The birds are not real, Australia does not exist, and the number 39 is cursed. It sounds like silly fiction that no one would ever believe, doesn't it? In fact, these are conspiracy theories, in the reality of which thousands of people around the world are convinced.
In his book, international political scientist Maksym Yakovliev explores a wide variety of conspiracy theories and explains how conspiracists see the world and what tools they use to create their conspiracy mosaics.
Freemasons, Jews, and Reptilians. COVID-19 and Sweden, Denmark, and minks. Necrocommunists and conspiracy multipliers. How does the Dunning-Kruger effect actually work? Why did the Titanic sink, and why are time travelers here?
Maksym talks about conspiracies in sports and Eurovision, the death of Princess Diana, Obama's victory in the elections with the help of weather manipulation, and also about the fact that the Roman Empire was allegedly invented by the Spanish Inquisition, and Ukraine - by Freemasons. With the help of exercises and a series of surveys, you will be able to check whether you tend to believe in such conspiracy theories and understand how to construct your own.
Maksym Yakovliev studies Ukrainian and international politics.
Heads the Department of International Relations and manages the National University "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" School of Political Analytics.
