Knights Templar (Masonic Order). Sovereign Great Priory (Canada)

The concept of a 'New World Order' (NWO) is frequently discussed in conspiracy theories, which propose that a hidden group of powerful individuals with a globalist agenda is working to establish an authoritarian one-world government. This alleged government would supersede existing nation-states and enforce a universal ideology, presented as the ultimate stage of historical progress. Conspiracy narratives often suggest that influential figures, past and present, are part of a clandestine network orchestrating major global events, sometimes by creating or exploiting crises, to advance their goal of world domination. Initially, NWO conspiracism was prevalent in American countercultures, particularly among the anti-government right and certain fundamentalist Christian groups concerned with eschatological prophecies. Scholars note that these theories have permeated popular culture, influencing interest in survivalism and paramilitarism, and warn of potential negative impacts on political life, such as terrorism and the rise of ultranationalist leaders.

Historically, figures like Woodrow Wilson and Winston Churchill used the term 'new world order' to signify new eras of global politics and power balances following major wars. This usage often implied opportunities for international cooperation and idealistic proposals for global governance to tackle widespread issues beyond national capacities, while respecting national self-determination. Such aspirations led to the formation of international bodies like the League of Nations and the United Nations, alongside economic frameworks like the Bretton Woods system. Progressive movements generally supported these international efforts but criticized their perceived democratic deficits and inadequacy in preventing conflict or ensuring global justice. Some futurists and socialist circles also adopted the term, envisioning it as a technocratic world state with a planned economy. In contrast, during the Cold War, the term became associated with conspiracy theories, particularly within American right-wing circles, influenced by fears of Freemasons, Illuminati, and Jewish influence, often linked to an 'international communist conspiracy' or a 'Red Menace' seeking a collectivist world government.

During the mid-20th century, fears of a communist-led one-world government permeated right-wing American thought, with groups like the John Birch Society alleging that internationalists, bankers, and politicians were using the UN as a tool for global domination. Writers like Mary M. Davison linked this alleged conspiracy to the establishment of the Federal Reserve and the Council on Foreign Relations. Gary Allen further popularized the anti-globalist theme, identifying international bankers and corporatists as central figures. Following the collapse of communism in the early 1990s, the focus of NWO conspiracy theories shifted from crypto-communists to 'globalists,' perceived as plotting a collectivist world government controlled by an elite oligarchy of international bankers, politicians, and corporatists, or by the UN itself. This shift was partly fueled by growing opposition to corporate internationalism on the American right. President George H. W. Bush's post-Cold War vision of a 'new world order' was interpreted by some progressives as a justification for American imperial ambitions and by conservatives and the far-right as a threat, with fundamentalist Christians viewing it as a sign of the End Times and secular theorists fearing UN hegemony.

In contemporary times, the 'New World Order' has become a central theme for the American Christian right, particularly the Protestant right. Within this framework, the NWO is often depicted as a prophesied anti-Christian force orchestrated by globalists, employing secular ideologies such as environmentalism, feminism, and socialism to undermine Christianity. International organizations like the United Nations, the European Union, the World Trade Organization, and the World Health Organization are frequently cited as instruments of this globalist agenda. Concepts like the NWO and globalism have a significant presence in right-wing Protestant media and prophecy narratives. Televangelist Pat Robertson's 1991 book, 'The New World Order,' brought significant attention to these theories within Christian communities.

“We shall have world government, whether or not we like it. The question is only whether world government will be achieved by consent or by conquest.”

“Until now, the world we've known has been a world divided—a world of barbed wire and concrete block, conflict, and the cold war. Now, we can see a new world coming into view. A world in which there is the genuine prospect of new world order. In the words of Winston Churchill, a "world order" in which "the principles of justice and fair play ... protect the weak against the strong ..." A world where the United Nations, freed from cold war stalemate, is poised to fulfill the historic vision of its founders. A world in which freedom and respect for human rights find a home among all nations.”