Conspiracy theories as opportunistic attributions of power

Highlights

• Conspiracy theories are often theorized as a power challenging phenomenon.

• However, conspiracy theories may target powerless groups for conservative reasons.

• Conspiracy theories do not always reflect objective power asymmetries.

• Conspiracy theories always endow enemies with power and intention to conspire.

• This endowment enables believers to promote their individual and collective interests.

Abstract

A significant trend of research construes conspiracy theories as a power challenging phenomenon. Yet, there is evidence that conspiracy theories are sometimes promoted by members of relatively powerful groups (e.g., a national majority) in order to target relatively powerless groups (e.g., immigrants). Thus, conspiracy theories are not necessarily beliefs held by the relatively powerless. However, they always attribute power to the allegedly conspiring parties. As a matter of fact, without such power, the groups accused of conspiring would be unable to carry out their plans. In contrast to assuming conspiracy theories reflect objective power imbalances, we propose that they may be construed as opportunistic attributions of power that allow individuals to advance their interests (e.g., validate their worldview, strengthen or challenge social hierarchies).

Introduction

Conspiracy theories are often defined as involving powerful groups [1], and their endorsement as underpinned by power challenging political attitudes [2,3∗∗]. For instance, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, conspiracy theories mostly targeted powerful groups such as pharmaceutical companies and governments, and their endorsement was associated with distrust of authorities [4]. Note that the “power-challenging” view of conspiracy theories is also adopted by scholars praising (some) conspiracy theorists’ “gift of watchfulness” [5]: In their view, conspiracy theories serve the crucial function of questioning secret activities of authorities [5,6].

In contrast to this view, the endorsement of conspiracy theories has been portrayed as allowing majority members to justify the rejection of vulnerable minorities that threaten the values and norms of the ingroup (e.g., immigrants, Jewish people [7]). As a matter of fact, authoritarian regimes regularly promote conspiracy theories against minorities and dissidents (see e.g., Ref. [8]). Thus, there seem to be conflicting theoretical approaches with regards to the relationships between power asymmetries and conspiracy theory beliefs.

In this contribution, we propose to elaborate on the relationships between belief in conspiracy theories, objective power asymmetries, and subjective perceptions of power. We argue that objective power asymmetries may be characterized as a recurring – but not necessary – property of conspiracy theories, whereas subjective perceptions of power are a necessary property of conspiracy theories. We formulate hypotheses regarding the psychological mechanisms through which objectively powerless groups may be perceived as powerful. Finally, we propose that conspiracy theories may be better viewed as opportunistic attributions of power that allow individuals to promote their individual and collective interests.