This book explains how and why conspiracy theories have become such a powerful political weapon. From stolen-election claims to vaccine scepticism and global “elite” plots, conspiracy theories have moved from the political margins to the centre of public life. In an era of polarised politics, digital campaigning, and democratic backsliding, they increasingly shape elections, mobilise voters, and undermine trust in institutions.

Organised around four core themes, the volume analyses the political logic of conspiracy theories, their impact on democratic governance, and the challenges they pose to public debate. It presents original empirical case studies of conspiratorial narratives circulating during election campaigns and across social media, and examines the role of political entrepreneurs, parties, and far-right movements in producing and amplifying them.

By bringing together insights from political theory, sociology, political science and empirical research, this book offers a compelling framework for understanding conspiracy theories as a defining feature of contemporary political conflict. It is essential reading for scholars and students of political sociology, comparative politics, and cultural studies. Drawing on shared theoretical foundations across multiple disciplines, this book provides a comprehensive account of conspiracy theories as a central feature of contemporary politics.

Manuela Caiani is Associate Professor in Political Science at Scuola Normale Superiore, Italy, where she is part of the COSMOS (Centre on Social Movement Studies) research team. Her research focuses on far right politics, populism, social movements and political participation in Europe.

Marco Solinas is an Associate Professor in Political Philosophy at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, at the Institute of Law, Politics and Development. He has published widely on critical theory of society, populism, political theory and conspiracy theories, with a focus on political conspiracism and authoritarianism.

Hans-Jörg Trenz is full Professor at Scuola Normale Superiore, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, Italy, and Chair in Sociology of Culture and Communication.  He held previous positions at Münchner Projektgruppe Sozialforschung (1997-98), Humboldt University, Berlin (1998-2005), ARENA – Centre for European Studies, the University of Oslo (2005-2021) and the University of Copenhagen (2011-2021).