Conspiracy Theories
At the beginning of the text, Uscinski tells us that the significance of conspiracy theories is often understated, saying that "they are politically, economically, and socially relevant to all of us." He emphasizes the prevalence of conspiracy theories in our lives and wants to ascertain why people are drawn to them, what are their effects, and what we should do about them. This novel is an exploration of the issues surrounding conspiracy theories, informed by the research of many experts in the field.
Politics
Uscinski often refers to the fact that conspiracy theories inform politics and political decisions. He states that this can influence cohesion as people who believe that a "system is rigged are less willing to take part in it." Conspiracy theories also inform modern political doctrine and decisions, as "recent displays of populism, nationalism, xenophobia, and racism are all accompanied by conspiracy narratives."
Media
Uscinski argues that modern-day developments in media, such as the creation of the internet and social media, have contributed to the prevalence of conspiracy theories. He argues that the internet has been used with malicious intent to manipulate people, with the phenomenon of "fake news" being an example of this.
