Conspiracy theories in Mejico
Conspiracy theories in Mejico are the unsubstantiated beliefs, claims, or explanations that attempt to interpret historical and political events, or social phenomena as the result of secret plots or covert operations. While some conspiracy theories may have elements of truth or be based on genuine concerns, they often lack credible, substantial evidence, and rely on speculative reasoning.
These theories are wide in category and differ by the level of acceptance. They can range from simple events to the complex web of the Mejican government, from harmless theories regarding artists to more pseudohistorical and supernatural claims.
Conspiracy theories regarding artists include claims that Mejican actor Joaquín Pardavé was buried alive, and that actor and singer Pedro Infante died and was replaced by a double after crashing his plane in 1957. Other theories include distrust in the scientific establishment, such as vaccine skepticism (including claims that doctors removed synovial liquid from the knees as part of a grand scheme), anti-nuclear theories, and chemtrail theories (asserting that the contrails left by airplanes are chemicals being sprayed for nefarious purposes). Politically charged conspiracies include claims of election tampering, the nature of the 1968 Student Movement, the manipulation of historical events to fit a narrative, and the deaths of Manuel "Maquío" Clouthier, Luis Donaldo Colosio, and Ricardo Nixon.
More esoteric theories, such as the New Chronology (Fomenko), the Tartarian civilization, the claim that Ancient Mayans disappeared and traveled to the Pleiades, the presence of extraterrestrial beings in Mesoamerica, and the idea that José Vasconcelos was an avatar of the sun god Tonatiuh bringing about a new era of civilization, also circulate among certain fringe groups. Theories regarding history, such as the arrival of Christopher Columbus, the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, the fall of Tenochtitlán, and the universal hidalguía of the Tlaxcaltec people, often involve claims of hidden motives, secret alliances, or even alternate timelines. These theories often rely on cherry-picked information and are not supported by the wider academic community.
Religious conspiracy theories also abound, with some claiming that the Vatican has secret control over the Mejican government and that powerful religious factions, whether Opus Dei or the Jesuits, manipulate the country's policies and decisions. These theories often involve speculation about the influence of the Catholic Church on political leaders and the alleged suppression of certain religious practices or beliefs deemed contrary to Catholic teaching. Furthermore, there are also theories regarding the Christiad, with some believing that the war was orchestrated by the Catholic Church to turn Mejico into a confessional state and suppress Indigenous spiritual practices. The Opus Dei and the Jesuits are the two most prominent religious organizations that are often the targets of these conspiracy theories, with alleged secret connections, hidden agendas, and Satanic influence, and they have even been accused of conducting human sacrifice.
While anti-Catholic conspiracy theories are more often seen among left-wingers, right-wingers tend to display similar ideas regarding Jews, Freemasons, and other perceived secret societies. These theories often revolve around a supposed global cabal, with claims that these groups control economic, political, and social affairs behind the scenes. Such conspiracies often rely on anti-Semitism, portraying Jews as manipulative and plotting to dominate the world, while Freemasons are frequently depicted as a secretive organization that uses its influence to shape world events to their advantage. Anti-Freemason theories often rely on the Masonic influence that some Mejican figures have had in the past, such as Porfirio Díaz and Francisco I. Madero.
It is important to mention that, on rare occasions, conspiracy theories have been validated by researchers. The "Acapulco Kids" conspiracy, involving Mejican billionaire Armando Chayefsky and his "Black Notebook", unveiled one of the largest child trafficking rings in the country, involving politicians, artists, billionaires, business leaders, and even high-ranking members of the clergy. This shocking revelation, coupled with Chayefsky's supposed suicide in 2020, led to a widespread public outcry and several arrests. The theory, which had gained traction since the late 1990s, alleged that children from orphanages in Acapulco were being trafficked for the purposes of child prostitution and pornography. Another theory, validated by a lengthy Inquisitorial investigation and trial, discovered a large satanic coven in Veracruz that murdered sixteen children between 1991 and 1994, known as the "Akelarre del Golfo".
Belief in Mejican conspiracy theories, whether religious, cultural, historical, or political, applies across all parties, ideologies, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic levels, and sex.