Conspiracy charts argue a few elites secretly control all institutions

Evidence

At the diagram’s pinnacle, fl anked by the Federal Reserve and the Treasury, sits David Rockefeller. The implications are clear: although the conspirators are few in number, they have managed to infi ltrate and control every signifi cant social institution, so that understanding their evil designs requires, not merely possession of the membership list, but also an appreciation of the complex interconnections. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 356

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Conspiracy theories about ruling elites date to ancient Rome. — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 70; Conspiracy theories often stem from legitimate populist suspicion of elites — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 66; Delegitimizing authority is the common core of all conspiracy theories — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 922 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Conspiracy theories often stem from legitimate populist suspicion of elites #complicates (0.85) — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 66
• A secret-government claim makes conspiracy theories unfalsifiable to their audiences #expands (0.80) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 443
• Global erosion of institutional trust sustains conspiracy belief beyond any single political era #corroborates (0.80) — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 112
• Delegitimizing authority is the common core of all conspiracy theories #expands (0.78) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 922
• Antipathy toward wealth unites left and right anti-elite conspiracists #expands (0.78) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 355
• Conspiracy theories give concrete form to a group’s sensed loss of power #corroborates (0.72) — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 58