Search for the Unknown: Canada's UFO Files and the Rise of Conspiracy Theory

The Canadian government's investigations into UFO reports from 1950 to 1990 were handled poorly, leading to tension between the state and its citizens. Citizens responded by forming UFO clubs and civilian investigation groups, accusing the government of a cover-up. This mistrust fueled anti-authoritarian attitudes and conspiracy theories, highlighting the challenges governments face in responding to public anxieties and preserving trust in public institutions.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 15 April 2022
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

In the 1950s, tensions rose between the Canadian state and its citizens due to alleged sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in the country's skies. While the public demanded answers and information about these mysterious phenomena, government officials appeared unconcerned and unresponsive. This lack of transparency fueled suspicion and deepened divisions within Canadian society.

Over the following decades, the suspicion of the government grew among certain sectors of the population, leading to demands for greater public transparency and a new form of citizen activism. Citizens began forming UFO clubs and conducting their own investigations into the sightings, hoping to uncover the truth behind the mystery. However, the government continued to deny the existence of UFOs, claiming that there was no evidence to support such claims.

This lack of satisfactory answers only fueled the growing mistrust between citizens and the government. Some began to believe that the government was hiding information about UFOs or even engaging in a cover-up to prevent the public from learning the truth. This belief led to the cultivation of conspiracy theories and the emergence of anti-authoritarian attitudes.

The Canadian government's handling of UFO reports from 1950 to the 1990s raises important questions about the relationship between the state and its citizens. It highlights the challenges that governments face when responding to public anxieties and preserving trust in public institutions. The government's dismissive attitude towards UFO sightings and its refusal to provide satisfactory answers only fueled the mistrust and suspicion that continue to linger in Canadian society.

In conclusion, the alleged sightings of UFOs in Canadian skies in the 1950s sparked tensions between the state and its citizens, leading to demands for greater transparency and citizen activism. The government's handling of these reports, characterized by a lack of transparency and a dismissive attitude, only deepened the mistrust and suspicion between citizens and the government. This history serves as a reminder of the importance of open communication and the need for governments to be accountable to their citizens.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228010746