Conspiracy & Populism - by Eirikur Bergmann (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Europeans are being replaced by foreign invaders, aided by cultural Marxists who are plotting an Islamist subversion of the continent. The Bilderberg group - and/or the Illuminati - are instating a totalitarian New World Order. Angela Merkel is the secret daughter of Adolf Hitler, Barack Obama was illegitimate, and George W. Bush was in on the 9/11 attacks. Also, the Holocaust is a hoax, members of Pussy Riot are agents of the West, and the European Union is resurrecting the Roman Empire, this time as a communist super-state. These are some of the tales that are told by populist political actors across Europe, were raised during the Brexit debate in the UK, and have been promoted by presidents of both the US and Russia. Rapid rise of populist political parties around Europe and across the Atlantic in the early new millennium coincided with the simultaneous increased spread of conspiracy theories. This book entangles the two tropes and maps how right-wing populists apply conspiracy theories to advance their politics and support for their parties.

From the Back Cover

Europeans are being replaced by foreign invaders, aided by cultural Marxists who are plotting an Islamist subversion of the continent. The Bilderberg group - and/or the Illuminati - are instating a totalitarian New World Order. Angela Merkel is the secret daughter of Adolf Hitler, Barack Obama was illegitimate, and George W. Bush was in on the 9/11 attacks. Also, the Holocaust is a hoax, members of Pussy Riot are agents of the West, and the European Union is resurrecting the Roman Empire, this time as a communist super-state. These are some of the tales that are told by populist political actors across Europe, were raised during the Brexit debate in the UK, and have been promoted by presidents of both the US and Russia. Rapid rise of populist political parties around Europe and across the Atlantic in the early new millennium coincided with the simultaneous increased spread of conspiracy theories. This book entangles the two tropes and maps how right-wing populists apply conspiracy theories to advance their politics and support for their parties.

Review Quotes

"Conspiracy and Populism: The Politics of Misinformation, Eirikur Bergmann, goes beyond theUnited States to track belief in conspiracy thinking globally. ... [It]provides considerable summary of important political conspiracies as well as innovative andcompelling theses to explain their popularity, their functions, and their dangers. Anyone who is interested in or working on contemporary political conspiracies willwant to read [this book]. It will also be of interest to anyone trying to understand the global rise of thepopulist right in historical context." (Judith Grant, New Political Science, June 28, 2019)

"Conspiracy & Populism enters into dialogue with political science, communication studies and psychology. It offers a comprehensive introduction to the study of CTs, their links to populism and their potential impact on traditional political processes. Thanks to its interdisciplinary approach and its competent review of the literature, Bergmann's work will prove particularly useful to students and early career researchers interested in taking populism and CTs seriously." (Tatiana Coutto, The International Spectator, Vol. 54 (2), 2019)

About the Author

Eirikur Bergmann is Professor of Politics at Bifrost University, Iceland, and Director of its Centre for European Studies. He is the author of eight academic books and three novels. He is a frequent commentator in the media on politics and European affairs.