Michael Marshall, president of the Merseyside Skeptics Society, has provided insights into four conspiracy theories that have gained traction in Merseyside, from flat earth beliefs to the 15-minute cities theory.
Origins and Evolution of Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy theories have long sparked debate and intrigue, from documentaries on the Moon landing to books about the alleged UFO crash in Roswell in 1947. The phrase gained popularity around the 1860s, attributed to American author Charles Astor Bristed in the New York Times. A century later, theories emerged that remain discussed today, such as skepticism over the Warren Commission's conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President JFK in 1963.
The Merseyside Skeptics Society, founded in February 2009, has critically examined such theories. Marshall told the ECHO: "We started Merseyside Skeptics Society in February 2009, largely as a place for people who wanted to question the things around them, who didn't want to just accept things on face value, who didn't necessarily go in for superstition, or religion or various things like that."
Flat Earth and 15-Minute Cities
The flat earth theory, originating from ancient communities in Egypt and Greece, persists despite scientific disproof. Marshall noted: "One of the first times I got involved with researching the flat earth movement was because I found a local flat earth group. It was someone on Bold Street who was shouting about how the earth is flat." He added that flat earth groups remain in Liverpool, though smaller than before the pandemic, with many drawn to pandemic and anti-vax theories instead.
The 15-minute cities theory, rising around 2020, falsely claims elites use urban planning to restrict lives via CCTV and zoning. Marshall said: "The 15-minute cities conspiracy theory is always been one that I find a very odd because the world that they are painting as being this totalitarian nightmare is, when you read the details about a 15-minute city, it's that actually you can get to all of the amenities you might need in your life within a 15-minute walk, which is village life."
Cashless Society and Great Replacement
The cashless society theory suggests elites aim to eradicate physical money to control society. Marshall explained: "It's that we need to continue using cash at all costs, because once you're using only digital currencies or once you're tapping your bank card and it's all just happening online, they believe that at any point the government could decide to turn off your access to that money, to de-bank you." He noted the theory's appeal stems from financial precarity, offering a tangible reason for problems.
The great replacement theory, a racist and xenophobic belief, claims white people in Western countries are being replaced by non-white people. Marshall said: "The great replacement theory is the idea that there is a group of elites who want to weaken the power of the white race in white-majority countries." He called it dangerous, fostering fear and hostility toward immigrants, who often flee chaos and find hostility instead. For more information on the Merseyside Skeptics Society, visit their website.
