2020 10 15 Diogenes - Vol 62 No 3 - Karbovnik

Magazine Overview

Title: Diogenes
Issue: 00(0)
Volume: Diogenes
Date: 2020
Publisher: SAGE
Country: France
Language: English
ISSN: 03921921

This article, "Conspiracy theories and UFOs" by Damien Karbovnik from the Université de Strasbourg, explores the intricate relationship between the phenomenon of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and the development of conspiracy theories. It delves into how these theories, particularly the 'cosmic conspiracy,' have evolved and gained prominence, focusing on the contributions of French ufologist and science fiction author Jimmy Guieu.

The Rise of UFO Conspiracy Theories

The article begins by noting that since the first UFO sightings in 1947, numerous theories have emerged to explain these phenomena, many of which lean towards conspiracy. While a spectrum of conspiracy theories exists, the article highlights Jimmy Guieu's perspective due to his comprehensive approach. Guieu, a pioneer in ufology, dedicated his life to researching UFOs and their evolution until his death in 2000. Through his extensive works, he attempted to shed light on UFOs, ranging from alleged government 'black-outs' to the secret government entity known as MJ-12. His approach, though considered marginal by some, shares similarities with widely distributed television productions, indicating a recurrent narrative structure in alien conspiracy theories.

The phenomenon of UFOs has become almost inseparable from the idea of conspiracy in popular imagination, especially since the success of television series like 'The X-Files.' However, the article points out that suspicions of a conspiracy to conceal the 'truth' were not immediate. Several decades passed between the first UFO sightings in 1947 and the widespread notion of a vast conspiracy involving extraterrestrials, Earth-based governments, and secret societies. The article emphasizes that while the study of UFOs (ufology) is a broad field, UFOs and conspiracies surrounding them are not necessarily synonymous.

Jimmy Guieu: Between Fiction and Reality

Jimmy Guieu (1926–2000) is presented as a multi-faceted writer, known for his science fiction but also for spy novels and detective stories under various pseudonyms. His works often incorporated esoteric symbolism and occult themes, which he termed 'romans-vérité' (novels of truth), although he considered them fiction. In addition to his literary career, Guieu published books on flying saucers in 1954 and 1956, compiling known facts to suggest coherence in UFO phenomena. He was among the first in France to investigate the subject, aiming to unravel its mystery. While he favored the idea of genuine alien existence, these early books served primarily as documentation, without presenting overarching explanatory theories.

Guieu returned to the subject in the 1980s and 1990s, moving from documentation to developing a complete UFO phenomenon interpretation based on conspiracy theory. He sought to link reported events, suggesting a hidden logic. His 'romans-vérité' novels, while featuring fictional characters, integrated factual elements and served as a practical expression of his hypotheses. These novels often included appendices that examined authentic aspects claimed to be verified.

Guieu was also a significant media figure, hosting radio programs and appearing on television to discuss his books and denounce the 'cosmic conspiracy.' In the early 1990s, he compiled video-cassettes detailing his theories on UFOs and EBEs (Extra-terrestrial Biological Entities) and investigating 'cursed facts.' A manuscript, "Ovni – E.T. la vérité cachée: Terre, ta civilisation fout le camp!" (UFOs – E.T. the Hidden Truth: Earth, your Civilization is Stuffed!), synthesized his conspiracy ideas, though its authenticity and circulation on the internet are not guaranteed.

From Flying Saucers to Aliens

The article traces the evolution of the 'UFO phenomenon,' which encompasses not only unidentified flying objects but also their occupants, presumed to be extraterrestrial beings. The perception of this phenomenon has evolved chronologically.

Early sightings, dating back to World War II, involved pilots reporting 'Foo Fighters'—balls of light that followed their missions. While initially explained as potential secret weapons, later investigations considered other possibilities. The emergence of the phenomenon is traditionally situated in 1947 with Kenneth Arnold's sighting of nine objects, popularizing the term 'flying saucers.'

Explanations for UFOs initially favored faulty observation or hallucinations. However, the phenomenon expanded beyond mere sightings to include reports of landings and 'close encounters.' 'Contactees,' individuals claiming direct interaction with extraterrestrials, gained media attention, such as George Adamski and Claude Vorilhon (Raël).

Alongside peaceful encounters, reports of alien abductions for experimental purposes emerged, notably the case of Betty and Barney Hill in 1961, who described abduction by grey aliens. These accounts often required regressive hypnosis to recover memories of medical experiments and the implantation of devices.

From the 1970s, animal mutilations, particularly cattle, became associated with the alien phenomenon, with witnesses noting the surgical precision of the operations, suggesting alien involvement, primarily by the 'Greys.'

The concept of 'paleo-visits' also arose, suggesting alien visitations in humanity's past, aligning with the Ancient Astronaut theory popularized by Erich von Däniken. This theory proposed that aliens visited Earth, assisted human development, and left traces, such as in the pyramids of Egypt and Nazca lines.

