French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Leiduan, Umberto Eco & Conspiracy Theories. Against Conspiracism. Beyond Anti-Conspiracism
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas

Alessandro Leiduan,

Umberto Eco & Conspiracy Theories. Against Conspiracism. Beyond Anti-Conspiracism

Publisher: Ovadia, coll. "Chemin de pensée"

ISBN 978-2-36392-319-6

Price: 22.00 €

This book examines the phenomenon of conspiracism through the lens of the work of Italian writer Umberto Eco. The primary showcase for his ideas on the subject is found across his novels: Eco explores the interplay between conspiratorial beliefs and specific psychological and cultural mechanisms that, throughout history, have enabled the identification of false scapegoats, blaming them for the evils plaguing the world as a way to absolve oneself of guilt or responsibility. Eco views conspiracy theories as a "modern variant" of an ancient form of irrationality, whose main historical precursors, in his view, are hermeticism and gnosticism. Yet the rationality in the name of which he condemns conspiracy theories may be even more irrational than the one he denounces. While there is no doubt that conspiracy theories reflect a form of irrationality, it is equally evident that they are not the sole manifestation of contemporary irrationality, and that its other ramifications (including those embedded within the currently dominant politico-economic organizational model) deserve to be examined with equal critical rigor...

Alessandro Leiduan is an Agrégé in Italian and teaches at the University of Toulon as an Associate Professor (Maître de conférences). Founder of the "Network for the Study of Conspiracism", he has translated Diego Fusaro's Encore Marx ! for Ovadia publishing.

Alessandro Leiduan investigates the mechanics of conspiracism by drawing extensively on the intellectual framework established by Italian novelist and semiotician Umberto Eco. Through careful analysis of Eco's fictional works, the study illuminates how cultural and psychological drivers lead societies to construct false scapegoats across history. Eco approaches these narratives as modern manifestations of ancient modes of thought, connecting them directly to historical traditions such as gnosticism and hermeticism. This perspective offers readers a structured methodology for decoding the persistent allure of secret plots and hidden manipulations in both past and present eras.

Beyond simply critiquing conspiratorial beliefs, the volume questions the limits of mainstream rationality and examines other pervasive forms of contemporary irrationality linked to dominant socio-economic structures. This balanced critical approach makes the work particularly valuable for students and scholars of modern culture, philosophy, and political discourse. It serves as an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand how contemporary critical theory addresses the complex intersections between mass belief systems, historical patterns of thought, and institutional power dynamics today.