The Great Reset
-- What is the Great Reset - and how did it get hijacked by conspiracy theories?
By BBC Monitoring and BBC Reality Check
BBC News --
-- A vague set of proposals from an influential organisation has been transformed by online conspiracy theorists into a powerful viral rallying cry. What is the truth behind the "Great Reset"?
Believers spin dark tales about an authoritarian socialist world government run by powerful capitalists and politicians - a secret cabal that is broadcasting its plan around the world.
Despite all the contradictions in the last sentence, thousands online have latched on to this latest reimagining of an old conspiracy theory - updated for the age of Covid.
Where did it begin?
Like many popular conspiracy theories, this one starts with a grain of fact.
In June 2020, the Prince of Wales and the head of the annual Davos summit launched an initiative calling for the pandemic to be seen as a chance for what they called a Great Reset of the global economy.
A flashy launch video interspersed images of a world in chaos - a dead killer whale, a hurricane, a kangaroo caught in a fire - with a speech by Prince Charles.
"We have an incredible opportunity to create entirely new sustainable industries," the prince said. "The time to act is now." --
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The other founder of the initiative is Prof Klaus Schwab, head of the World Economic Forum (WEF), which organises an annual summit in a Swiss ski resort for some of the world's wealthiest and most powerful people.
He explained the idea behind the Great Reset in an article accompanying the launch:
"The pandemic represents a rare but narrow window of opportunity to reflect, reimagine, and reset our world to create a healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous future."
There's a Great Reset podcast and even a 280-page book. But the plan is light on specific detail.
Prof Schwab does speak about a "wealth tax" and ending fossil fuel subsidies. But the scope is huge - covering technology, climate change, the future of work, international security and other themes - and it's difficult to see precisely what the Great Reset might mean in practice.
This lack of clarity, combined with the plan being launched by an influential organisation, provided fertile ground for conspiracy theories to grow. -- https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/CA42/production/_118887715_gettyimages-1272818638.jpg
-- The WEF's head Klaus Schwab launched the Great Reset initiative in June 2020 --
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-- A conspiracy theory is born
The proposals, along with the WEF itself, face legitimate criticism from a variety of sources. Conservative political figures and media outlets accuse the organisation of pushing for environmental policies that would hurt the economy.
There are questions about whether unelected individuals like Mr Schwab should have the power to lobby so prominently for ideas that could potentially transform the global economy. The Davos meeting is certainly filled with powerful people who have a huge influence on world events. There are also concerns about the impact of technology on civil liberties and jobs.
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-- Anti-lockdown activists rally against the Great Reset and the UN in New Zealand --