The Black-out

Jimmy Guieu's originality lay in his attempt to link all aspects of the UFO phenomenon into a single narrative, aiming to demonstrate its reality. Confronted by scientific skepticism, he, along with other believers, attributed the lack of scientific interest to a deliberate strategy by governments—the 'Black-out'—to conceal exchanges between aliens and governments. Guieu detailed this 'Black-out' procedure, involving complicity of scientists, manipulation of scientific discourse, deception of the press, and intimidation of witnesses.

This disinformation campaign was also accompanied by a procedure to discredit ufologists. Guieu, quoting Jean-François Gille, outlined a three-phase process: publishing documents on obscure platforms, allowing the researcher ('X') to disseminate their own information, and then revealing the source to discredit 'X' and effectively 'burn them off.'

These procedures formed part of the 'cosmic conspiracy,' suggesting that governments either had advanced contact with aliens or were aware of UFOs but deliberately concealed this truth from their populations. This conspiracy evolved into a well-structured concept during the 1980s.

Majestic 12

Guieu believed the 'Black-out' was also intended to conceal the existence of a more obscure organization: Majestic 12 (MJ-12). Allegedly created in 1947 after the Roswell incident, MJ-12 supposedly comprised politicians, scientists, and military personnel tasked with negotiating with aliens, particularly the 'Short Greys.' The existence of MJ-12 is based on alleged top-secret documents from the 1980s, purportedly revealing a commission set up by President Truman. Although these documents remain unauthenticated and are debated within ufology, Guieu considered them authentic, making MJ-12 central to his conspiracy theory.

Guieu posited that MJ-12 evolved into a secret government operating in the shadows, with a counterpart in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Its objective was to negotiate with aliens for technological advantage. In exchange for technology, MJ-12 guaranteed alien security on Earth and facilitated their operations through secret underground bases, such as Groom Lake (Area 51) and locations in Australia, Russia, and France. The 'Black-out' served to conceal these alien operations, and the 'Men in Black' (MIB) were supposedly employed to eliminate evidence and silence witnesses.

Guieu suggested that the aliens' intention was to create a hybrid race with humans for colonization, using abductions and analyses for this purpose. Cattle mutilations and the creation of diseases like AIDS and 'mad cow' disease were also attributed to the 'Short Greys' as part of this agenda.

Furthermore, Guieu claimed that MJ-12 engaged in worldwide drug trafficking to finance alien bases and that President John F. Kennedy and Pope John-Paul I were assassinated by MJ-12 operatives for threatening to reveal the group's existence.

Guieu's work aimed to expose and combat this 'cosmic conspiracy,' calling for resistance. He believed that Earth had been visited by numerous alien types, some benevolent, who could assist humanity against the tyranny of MJ-12 and the EBEs.

The Conspiracy on the Small Screen

The article notes that while the conspiracy theory might seem marginal, television has played a significant role in its exposure. Starting with 'The Invaders' in the 1960s, alien conspiracy themes entered popular culture. However, it was the series 'The X-Files' (1993–2002) that significantly spread the most elaborate conspiracy theory. The series followed FBI agent Fox Mulder's investigation into extraterrestrials, uncovering a vast plot involving aliens and numerous official and transnational institutions.

'The X-Files' reflected many of Guieu's ideas, including the Roswell crash, cooperation between aliens and the US, alien technology transfer, hybrid race creation, and the existence of different alien races. The series also depicted a lone hero striving to uncover the truth against institutional opposition.

Other series, like 'Dark Skies: the Impossible Truth' (1996–1997), set in the 1960s, also explored similar themes, with protagonists uncovering alien involvement in major historical events, including the assassination of President Kennedy.

A Conspiracy with Mythological Facets

The article concludes by examining the 'cosmic conspiracy' through three rules of conspiracy theorizing: 'Everything is linked,' 'Nothing happens by chance,' and 'Things are never what they seem to be.' These rules highlight the interconnectedness of events, the underlying intent behind the UFO phenomenon (alien colonization through hybridization), and the existence of a secret government operating in the shadows.

The 'cosmic conspiracy' offers a re-interpretation of numerous events, including the Kennedy assassination and the origins of AIDS, presenting a counter-history of humanity. The narrative structure often features a lone hero struggling against both official institutions and aliens to reveal a terrible secret concerning humanity's survival. This narrative, oscillating between fact and fiction, constructs a mythology that implies a lived experience, offering explanations for the functioning of the world and the emancipation of humanity, albeit at the price of persecution for those who hold this knowledge.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the intersection of UFO phenomena and conspiracy theories. The article critically examines how these theories are constructed, disseminated, and popularized, particularly through the work of Jimmy Guieu and media portrayals. The editorial stance appears to be analytical, presenting Guieu's theories and their cultural impact without necessarily endorsing them, while highlighting the mythological and narrative structures that underpin these conspiracy beliefs. The focus is on understanding the phenomenon of conspiracy theorizing itself within the context of UFOs.