Library:Republic of Lies
| Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power | |
|---|---|
| Author | Anna Merlan |
| First published | 2019 |
| ISBN | — |
| Role | Analysis |
| Domains | Politics & Elections Society, Identity & Demographics |
| Tactics | Conspiracy Theory |
Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power is a 2019 book by Anna Merlan.
Summary
Journalist Anna Merlan spent years among American conspiracy theorists, attending flat-earth conferences and UFO gatherings and reporting on Infowars, Pizzagate and the harassment of Sandy Hook families.
She argues that conspiracy thinking moved from the fringe to the center of American politics.
Key points
- Distrust as fuel. Merlan connects conspiracy belief to real betrayals by institutions, which make far-fetched theories seem plausible.
- Harassment. She documents how conspiracy theories about mass shootings led to the harassment of victims' families.
- Profit. Conspiracy media built businesses selling supplements and survival gear to their audiences.
Relevance to Bullshitopedia
The book is a firsthand account of the communities behind many conspiracy theories in Bullshitopedia.