half of the American population agree with at least one conspiracy {theory} . . . Far from being an aberrant expression of some political extreme or a product of gross misinformation, a conspiratorial view of politics is a widespread tendency across the entire ideological spectrum . . . {M}any predominant belief systems in the United States, be they Christian narratives about God and Satan . . . or left-wing narratives about neoliberalism . . ., draw heavily upon the idea of unseen, intentional forces shaping contemporary events.28
According to Niall Ferguson in "The Square and the Tower," a significant portion of the American populace aligns with at least one conspiracy theory. This suggests that the inclination to believe in such theories is not confined to fringe groups or rooted solely in misinformation; instead, it reflects a widespread mentality that spans the entire political spectrum. This tendency indicates that many individuals, regardless of their political beliefs, are susceptible to viewing the world through a conspiratorial lens.
Ferguson points out that various mainstream belief systems in the U.S., including religious narratives and progressive critiques of neoliberalism, often engage with the notion of hidden forces influencing current events. This shared belief in unseen motivations reveals a fundamental aspect of American culture, where conspiracy thinking is interwoven with many ideological perspectives, further emphasizing its prevalence and acceptance.
