order conspiracism was limited to two subcultures, primarily the militantly antigovernment right, and secondarily Christian fundamentalists concerned with end-time emergence of the Antichrist. Social critics, such as political scientist Michael Barkun, have expressed concern that paranoid right-wing conspiracy theories about a New World Order have now not only been embraced by many left-wing conspiracy theorists but have seeped into popular culture, thereby inaugurating an unrivaled period of millenarian activity in the United States of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. They warn that this development may not only fuel lone-wolf terrorism but have devastating effects on American political life, such as producerist demagogy influencing elections as well as domestic and foreign policy.[2][3][4][5][6]

Chip Berlet, an investigative reporter specializing in the study of far-right movements in the U.S., writes:
When President Bush announced his new foreign policy would help build a New World Order, his phrasing surged through the Christian and secular hard right like an electric shock, since the phrase had been used to represent the dreaded collectivist One World Government for decades.[8]
Observers note that the galvanization of right-wing conspiracy theorists into militancy and their use of viral propaganda on the Internet contributed to their extremist political ideas about the New World Order finding their way into the previously apolitical literature of Kennedy assassinologists, ufologists, occultists, and other subcultures, whose wide appeal transmitted these ideas to a large new audience of seekers of alternative views from the mid-1990s on.[2]

doesn't provide what I'm looking for. It seems likely Michael Barkun has covered it, but his books are pricey and I don't know exactly if he has and exactly where.
My next problem is that the term is so heavily used, google searches are going to keep throwing up loads of 'the NWO is coming!' sites. I'm assuming a similar search problem here, so please don't think me lazy if I don't want to trawl through innumerable old threads that mention the term to see if this question has already been answered.

I'd really like to find something that's gives a history of the New World Order as a conspiracy concept if such a thing exists.

I've already asked on the David Icke forum, but no-one seems to know. Which is sort of interesting considering how heavily the term is used.

Thanks for any assistance.

[Praktik]

doesn't provide what I'm looking for. It seems likely Michael Barkun has covered it, but his books are pricey and I don't know exactly if he has and exactly where.

Yes he has, in A Culture of Conspiracy but I've supplemented that with various other readings of American history and not all of them I started reading with the expectation that they would provide some insight into this.

I would highly recommend this specific Hofstadter collection. (http://www.amazon.ca/Paranoid-Style-American-Politics-Essays/dp/0674654617/ref=sr_1_46?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253125069&sr=8-46) Of course it has the classic, The Paranoid Style in American Politics but it also has a VERY interesting look at the "Free Silver" movement at the end of the 19th century, which involved a lot of paranoia regarding foreign (specifically British) influence and central banking.

You can read a wiki on free silver here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_silver)

In reading on early 19th century American history I picked up What Hath God Wrought: the Transformation of America, 1815-1848 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Hath_God_Wrought:_The_Transformation_of_Ameri ca_1815-1848) and that is a great read in general - but it did have an excellent section on "the bank wars", which I think highlights an important cleavage in American political thought and a series of debates from which NWO conspiracies can trace their origin. ITs a great snapshot of American society in those days.

So I would recommend reading stuff on Andrew Jackson, the Whigs and central banking.

Beyond all this of course there's the Illuminati and Masonic conspiracies, which blended with these more American-centric issues to create the bedrock from which NWO conspiracies have sprung.

I am actually not all that well read (book-wise) on the illuminati or masons so others with suggestions feel free to speak up because I would also be interested in something meaty on these topics.

If things are pricey visit your local library!

[Ohnoes]

First off welcome to the forums!

I think this will give you the information you seek and I'm sure some others here can add to it. http://rationalwiki.com/wiki/New_World_Order

I've already asked on the David Icke forum, but no-one seems to know. Which is sort of interesting considering how heavily the term is used.

Yeah, that doesn't surprise me very much...:D

[Jontg]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_world_order
That should provide you with a little perspective on the actual idea behind the term. As far as the CTs go, the primary anchor is a poorly-timed bit of rhetoric used by Bush Sr to refer to the slow spread of globalism and multiculturalism--which, as we know, is HRR ARG BAD. Because wanting people to stop shooting each other over how many fingers the local wizard voodooizes people with can only stem from malign intent. ;)

[Childlike Empress]

Pat Robertson.

[dudalb]

Nah, it was a Conspiracy Meme a long time before Pat Robertson picked it up. He just added a religious angle.

[zaphod2016]

Welcome dogsmilk!

None Dare Call it Conspiracy (http://www.amazon.com/None-Dare-Call-Conspiracy-Allen/dp/0899666612) by Gary Allen; published circa 1971

Read a PDF version in HTML via Google Cache here (http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:dNBECr_mEFMJ:www.captaincanadacrusa des.ca/articles/none-dare-call-it-conspiracy%255B1%255D.pdf+none+dare+call+it+conspi racy&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a)

This is considered "classic literature" among most anti-NWO folks I know. In this book we can see the hybrid of extreme Christians (i.e. the Book of Revelations, Antichrist, end-of-world stuff) and extreme conservatives (anti-Federal Reserve, IRS = illegal, etc)

[Praktik]

This is considered "classic literature" among most anti-NWO folks I know. In this book we can see the hybrid of extreme Christians (i.e. the Book of Revelations, Antichrist, end-of-world stuff) and extreme conservatives (anti-Federal Reserve, IRS = illegal, etc)

Ya - and in that book I recommended, What Hath God Wrought, there are very good sections on the religious revivals of the time, pre and post millenialism, and the mormons.

