Until quite recently the liberal position was that there are no conspiracies – none, at any rate, of any historical importance. History consisted of long periods of chaos and stupidity, with occasional intervals when rational figures such as themselves were in power. Over time, reason would become ever stronger and the power of liberals would become unchallengeable. Heading all mainstream parties, liberals believed history was a gradual process of incremental improvement. Whether what they desired was a better kind of capitalism or some modernised version of social democracy, they looked forward to the continuing advance of reason – led, of course, by themselves. Though not strictly inevitable, this process was in the long run unstoppable. Even if dark forces were scheming to block the advance of progress, they were bound to fail.
A different liberal view has become influential in the last few years. The election of Donald Trump, the Brexit vote and the advance of populism have shaken the faith in reason, and liberals have invoked concealed forces to explain an ongoing shift in politics that does not square with their view of history. A conspiratorial mindset is now common among bien-pensants who only two or three summers ago would have regarded the idea that politics is shaped by covert actors as a sick fantasy. In this new liberal world-view, progress has not just stalled. It is being wilfully undermined and reversed by clandestine means.
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