re: #9 KGxvi

I wonder if there’s correlation/causation between the rise of populism and conspiracy theories. Distrust of “elites” or “experts” combined with “common sense” seems like a common thread between the two.

American cultural historian Michael Butters noted that conspiracy theories are reflective of deeper societal insecurities. He also noted,

If people assume our politicians are all in cahoots and that it makes no difference whatsoever who they vote for because politicians are all puppets of a conspiracy anyway, they will either turn their backs on politics and refuse to participate at all — or they will vote for parties that present themselves as alternatives to the established parties. In recent years, in the West and beyond, that would have been for the most part right-wing populist parties. In the end, they don’t really contribute to solving the problems, either.

Conspiracy theories often have a strong conservative impetus in the sense that they are should preserve a threatened order or return an order abolished by the alleged conspirators. Populism along the lines of “Make America Great Again” is similar. Conspiracy theorists as well as populists are driven by a nostalgia for the past.

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