Lance deHaven-Smith

Lance deHaven-Smith is a Professor Emeritus at Florida State University who specialized in public policy and administrative theory. His research focused on democracy, political psychology, and state politics in the United States. He is most widely known for developing the concept of State Crimes Against Democracy (SCAD) and writing extensively about conspiracy theories in American political discourse. His 2013 book "Conspiracy Theory in America" traced the history of the term "conspiracy theory" and examined how it has been used to discourage criticism of official accounts of politically significant events. During his academic career, deHaven-Smith served as President of the Florida Political Science Association and published numerous books on Florida government and politics. His work analyzed various aspects of state governance, including environmental policy, constitutional reform, and demographic change. DeHaven-Smith's research challenged conventional approaches to studying political controversies and advocated for more rigorous analysis of potential elite political crimes. His writings have been cited in discussions of political assassination, election fraud, and government accountability.

Readers appreciate deHaven-Smith's academic analysis of state crimes and conspiracies, particularly in "Conspiracy Theory in America" where he examines how the CIA weaponized the term "conspiracy theory" to discredit critics. Many readers cite his research on Operation Mockingbird and MKULTRA as compelling evidence. Critics argue his writing can be dense and repetitive, with some sections reading more like academic papers than accessible narrative. Some reviewers note he occasionally strays into speculation without sufficient evidence. On Goodreads, "Conspiracy Theory in America" holds a 3.9/5 rating from 141 reviews. Top reviews praise his methodical research but note the academic tone limits broader appeal. Amazon reviews average 4.3/5 from 88 ratings, with readers highlighting the historical documentation but criticizing the price point for a relatively short book. His other works receive less attention online, with "The Battle for Florida" averaging 3.5/5 from a smaller review pool focused mainly in academic circles.

Conspiracy Theory in America (2013) Examines the origins and evolution of the term "conspiracy theory" and its use to discourage investigation of political crimes.

The Battle for Florida: An Annotated Compendium of Materials from the 2000 Presidential Election (2005) Documents and analyzes the legal and political disputes surrounding the 2000 Florida presidential election recount.

The Hidden State: Florida's Conflicts of Interest in Government (1988) Studies the relationship between private interests and public policy in Florida state government.

Philosophical Critiques of Policy Analysis: Lindblom, Habermas, and the Great Society (1988) Evaluates different approaches to policy analysis through examination of major theoretical frameworks.

Government: How State and Local Government Works (1984) Explains the structure and function of state and local governments in the United States.

Foundations of Representative Democracy (1981) Explores the theoretical and historical basis of democratic representation in government systems.