History Main / BenevolentConspiracy

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode, "Mystery Of The Urinal Deuce, [[spoiler: The Government didn't start 9/11, but they ''created'' the 9/11 conspiracy movement. They did it because they don't want to appear as a nation weak enough to let such an attack happen, the movement giving them an illusion of power to some]].

* ''Manga/MidnightOccultCivilServants'' has the Japanese government establishment Nocturnal Community Relations Divisions in all the wards/cities in order to protect the public and police various paranormal species known as ''Anothers'' and ensure that they don't harm anyone.

Contrast the NebulousCriminalConspiracy, which is very definitely evil. If run by the government, it's likely a case of NoSuchAgency. Like a regular conspiracy, may be headed by an OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness. May overlap with an AncientOrderOfProtectors, particularly when a SealedEvilInACan is involved, though they're more often an ImpartialPurposeDrivenFaction.

* ''Fanfic/MyHuntsmanAcademia'' has the same conspiracy as in RWBy, only Izuku and Toshinori are in on it as well due to being the current and former holders of One For All. Ozpin deliberately keeps Izuku in the dark about the more sensitive matters to let him live out his school life in relative peace for a little while longer, having learned the dangers of putting so much pressure on his subordinates so early in his careers from [[MyGreatestFailure the dissolution of Team STRQ]].

* ''Franchise/{{Stargate|Verse}}'' Command and its [[{{Area51}} associated]] [[TheMenInBlack organizations]], which fought and won three separate interstellar wars in defense of Earth without any Earthling not cleared being any the wiser. They've been known to protect the secret by simply [[TeleportersAndTransporters beaming the evidence away]], or by buying off a news company with the promise of an exclusive when the program goes public. Not to mention their diversionary tactic of [[FictionAsCoverUp backing a cheesy cable science fiction series about a secret government organization that roughly does exactly what Stargate Command does]].

* The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense from the ''{{Film/Hellboy}}'' films (as opposed to the comics, where they worked openly). This is a secret organization that protects the world from supernatural dangers.

[[folder: Web Comics]]

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]
* In one two-part ''[[SpiderMan Amazing Spider-Man]]'' story during Eric Larson's run, Spidey teamed up with ThePunisher to find out who was hoarding ''thousands'' of tons of cocaine but not selling it. It turned out that an agency in the actual U.S. Government (which one was not revealed) was behind this scheme. Worried that the economy's dependence on the Gold Standard might be a liability if gold were to lose value in a crisis, this agency was actually considering using cocaine as the new standard, reasoning that drugs always had value. While both Spider-Man and the Punisher knew this was a sick and misguided idea, they decided against exposing it; not only would it be hard for a judge to believe "a man in a mask like me and a walking gun shop like you" as Spidey put it, knowing about such a thing would hurt -- if not destroy -- what trust remained in America's government. (''However'', they ''did'' destroy the cocaine. Letting the conspiracy continue was not an option.)
* In ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'', the US government goes out of his way to hide the existence of the Evronians to prevent a nation-wide panic if the public found out there's an HordeOfAlienLocusts ready to invade Earth-and the one time federal agent Mary Ann Flagstarr stumbled on [[PhysicalGoddess Xadhoom]] she flat-out admitted they're not the only thing the government hides for such reasons (and that's why she's not going to investigate Xadhoom as long as she's not a danger). On his part, Paperinik implicitly agrees on this by keeping the secret even before finding out the government knew, and in a few occasions had to prevent the release or discredit evidence of them.

* The UsefulNotes/{{NSA}} is portrayed as one in ''Literature/DigitalFortress''.

* In the ''Literature/BelisariusSeries'', the good guys who are movers and shakers of the UsefulNotes/ByzantineEmpire begin their plans for dealing with the evil Malwa without telling the Emperor or Empress, the former of which being something of a paranoiac who sees conspiracies against him and doesn't really trust the titular general out of fear Belisarius' {{Cincinnatus}} behavior is just an act, and not for real. This is a downplayed version as Empress Theodora later joins them.
* ''Literature/{{Safehold}}'' has the Brethren of Saint Zhermeau, with the goal to [[spoiler:destroy the corrupt PathOfInspiration Church, and bring back the knowledge of humanity's true history]]. Also the Circle, which wants to reform the CorruptChurch from within.

