Revealing Schemes

Conspiracy theories are not just outlandish ideas. They can also be political weapons. Conspiracy theories have come to play an increasingly prominent role in political systems around the world. In *Revealing Schemes*, Scott Radnitz moves beyond psychological explanations for why people believe conspiracy theories to explore the politics around them, placing two questions at the center of this account. what leads regimes to promote conspiracy claims? And what effects do those claims have on politics and society? Focusing the former Soviet Union : a region of the world where such theories have long thrived - he shows that incumbent politicians tend to make conspiracy claims to demonstrate their knowledge and authority at moments of uncertainly and threat-