Conspiracism’s core target is democratic disagreement itself, not this or that policy
Evidence
But partisan politics is far from the whole story. For what unites conspiracists is not ideological attachment to conservative causes or to the Republican Party but something deeper: disdain for political opposition, regulated party rivalry, and the democratic norm of “agreeing to disagree.” Each conspiracist assault is specific to one candidate or policy or party, but it eventually extends to them all. It is not contained. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 21
Categorization
- XREF: Connects to commentary on democratic backsliding and Levitsky/Ziblatt’s ‘mutual toleration and institutional forbearance’ norms. — connects to: Political conspiracism now targets core democratic processes themselves — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 18; Framing parties as conspiracies constitutes an attack on democracy itself — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 191; New conspiracism attacks democratic institutions outright rather than just rejecting compromise — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 113 (+2 more)
Broader Connections
- Framing parties as conspiracies constitutes an attack on democracy itself
#corroborates(0.92) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 191 - New conspiracism attacks democratic institutions outright rather than just rejecting compromise
#expands(0.88) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 113 - New conspiracism abandons explanatory theory and targets democratic legitimacy
#corroborates(0.85) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 11 - Conspiracism causes a deeper rift than partisan polarization
#expands(0.75) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 293