Conspiracy hierarchies can be recursively nested with the top conspirators themselves being manipulated

Evidence

In the end, Cooper gave the aliens the last word, asserting that the Illuminati are really not so powerful after all. In fact, the conspirators are little more than the unknowing tools of extraterrestrial masters: “aliens have manipulated and/or ruled the human race through various secret societies, religions, magic, witchcraft, and the occult.” The Illuminati, seemingly at the pinnacle of the world’s power hierarchy, are exposed as the dupes of a strange and evil alien race. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 335

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Todd’s conspiracy list mixed mutually hostile groups into one grand Illuminati cabal — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 308; Conspiracy theories evolve toward complex multi-organization superconspiracies — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 349; Conspiracy theories can be generated about conspiracy theorists themselves. — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 958 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Conspiracy theories can be generated about conspiracy theorists themselves. #exemplifies (0.85) — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 958
• Conspiracy theories evolve toward complex multi-organization superconspiracies #expands (0.80) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 349
• Superconspiracy logic makes conspiracy theory unfalsifiable and turns theorists against each other #expands (0.75) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 360
• Inclusive conspiracies that include nearly everyone are a growing logical endpoint of conspiratorial thinking #expands (0.70) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 358