Why are Trump supporters especially receptive to conspiracy theories ?
“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities” - Voltaire.
56-60, M
This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
Conspiracy theories do exist on the left (911) and centre (russiagate) too. Also the pre trumpian right bought the line if weapons of mass destruction.
However, conspiracy theories are more prominant on the nationalist right than ever before, not just in america.
Partly its the internet providing the tools to make it posdible combined with the decline in trust of institutions. Post-modernism and narrative over evudedence and theory mean more people are susceptible to this kind of thing now.
Neo liberal ideology used tohave popular mass support to mobilise people to vote for right-wing parties but it hasnt provided for lqrge sections of the population. Few people believe the Reagan/Thatcher promise trickle down economics and economic liberalisation empowering everyone.
So the right needs a new story. It needs to appear anti-establishment and blame ppwerful interests for problems so it uses paranoia and resentment as motivational forces.
The right-wing base cant become leftists and have a theoretical marxist class analysis to show why their life sucks so they lean in conspiracies about dark forces and bad groups of people manipulating things against their interests.
However, conspiracy theories are more prominant on the nationalist right than ever before, not just in america.
Partly its the internet providing the tools to make it posdible combined with the decline in trust of institutions. Post-modernism and narrative over evudedence and theory mean more people are susceptible to this kind of thing now.
Neo liberal ideology used tohave popular mass support to mobilise people to vote for right-wing parties but it hasnt provided for lqrge sections of the population. Few people believe the Reagan/Thatcher promise trickle down economics and economic liberalisation empowering everyone.
So the right needs a new story. It needs to appear anti-establishment and blame ppwerful interests for problems so it uses paranoia and resentment as motivational forces.
The right-wing base cant become leftists and have a theoretical marxist class analysis to show why their life sucks so they lean in conspiracies about dark forces and bad groups of people manipulating things against their interests.