ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates how conspiracy theories and cynicism were central to the way in which Occupy (in) London framed its resistance in relation to the power the activists understood themselves to be up against. It begins with an outline of the prevalence of conspiracy theory within the movement, as well as activist defences of such narratives as useful for organisation, disruptive of normative discourses of knowledge, and simply 'accurate' in capturing the 'nature' of power. It suggests that they have no capacity for reason or rational thinking, it questions their sanity, and insinuates that their grievances should not be considered 'sensible'. The more elaborate the theory the more distance people try to put between themselves and it, with some speculations deemed more 'reasonable' than others. The chapter focuses on the accuracy of conspiracy theories of power, but to critically elaborate on how such narratives develop problematic constructions, framings, and understandings of the relationship between power and resistance.
