How the Powerful Use Doubt to Avoid Accountability
How the Powerful Use Doubt to Avoid Accountability
mangotek | The Politics of Doubt: How Uncertainty Serves Power
Wrote a new piece:
After listening to Oreskes Naomi on the Center for Humane Technology podcast. Highly recommend it
I was reminded by how often uncertainty is not just present, but deliberately manufactured time and time again in our history Whether it’s: Big tobacco avoiding blame for their role in a global health crisis Surveillance capitalism sidestepping regulations to reap more profits The climate crisis stalled by "debate" when the evidence is overwhelming Or the humanitarian crisis in Gaza clouded by denial and blame-shifting.
The tactic is consistent: Powerful agencies have the will and the resources to sow doubt. Confuse the public. Delay change. Protect their power and profits.
It’s a playbook that's refined, repeated, and repurposed across industries, ideologies, and decades.