Chapter 1 Introduction.- Chapter 2 Kinds of conspiracy theories.- Chapter 3 The anatomy of conspiracy theories.- Chapter 4 Dissecting populism.- Chapter 5 Disrupting the trust: nature of populist CTs.- Chapter 6 The Eurabia doctrine.-  Chapter 7 Transmission and fake news.- Chapter 8 Conclusions: the politics of misinformation.

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.

“In this thoughtful and engaging book, Bergmann masterfully weaves together research findings from diverse disciplines to show how right-wing populists utilize conspiracy theories to achieve their political agendas.” (Professor Karen Douglas, University of Kent, UK)“Recent decades have seen a disturbing convergence of populism and conspiracy theory. The populist rhetoric of conspiracy theory has found a home in the White House and the Kremlin, and fears of an Islamist conspiracy to take over Europe have played into Brexit and the rise of the nationalist populism in France and elsewhere. Bergmann’s timely book provides a clear and readable analysis of how and why populism and conspiracy are connected, and what this means for politics today.” (Professor Peter Knight, The University of Manchester, UK) “The close connection between populism and conspiracy theory has often been observed but never systematically explored. Eirikur Bergmann’s important book closes this gap, as it puts the relationship centre stage for the first time. It will thus shape the debate on both phenomena for some time to come.” (Professor Michael Butter, University of Tübingen, Germany)

Combines two fields of literature to consider how conspiracy theories and populism intersect Identifies specifically right-wing populist conspiracy theories Analyses the rapid proliferation of conspiracy theories

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