Populism and Conspiracy Theory: Case Studies and Theoretical Perspectives

This book explores the close connections between populism and conspiracy theory.

Populism and Conspiracy Theory contributes to filling the gap in the research in this area. The individual contributions in Part I provide in-depth analyses of specific configurations of populism and conspiracy theory. Part II includes nuanced considerations of more theoretical issues. The case studies cover both right-wing and left-wing manifestations of populism, while highlighting that populist movements often cut across the traditional left-right divide. Chapters focus on the twenty-first century and the first half of the twentieth century, as well as the impact of history and memory on contemporary discourses. Geographically, the case studies consider the Americas as well as Europe and Northern Africa. Theoretical discussions include the aesthetics and forms of populist conspiracism, or its dependence on new media. The disciplines represented in the volume range from political science and sociology via anthropology and history to linguistics and cultural studies.

It will appeal to those interested in politics, specifically conspiracy theory, populism, democracy, and leadership.

Michael Butter is a professor of American Studies at the University of Tübingen in Germany, co-editor of the Handbook of Conspiracy Theories (Routledge, 2020) and PI of the ERC-funded project ＂PACT: Populism and Conspiracy Theory.＂

Katerina Hatzikidi is a social anthropologist and postdoctoral researcher for the ＂PACT: Populism and Conspiracy Theory＂ project.

Constanze Jeitler is a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute for Contemporary History at the University of Tübingen, Germany, and part of the ＂PACT: Populism and Conspiracy Theory＂ research project.

Giacomo Loperfido is a social and political anthropologist and postdoctoral researcher for the ＂PACT: Populism and Conspiracy Theory＂ project.

Lili Turza is a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of Political Science at the University of Tübingen, Germany, and part of the ＂PACT: Populism and Conspiracy Theory＂ research project.