I ran across this article that deals with 4 primary perspectives and conspiracy theories regarding the extraterrestrial hypothesis and found it very interesting. Thought it might be of interest to others. I did a search on BoT for the corresponding link and didn't find anything (although there is much already here about exopolitics) so I thought I'd post it. Here's the link:
http://exopolitics.org/Study-Paper1.htm
The following is an abstract concerning the article:
According to a September 2002 Roper poll, two thirds of US citizens don't believe their government is disclosing the truth about an Extra-Terrestrial (ET) presence over the last fifty years in the USA, and 60% supported the Federal government releasing this information. The history of a purported ET presence has generated numerous books, films, articles, web sites and conspiracy theories on the various activities and intentions of ETs, and clandestine efforts by different government agencies to respond to the ET presence. Many of these popular conspiracy theories are often inconsistent in terms of the intentions, activities and impact of the ETs and of the clandestine government organizations created to respond to the ET presence. These conspiracy theories span the spectrum from a belligerent desire by ETs to deprive humanity of its sovereign control of the planet, to a benevolent desire to help humanity solve its myriad social, economic, and environmental problems; and evolve as a species. As far as the involvement of clandestine government agencies are concerned, conspiracy theories range from non-elected government officials intent on arrogating political power through a 'shadow government', to an enlightened effort to gradually prepare the general public for the startling truth concerning the ET presence.
This Research Study is the culmination of two years research into popular conspiracy theories of an extraterrestrial presence, clandestine government efforts to keep this information from the public realm; and of the policy implications for elected officials and the general public. The Study reviews the different primary sources supporting an extraterrestrial presence; the main conspiracy theories or 'ET perspectives' that are generated by these sources; the main proponents of the different 'perspectives'; the moral orientation of the respective ET elements found in each perspective; analyzes the implications for policy makers and the general public; and finally make a number of policy recommendations that support the need for exopolitics and which advance global peace.