Acabal is a group of people who are united in some close design, usually to promote their private views or interests in an ideology, astate, or another community, often byintrigue and usually without the knowledge of those who are outside their group. The use of this term usually carries negative connotations of political purpose,conspiracy andsecrecy.[1][2] It can also refer to a secret plot or aclique, or it may be used as a verb (to form a cabal or secretly conspire).[1][3]
The termcabal is derived fromKabbalah (a word that has numerous spelling variations), theJewish mystical interpretation of the Hebrew scripture (קַבָּלָה). InHebrew, it means "received doctrine" or "tradition",[4] while in European culture (Christian Cabala,Hermetic Qabalah) it became associated withoccult doctrine or a secret.[5]
It came into English via the Frenchcabale from the medieval Latincabbala, and was known early in the 17th century through usages linked toCharles II andOliver Cromwell. By the middle of the 17th century, it had developed further to mean some intrigue entered into by a small group and also referred to the group of people so involved, i.e. a semi-secret political clique.[6]
There is a theory that the term took on its present meaning from a group of ministers formed in 1668 – the "Cabal ministry" of KingCharles II of England. Members includedSir Thomas Clifford,Lord Arlington, theDuke of Buckingham,Lord Ashley andLord Lauderdale, whose initial letters coincidentally spelled CABAL,[7] and who were the signatories of the public Treaty of Dover that alliedEngland toFrance in a prospective war against theNetherlands, and served as a cover for theSecret Treaty of Dover.[8] The theory that the word originated as an acronym from the names of the group of ministers is afolk etymology, although the coincidence was noted at the time and could possibly have popularized its use.[9]
InDutch, the wordkabaal, alsokabale orcabale, was used during the 18th century in the same way. TheFriesche Kabaal (Frisian Cabal) denoted theFrisian pro-Orange nobility which supported thestadholderate, but also had great influence onstadtholdersWillem IV andWillem V and their regents, and therefore on the matters of state in theDutch Republic.[10] This influence came to an end when the major Frisian nobles at the court fell out of favor. The word nowadays has the meaning of noise, uproar, racket.[11] It was derived as such from French and mentioned for the first time in 1845.[12]
Followers of theQAnonconspiracy theory use "The Cabal" to refer to what is perceived as a secret worldwide elite organization who, according to proponents, wish to underminedemocracy andfreedom, and implement their ownglobalist agendas.[13]
Some anti-government movements inAustralia, particularly those that emerged during Canberra's response to the pandemic, thatScott Morrison’s secret ministerial appointments were evidence of what they said was happening all along – a "secret cabal".[14]
The term is sometimes employed as anantisemiticdog whistle due to its evocation of centuries-old antisemitic tropes.[15][16]
a well-funded cabal of powerful people, ranging across industries and ideologies, working together behind the scenes to influence perceptions, change rules and laws, steer media coverage and control the flow of information.
At [QAnon's] core is the idea that all American presidents between John F. Kennedy and Donald Trump have been working with a cabal of globalist elites called "The Cabal" to undermine American democracy and forward their own nefarious agenda. ... In all versions of the mythos, the Cabal seeks to destroy American freedom and subjugate the nation to the wills of a world government.
