Political losing raises a group’s propensity for conspiratorial reasoning rather than causing it

Evidence

Our argument is not that losing reflexively causes groups to conspiracy theorize; it is that losing stokes a propensity to conspiracy theorize. Some powerful groups conspiracy theorize more and others less, and the same can be said for weak groups. We are not determinists and there is room for individual choice across the board. Yet the more a group loses, the more likely it will conspiracy theorize, and typically the more tortured the conspiracy theories get. — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 756

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Out-of-power groups always drive conspiracy talk as winners disengage — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 590; Conspiratorial accusations against a party rise the longer it holds power — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 734; Marginalized groups retain conspiracy theories longer than groups with variable fortunes. — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 107 (+12 more)

Broader Connections

• Political exclusion drives the mob toward conspiratorial readings of power #corroborates (0.90) — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 311
• Partisan identity skews which conspiracist claims people credit #expands (0.85) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 36
• Conspiracy beliefs stay stable while conspiracy talk shifts with power #qualifies (0.80) — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 749
• Explanations for historical failures depend strongly on political attitude #corroborates (0.72) — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice, 188