[dogsmilk]

Thanks for your replies. Particularly the heads up on the most relevant Barkun book, which happily is reasonably priced so I have ordered a copy. I might give the Richard Hofstadter book a go to.

It's interesting to me the way people are very fond of invoking the NWO but people who do so seem to take it as a given without any interest in or awareness of the development of the concept. As is the way I've got so used to hearing it myself it never occurred to me to wonder who actually invented it as a conspiracy.

[zaphod2016]

Ya - and in that book I recommended, What Hath God Wrought, there are very good sections on the religious revivals of the time, pre and post millenialism, and the mormons.

I had not heard of this book. I'm especially interested in the "Bank Wars". Does it cover Jackson v. the Second National Bank?

[Praktik]

Yes but it is a survey of like 30 years so it is not exlusively focused on that. But it was very good when it covered it.

It's also written very well. Engaging, not too dry..;)

[Horatius]

It's interesting to me the way people are very fond of invoking the NWO but people who do so seem to take it as a given without any interest in or awareness of the development of the concept. As is the way I've got so used to hearing it myself it never occurred to me to wonder who actually invented it as a conspiracy.



That's just it: The NWO CTists don't want to consider how the concept of the NWO evolved, because that would require them to consider the actual history of the concept, which might lead them to realize it's just the latest in a long line of "boogeymen" organizations.

They'd rather think of the NWO as a real group, who's history is only now becoming widely known, and tracing the evolution of the concept of the NWO would act contrary to that.

It's folks like us, who are interested in CTs as a cultural and/or psychological phenomenon who are most interested in linking the modern NWO fears to older concerns about Jews, English Bankers, the Illuminati, or whoever.

[Praktik]

That's just it: The NWO CTists don't want to consider how the concept of the NWO evolved, because that would require them to consider the actual history of the concept, which might lead them to realize it's just the latest in a long line of "boogeymen" organizations.

They'd rather think of the NWO as a real group, who's history is only now becoming widely known, and tracing the evolution of the concept of the NWO would act contrary to that.

It's folks like us, who are interested in CTs as a cultural and/or psychological phenomenon who are most interested in linking the modern NWO fears to older concerns about Jews, English Bankers, the Illuminati, or whoever.

Good points all. It's something political science applies to anything: individual and collective rights, natural rights, "small government", federalism, republicanism, toryism, socialism - all these ideas have histories and its a natural form of inquiry to follow the permutations and development of these branches of thought.

NWO type approaches to understanding the world are no different. But you'll find that studies of the history of these ideas are curiously absent from conspiracy culture. I haven't really seen a conspiracy historian follow things back all that rigorously. What they follow back are events, and if they cover ideas at all they do so only for those of the mysterious cabals - and even then, its mostly just inferred from a list of individuals in history that are alleged to have been "globalists". Individuals and events, not ideas. Thats the bread and butter of the NWO crowd.

I remember posting Hofstadter, and the most devoted NWO follower there refused to read it. As soon as he saw the word "paranoid" he turned off completely. They grow very defensive when this line of inquiry is pursued, as if there is something to be ashamed of in the historical development of the ideas.

[grandthefttoaster]

I think the books The New World Order and The Open Conspiracy by H.G. Wells, which advocate a one world socialist government, started a lot of the theories. I have seen some conspiracy theorists who say that the fact these books even exist proves there is a new world order coming.

[dogsmilk]

That's just it: The NWO CTists don't want to consider how the concept of the NWO evolved, because that would require them to consider the actual history of the concept, which might lead them to realize it's just the latest in a long line of "boogeymen" organizations.

They'd rather think of the NWO as a real group, who's history is only now becoming widely known, and tracing the evolution of the concept of the NWO would act contrary to that.

It's folks like us, who are interested in CTs as a cultural and/or psychological phenomenon who are most interested in linking the modern NWO fears to older concerns about Jews, English Bankers, the Illuminati, or whoever.

That's just it: The NWO CTists don't want to consider how the concept of the NWO evolved, because that would require them to consider the actual history of the concept, which might lead them to realize it's just the latest in a long line of "boogeymen" organizations.

They'd rather think of the NWO as a real group, who's history is only now becoming widely known, and tracing the evolution of the concept of the NWO would act contrary to that.

It's folks like us, who are interested in CTs as a cultural and/or psychological phenomenon who are most interested in linking the modern NWO fears to older concerns about Jews, English Bankers, the Illuminati, or whoever.


