Dr Michael Butter: From Witchcraft to the White House – A Short History of Conspiracy Theory
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Conspiracy theories didn't start with the internet — historian Michael Butter traces their deep roots from witch trials to modern politics, revealing why suspicion of hidden power is a near-universal human impulse.
Conspiracy TheoryPopulismScapegoatingSocial Epistemology
Theory Briefing
- Butter's work spans witchcraft panics to White House politics, showing conspiracy thinking has shadowed power for centuries.
- His 2026 book links populism and conspiracy theory, suggesting both thrive on the same us-vs-hidden-elites narrative.
- The European Digital Sphere volume examines how online platforms turbocharge ancient patterns of blame and secret-seeking.