* In ''Literature/DanceoftheButterfly'', the wealthy and powerful Felcraft family fully embraces their self-imposed duty of protecting humankind from a threat it doesn't even know exists. Keeping this threat a secret, as well as thwarting it, is part of the cover-up.

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

* [[Franchise/StargateVerse Stargate Command]] and its [[{{Area51}} associated]] [[TheMenInBlack organizations]], which fought and won three separate interstellar wars in defense of Earth without any Earthling not cleared being any the wiser. They've been known to protect the secret by simply [[TeleportersAndTransporters beaming the evidence away]], or by buying off a news company with the promise of an exclusive when the program goes public. Not to mention their diversionary tactic of [[FictionAsCoverUp backing a cheesy cable science fiction series about a secret government organization that roughly does exactly what Stargate Command does.]]

* ''Series/{{UFO}}'': The organization known as SHADO (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organization) uses land, sea, and air units to intercept and destroy attacking/invading [=UFO=]s. It also acts to keep the alien attacks a secret, sometimes by erasing the memories of people who encounter aliens or [=UFO=]s.
* ''Series/ThirtyRock'': The cast and crew of ''TGS'' have one to get Liz laid. She thanks them.
* The eponymous organization in ''Series/{{Threshold}}'', which is trying to protect the United States (and, presumably, the rest of humanity) from an alien infection.

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

[[folder: Web Original]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]

* In Film/Monsterverse, Monarch operates as a clandestine government organization dedicated to researching and combating giant monsters (known by the organization as M.U.T.O.s or Titans).

* The Brotherhood of the Cruciform Sword in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'' were/are a group sworn to keep the Holy Grail a secret and away from those who would misuse its gifts. They have little problem with trying to kill those who would seek the Grail, as they are backed by divine will. Nor do they have a problem with dying themselves to keep it secret if they have to. (''Magazine/{{MAD}}'', of all things, pointed out in their satire how hypocritical it would be of an organization dedicated to protecting the memory of Jesus Christ to resort to methods He would clearly ''not'' approve of.) Indy's response that he just wants to find his father to Kazim's question below shows how benevolent they are, giving him info on how to find him.

* The ''Literature/{{Foundation}}'' series, from Creator/IsaacAsimov:
** The series initially presents the eponymous Foundation as being one of these: a hidden organization that, through its machinations, is attempting to steer human society through the dark ages into a new prosperous age. Later on, the [[spoiler:Second Foundation]] is somewhat presented like this.
** And, of course, at the end of the series, it's revealed that [[spoiler:the robots from tens of thousands of years ago, who had seemingly disappeared from the galaxy, have been benevolently guiding humanity's path the entire time]].
* Creator/IsaacAsimov's short story ''Literature/TheDeadPast''. The government is secretly trying to prevent anyone from developing a time viewer device (a device that can show the past). The protagonists disagree and not only develop such a device, but distribute the plans widely. A government agent then explains to them the reason for the ban: such a time viewer could be used to spy on anyone, anywhere in current time. The widespread availability of such viewers means the effective end of personal privacy for the human race.

* In one two-part ''[[SpiderMan Amazing Spider-Man]]'' story during Eric Larson's run, Spidey teamed up with ThePunisher to find out who was hoarding ''thousands'' of tons of cocaine but not selling it. It turned out that an agency in the actual U.S. Government (which one was not revealed) was behind this scheme. Worried that the economy's dependence on the Gold Standard might be a liability if gold were to lose value in a crisis, this agency was actually considering using cocaine as the new standard, reasoning that drugs always had value. While both Spider-Man and the Punisher knew this was a sick and misguided idea, they decided against exposing it; not only would it be hard for a judge to believe "a man in a mask like me and a walkng gun shop like you" as Spidey put it, knowing about such a thing would hurt -- if not destroy -- what trust remained in America's government. (''However'', they ''did'' destroy the cocaine. Letting the conspiracy continue was not an option.)

