The Reference Shelf: "Deep State" Conspiracies

Since the founding of the first American colony, there have been those among the American population who believe that there is a secret government that is shaping the world that they experience. This concept of the "deep state" gained massive Internet popularity in the Trump era, as fans of Trump interpreted opposition and criticisms of his policies, personality, and failures as evidence of an organized super government seeking to derail his alleged attempts to free the world from the clutches of this conspiracy. But the "deep state" isn’t just for conservatives and Trump supporters; this fantasy secret government can be imagined and reimagined in hundreds of different ways, fitting the worldviews and standing in as the villain behind the chief concerns, fears, and hopes of any American subculture.