Real Enemies: Conspiracy Theories and American Democracy, World War I to 9/11 by Kathryn S. Olmsted

American history is slowly becoming ripe with paranoia and conspiracy theories. Though secret societies and religious suspicion has been around for centuries, today’s modern society is more wary and doubtful of their government more than ever. In her book, Real Enemies, Olmsted traces the reason why American society is living in constant mistrust and paranoia.

According to Olmsted, it all began in World War I, when political schemes were more prominent to the general public. From hereon, the truth became more and more evasive. With the expansion of the US government, a bigger unknown came. The central intelligence, the military, the board of advisors, right up to the President – they were all part of a complex web that is out to get the American populace. This is the general atmosphere and temperature that Olmsted decided to explore.

She goes on to analyze the different occurrences that society has been faced with. Olmsted discusses the Pearl Harbour, the Cold War, the JFK assassination, Watergate, and of course 9/11. She finds hints of reasons and basis for the widespread social paranoia. As she journeys her readers throughout history, Olmsted presents quirky and interesting characters whose lives revolve around the discussed conspiracy theories.

Real Enemies is a brave and thought-provoking book. Here we see instances when the people were right to doubt, as with Watergate. And this political paranoia is rampant again today. Olmsted confronts the readers with the question of paranoia or legitimate doubt. It reveals how fear is so widespread in society, and how this paranoia both revitalizes and weakens democracy in government.