Why Democracy Fuels Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracy theories are an increasingly popular form of political rhetoric around the globe. The use of conspiracy theories by public officials stems from long-term factors such as distrust, inequality, and political polarization, and is facilitated by one of the preconditions for democracy: competi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of democracy 2022-04, Vol.33 (2), p.147-161
Main Author: Radnitz, Scott
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Autocracy
Competition
Conspiracy
Democracy
Inequality
Polarization
Political campaigns
Politicians
Politics
Propaganda
Public officials
Rhetoric
Theory
Trump, Donald J
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Summary:Conspiracy theories are an increasingly popular form of political rhetoric around the globe. The use of conspiracy theories by public officials stems from long-term factors such as distrust, inequality, and political polarization, and is facilitated by one of the preconditions for democracy: competition. This essay explains why conspiracy theories are abundant in the politics of democracies and autocracies alike. It looks at the effects of conspiracy theories on public discourse and discusses how mainstream parties respond to conspiratorial challengers. It concludes by considering how conspiracy theories in politics might be countered.
ISSN:1045-5736
1086-3214
1086-3214
DOI:10.1353/jod.2022.0024