Conspiracy theory entrepreneurs, movements and individuals

Conspiracy theories – explanations of social phenomena involving the covert actions of certain people – are everywhere. Large quantitative studies similarly show that conspiracy theorists are found across various different demographic categories, such as age, gender, ideological conviction, religion, income, education and ethnicity. There have been more and more studies by political scientists and psychologists who examine the demographic characteristics and personality traits of those endorsing conspiracy theories. These quantitative studies go some way in explaining the diversity of conspiracy theorists, but all construct their own analytical categories into which conspiracy theorists should fit. Distinguishing between conspiracy theory entrepreneurs, movements and individuals, the chapter shows that a wide variety of people engaging in one way or another with conspiracy theories. The very outspoken and publicly visible entrepreneurs embody how people can make a living out of spreading conspiracy theories in both the off- and online worlds.