* the ''TabletopGame/D20Modern'' setting has a few groups like this dedicated to protecting humanity from Shadows, the most prominent being Department-7, the one the [=PCs=] are most likely to belong to. The only known member other than them is a woman named "Ms. Fellows", who always speaks to them as a hologram (of a woman in a business suit and sunglass) at a studio apartment. Exactly where she broadcasts from is unknown, as is much of the details of the organization.

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist:'' The heroes know [[BigBad Father's]] GovernmentConspiracy is too pervasive, and the MoleInCharge [[VillainWithGoodPublicity too popular]], to publicly expose without causing a societal breakdown. So they instead plan a counter-conspiracy to [[TheCoup remove Father and those loyal to him from power]] while [[TheWorldIsNotReady covering up most of what actually happened]]. [[spoiler:They end up [[TheScapegoat blaming]] [[FramingTheGuiltyParty the two corrupt generals still alive]] for [[PresidentEvil Bradley's]] assassination and Father's (temporary) [[YourSoulIsMine mass soul-removal]].]]

* Creator/IsaacAsimov's short story "The Dead Past". The government is secretly trying to prevent anyone from developing a time viewer device (a device that can show the past). The protagonists disagree and not only develop such a device, but distribute the plans widely. A government agent then explains to them the reason for the ban: such a time viewer could be used to spy on anyone, anywhere in current time. The widespread availability of such viewers means the effective end of personal privacy for the human race.
** Of course, Asimov never answers the corollary: the government has controlled the time viewer for decades, and admits to using it to spy on the protagonists. Personal privacy ended long before, it's just that no-one knew it save the government. Also, the government has similar laws against ''all'' [[EnforcedTechnologyLevels unregulated scientific research]] -- presumably enforced via chronoscope.

* The Assassins in ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' try to stop the Templars from installing a OneWorldOrder. On the other hand, the Templars have many Type III {{Anti Villain}}s and seem to think that UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans, but they have some questionable methods of reaching their goals (starting UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, for example) and they believe that HumansAreTheRealMonsters.

* ''Franchise/MenInBlack'': A secret agency on Earth, which started as a GovernmentConspiracy (but avoids them now, because "they ask too many questions"), covertly coordinates with alien governments to control alien immigration to and from Earth, as well as carefully controlling the importation of [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum advanced alien technology]].

TheConspiracy that secretly rules the world and manipulates the lives of the common {{muggles}} is, for a change, a force for actually good rather than evil, though perhaps not LawfulGood, depending on [[TheEmpire who runs]] [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny the Government]]. Indeed, a Benevolent Conspiracy might actually be ''run'' by [[GovernmentConspiracy the Government]], in order to discreetly fight against evil, or at least to protect the interests of the people they lead. (Which is probably not to say "the current administration"; these kind of secret conspiracies are looking to a longer view.) One such goal of this conspiracy might be to work against a more powerful enemy without provoking an all out fight against them, or to prevent the populace from [[YouCanPanicNow breaking out in a counter-productive panic]] by [[TheMasquerade revealing things to them before they are ready.]]

TheConspiracy that secretly rules the world and manipulates the lives of the common {{muggles}} is, for a change, a force for actually good rather than evil, though perhaps not LawfulGood, depending on [[TheEmpire who runs]] [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny the Government]]. Indeed, a Benevolent Conspiracy might actually be ''run'' by [[GovernmentConspiracy the Government]], in order to discreetly fight against evil, or at least to protect the interests of the people they lead. (Which is probably not to say "the current administration"; these kind of secret conspiracies are looking to a longer view). One such goal of this conspiracy might be to work against a more powerful enemy without provoking an all out fight against them, or to prevent the populace from [[YouCanPanicNow breaking out in a counter-productive panic]] by [[TheMasquerade revealing things to them before they are ready.]]

** [[Spoiler: Belltower's people-smuggling operation]] seems to be the only real exception; they are purely profit-motivated with no real redeeming qualities whatsoever. Majestic-12 comes close, being interested in power for power's sake by the start of the first game, but even they were created because they felt the Illuminati could be helping people more rather than simply observing the collapse.