Episode 6. Populists and Conspiracy Theories—Why Leaders Turn to Conspiracism

Ever wondered why populist leaders frequently embrace conspiracy theories once in power? In this episode, we delve into Andrea LP Pirro and Paul Taggart's insightful paper, "Populists in Power and Conspiracy Theories," exploring how and why populists strategically use conspiracy theories to maintain their political appeal.

We translate complex scholarly insights into clear discussions, examining who populists target, when conspiracy theories emerge, and why these narratives are effective in rallying support or deflecting criticism. What does this tell us about the nature of populist governance?

📖 Citation: Pirro, Andrea LP, and Paul Taggart. 2023. "Populists in Power and Conspiracy Theories." Party Politics 29(3): 413–423. [doi:10.1177/13540688211003304]

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Join us as we uncover the strategies behind populist conspiracism, one digestible episode at a time!