Are Conspiracy Theorists Losers? A Political Analysis of QAnon and the John Birch Society
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2021-06-30
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en
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The loser theory by Uscinski and Parent is a possible explanation for why people tend to believe in conspiracy theories. It posits that people one the losing side of a political dichotomy, like the one in the United States, are more likely to spread conspiracy theories (Uscinski and Parent 130). This thesis tests that theory against two influential, right-wing organizations that have been accused of spreading conspiracy theories at different moments in history: QAnon and the John Birch Society. The John Birch society seems to adhere to the primary principle of the theory, while QAnon seems to be an anomaly within the loser theory.
Keywords: Conspiracy, Conspiracy Theory, QAnon, John Birch Society, Conservative, Right-Wing
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