What Is The 'New World Order?' The Conspiracy Theory (And Its Memes) Explained

Beyonce, Alexander Hamilton, Katy Perry and the killers of Harambe — what do these people have in common? Well, according to some, they are all members of a secret organization called the Illuminati that, if you believe it, apparently seeks to direct global affairs and install a "new world order."

From the dawn of the internet, people who believe in the Illuminati have been ruthlessly and continually mocked in memes. Perhaps this is because the Illuminati themselves have an interest in memes.

But mocking aside, what exactly is the conspiracy theory behind the supposed New World Order? Read on to find all the answers (and memes) you seek.

What Is The "New World Order?"

"New World Order" is a phrase that some believe refers to a planned world government managed by the Illuminati.

In an interview with CNN on July 1st, 2022, Brian Deese, a member of the National Economic Council, referred to a "liberal world order." Many online immediately seized on his remarks as supposed evidence of the Illuminati publicly admitting their agenda, and the topics "Liberal World Order" and "New World Order" were in the top 10 of Twitter trends for much of the day.

A similar incident occurred late last March, when President Joe Biden himself used the phrase in a speech, leading to much speculation online.

Pretty much whenever a major politician says those words, they tend to trend and memes are made shortly after in a cycle that repeats itself frequently.

Where Does New World Order Come From?

The Illuminati was founded in Bavaria in 1776 as an organization to spread Enlightenment-style thought. Supposedly, a number of globally important figures and intellectuals were members. Throughout the 19th and 20th century, resentment of secretive elite organizations like the Illuminati and Freemasons were a recurring theme in the politics of many countries, especially the United States.

But the phrase "New World Order" really entered the public consciousness after the Gulf War, when then-President George H.W. Bush brought it up in speeches. Some thought Bush was secretly signaling to the Illuminati that he wanted to create a totalitarian world government that would be called the New World Order.

Illuminati memes have been on the internet just about since it began. Our entry on the topic, created 10 years ago, includes many Advice Animal memes, many mocking believers.

Despite its age, that tradition continues well on into today, as people routinely mock the conspiracy theorists who believe in the New World Order, but with more modern types of memes.

What Did Deese, Biden, Bush (and Whoever) Really Mean?

The idea of "world order” refers to a concept in international relations. The idea is that countries and institutions at certain moments in history follow a certain set of rules, dictated by how the global economy and balance of power are structured.

Following World War II, the United States imposed a rules-based world order defined by institutions like the United Nations, preventing direct conflict between major powers and setting rules for what countries could do. Prior to this, other kinds of world order (and disorder) also existed.

One such example is the colonial “world order,” which was dominated by European empires and came to an end with the violent years between 1900 and 1946. Biden expressed during his speech in March 2022 that he thinks the world is at an “inflection point,” in which the post-WWII world order that was traditionally underwritten by American power will be replaced by another.

George H.W. Bush also believed 1991 was an inflection point in world history, following the end of the Cold War and America's victory in the Gulf War.

But What Did Deese, Biden and Bush Really Really Mean?

Well, according to some, all you need to do is take out a dollar bill from your wallet and look at the pyramid with an eye on top. This should, apparently, answer any further questions you have.

New World Order Usage In Memes

Many Illuminati memes in the 2010s seemed to revolve around figures in hip-hop being accused of participation in the secret organization, especially Jay-Z and Beyonce. This was in part due to a hand gesture the celebrities frequently made, which some thought looked like a pyramid.

Frequently, Illuminati memes in the old days featured people spotting triangles everywhere, which is allegedly the sign of the Illuminati, and drawing conclusions. They were often captioned "Illuminati Confirmed."

You might find a hint in these "Illuminati confirmed" memes of the kind of "proofs" that real conspiracy theorists, like QAnon use to justify their beliefs. A lot of the time, these proofs are based off finding hidden symbols or patterns in photographs.

More modern Illuminati conspiracy theories are tied in with new concerns over vaccinations and the "Deep State." The conspiracy scene has changed considerably over the years, but the New World Order has never completely fallen out of the discussion.

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For the full details on the New World Order, be sure to check out our entry on the New World Order here for even more information.