Index/People/Michael Barkun

Michael Barkun

American political scientist

Fact-Checks

5 results
Dec 1, 2025
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What is the origin of the 'lizard people' or 'reptilian' conspiracy theory about world leaders?

The modern “lizard people” or “reptilian” conspiracy was popularized in the late 1990s by British writer David Icke, who claimed shape‑shifting reptilian aliens from systems such as Alpha Draconis con...

Nov 18, 2025
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What is the new world order/Illuminati conspiracy theory

The “New World Order” (NWO) and “Illuminati” labels describe a long‑running set of conspiracy narratives that claim a secret elite seeks a one‑world government or global domination; these ideas trace ...

Dec 7, 2025
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What historical origins led to the reptilian shapeshifter conspiracy theory?

The modern reptilian-shapeshifter conspiracy was popularized by David Icke in the late 1990s, who claimed a blood-drinking, shape‑shifting reptilian elite—linked to ancient myths and modern secret soc...

Nov 18, 2025

How has David Icke's reptilian elite theory been received by the scientific community?

David Icke’s “reptilian elite” thesis is treated by mainstream scholars and reputable media as a conspiracist, largely irrational idea and often criticized as anti‑Semitic; academic treatments typical...

Nov 7, 2025

How did academic literature on conspiracy theories treat David Icke in the 1990s and 2000s?

Academic literature in the 1990s and 2000s treated David Icke primarily as a prominent exemplar of *fringe, “superconspiracy” thinking*—widely scrutinized, often dismissed as fantastical or stigmatize...