By John Louis B. Benito, LPT, MA
This article presents that the seeming validation of conspiracy theorists regarding pedophilic rings with corroboration of codes from the Epstein files may open a pandora’s box for states, their institutions, and their people. The implications of the issue may spillover to other sectors that are also prone to conspiracies and rumors, such as the outer space. Despite being far-fetched for now, actors working and interested in outer space must prepare for the indirect negative implications of the Epstein files.
The Pizzagate Scandal, years after it trended, suddenly makes a resurgence in mainstream discussions as the United States Department of Justice released the Epstein Files. A connection was made with the alleged codes used by Jeffrey Epstein with his email exchanges from various personalities. Words such as “hotdog”, “cheese”, and “pizza” were connected to illegal interactions with minors, making the connection with the premise of Pizzagate itself. Conspiratorial thinkers of the scandal suspected powerful actors involved in child trafficking rings, compelling concerned individuals to act on their own volition. Back then the individuals who subscribed in the conspiracy were depicted with a degree of lunacy. But with the Epstein files’ sudden connection to the scandal, it will be only too human to wonder if the conspiracy theory is accurate. Moreover, it would be also timely to ask if the pedophilia issue is the only thing they got right.
Truth, People, and Power
The Epstein files is a context that presents the root causes, manifestations, and implications of conspiracy theories. Conspiratorial thinking, specifically those that involves state and its own citizens or civilians, comes from the human nature of curiosity with a phenomenon that directly affects them or interested to. A classic example would be flying saucers and UFOs in Roswell, New Mexico which people claim to see and became an interest for some due to media exposure. A main factor for the Roswell Case is the element of secrecy coming from the military and government institutions, leaving civilians without a definitive answer for what it was thus triggering conspiracies.
Institutions of the state, whether civilian or military in nature, function for the state. But how much of it is for the people or involves the people? How should the people be involved? Different perspectives would be rendered, but the facts on the ground will suggest that not all are relayed or involved the people particularly in defense sector. The common variables at stake in these questions would be knowledge and transparency. How much should the people know? How much should state institutions share to the people? A lack of both would likely result to conspiratorial thinking.
All of these variables are present in the Epstein case and presents a struggle for power. There are people who are unfortunately affected by the child trafficking that occurred and hooked international condemnation. Various politicians, academics, monarchs, businessmen, and celebrities, are involved with Epstein’s activities. Most of them are representing institutions of their respective states, wielding power to control and process information from the people that technically includes the victims. The people on the other hand, attempts to gain power themselves by knowing and interpreting as much as they could. Regardless of ideologies and moral standards, conspiracies are bound to rise in these kinds of situations.
More than Pizzas…Spaceships
The cache with the Epstein case is that the conspiracy provided was given a degree of truth. The wild guess of the people as the institutions try to control knowledge and information about it, for whatever interest and purpose it may be, seems to be right. But on which other aspects this may prevail? With all its spaceships and satellites, the outer space could be under scrutiny as well. It is also surrounded by state institutions such as space agencies, the military, ministries related to science and technology, departments on environmental protection, as well as private business entities. Their conglomerate alone can make it an easy target for conspiracies.
The outer space is a sector already ripe with conspiracies. One probable reason is that the outer space is physically far from the people that it is hard to form empirical senses about the domain. Questions regarding the moon landing and the lost cosmonaut can already be considered as classics in conspiracy circles. However, unlike Epstein’s transactions, the endeavors on outer space are noble in its scientific, environmental and military benefits for states as well as private entities. It is not a blatant cover-up attempt on child and women molestation in which, not attempting a direct defense of it, the conspiracy spotlighted. Unlike the Epstein phenomenon, effects of conspiracies on outer space sector may derail the good it continuous to render for the people.
Despite the fact that there is no documented spillover of conspiratorial thinking’s validity and accuracy to outer space issues, it is not a total impossibility in the future. Regardless of the degree of realization later on, all institutions and individuals involved in outer space must always anticipate the worst-case scenarios to protect “the fortress” of its activities and policies. Generally speaking, as the vanguards of the outer space sector are established institutions with authority and legitimate functions, it must rethink its relation with the people. Those who are observing from afar and those that can be directly affected by their actions shall be variables for its equations.
Protecting the Next Frontier
How should states, with its institutions, have relations with its people not founded on conspiracies? For the people, they must accept that states and their organs will not relay everything to them conventionally in the name of security, intelligence, or state survival in general. Nevertheless, they are entitled to knowledge and information that are not secretive in nature and would advance their welfare. On the other hand, states must be honest that there are data that are bound to be confidential. However, they also must at least have a sense of integrity that the individuals working under its institutions shall do their best not to enact harms to its people. At the end, state institutions must balance the pragmatic and the ideal in dealing with the people. What to do with the prevalence of conspiratorial thinking is a different question altogether, but state-people relations must move forward regardless.
In the case of the outer space sector, it must anchor on the fact that the outer space has science as an instrument, a beacon of truth and transparency. The confidential facts that are understandably needed to be kept away from the public should be under those conditions with the security or welfare of the people at mind. A degree of engagement with the people should be maintained for various programs in which exchanges and communications are done to lessen if not avoid mistrust that can stir conspiracies.
At the end, the repercussions of the Epstein files, its connections with conspiratorial thinking, and the implications to state-people relations of both, should be a reminder for different institutions including the outer space sector. The next frontier upward and outside should remain a viable pathway for states and their people moving in the future. Trust and transparency regarding information and knowledge must be utilized and exercise with a degree of appropriateness in order to avoid the undesirable outcomes of conspiratorial thinking and conspiracy theories themselves.
About the Author
John Louis B. Benito, LPT, MA accomplished the Master of Arts in International Studies Major in European Studies Program at De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines, from 2021-2024. Currently, he is a part-time lecturer and the Service-Learning Coordinator under the Department of International Studies also at De La Salle University. His research interests, articles, and academic publications revolve around Europe, ASEAN, security, migration, development, and the outer space.