It's interesting because, well, say we assume that there is such a body called the New World Order that represents some kind of controlling cabal: At some point then somebody will have discovered this and written and/or spoken about it presenting their evidence. This evidence will have been built on and may be subject to debate and re-interpretation, but should present a cumulative body of knowledge about something that is fairly clearly definable. You'd think a sense of the history and development of 'NWO studies' would be quite strong within 'the field'. Hell, Alex Jones should really have erected bronze statues of the pioneers of NWO research in his backyard.

As it is there seems to be no criteria for working out if a politician or whoever mentions the phrase "new world order" if they are referring to a new world order or the The New World Order. How are you supposed to tell? This is key, surely?
If H G wells had called his new world order work my amazing kick-ass idea for a totally cool social structure with exactly the same content, it's virtually certain NWO types would have no interest in it whatsoever. Yet mention of a 'new world order' seems to invoke the New World Order as if by magic.

So then you add in the phenomenon that the NWO apparently wants everything you personally don't; Nationalist? It wants one world government. Homophobe? It's pushing the 'homosexual agenda'. 'Family values' type? It wants to destroy the family and undermine public morals. Right wing? It's pushing socialism/communism. Left wing? It's fascist (though curiously right wing white nationalist Holocaust denying Hitler apologists also seem to sometimes talk about the NWO being 'fascist' - I have never worked that one out) Anti-semite? It's holohoaxin' Jews working to enact teh protocolz. Or why not opt for the combination buffet?
Any actual NWO plot would have a definable, clearly demonstrable set of objectives that remain unaltered irrespective of your personal politics.

I have therefore decided it is probably for the best if I decide I 100% believe in the New World Order as it is seemingly too weird and confusing to try to make sense of the narrative unless you have faith and simply accept it. So it turns out I probably don't need to know where it came from after all!

[Horatius]

... Hell, Alex Jones should really have erected bronze statues of the pioneers of NWO research in his backyard.

....

So then you add in the phenomenon that the NWO apparently wants everything you personally don't;



Well, that just it; people like Jones don't want his sheeple to understand the historical evolution of the notion The NWO, because what Jones really wants is a perfectly malleable boogeyman, who can be re-shaped into whatever is most likely to attract viewers these days. Last year, The NWO was all about Bush cancelling the elections, this year, it's all about the "Obama Deception". Having a consumer base that is actually aware of the history of their own movement is contrary to Jones actual goals.

As for the mindset of Jones' sheeple flock, I'll just reference the recent documentary:

http://static.stripgenerator.com/generated/horatius/strip/2009/09/11/alex-jones-the-epic-fail-story-p-xii-1.png

http://static.stripgenerator.com/generated/horatius/strip/2009/09/11/alex-jones-the-epic-fail-story-p-xiii.png

[Praktik]

oldhat posted this in politics but I thought it was relevant here too:

Beck, Skousen and the 5 000 year leap (http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/09/16/beck_skousen/print.html)

Shows an interesting permutation and development of NWO thought on the far-right.

[dogsmilk]

Well, that just it; people like Jones don't want his sheeple to understand the historical evolution of the notion The NWO, because what Jones really wants is a perfectly malleable boogeyman, who can be re-shaped into whatever is most likely to attract viewers these days. Last year, The NWO was all about Bush cancelling the elections, this year, it's all about the "Obama Deception". Having a consumer base that is actually aware of the history of their own movement is contrary to Jones actual goals.


It's obviously total speculation, but I can't help feeling Jones is actually quite sincere while simultaneously being canny enough to understand the dynamics of his retail empire. I kinda think he says this stuff so much he just believes it. Whatever the case, I can't help admiring the ability to sell hats and t-shirts protesting an ill-defined hypothetical entity. He really should be considered as a contestant for the apprentice

[Horatius]

Whatever the case, I can't help admiring the ability to sell hats and t-shirts protesting an ill-defined hypothetical entity. He really should be considered as a contestant for the apprentice



That's part of the delicious irony of Alex Jones- were the NWO real, he'd be number one on their recruitment list, for his demonstrated ability to manipulate the sheeple, and to fearmonger like no one else.

[Abdul Alhazred]

George H. W. Bush habitually used the expression "new world order" to describe his own post-Soviet foreign policy.

I don't know if that's the origin of the phrase, but it's the first time I heard it used.

[MG1962]

I always thought the NWO came about because of a management buy out of Spectre and Chaos when both organisations failed an IRS audit

[grandthefttoaster]

George H. W. Bush habitually used the expression "new world order" to describe his own post-Soviet foreign policy.

I don't know if that's the origin of the phrase, but it's the first time I heard it used.

It started wth the Great Seal of the United States, which reads Novus ordo seclorum, meaning New Order of the Ages. Politicians used the phrase New World Order at different times, and H.G. Wells wrote a book in 1940 called The New World Order that advocated many of the things that conspiracy theorists are afraid of. After George H.W. Bush used it, it became more infamous. Now you can go on youtube and find a million videos of the speech, with comments about how "this proves the NWO is real!"