ABSTRACT
It has been said that conspiracy theories are for outsiders (Uscinski, Parent 2014), referring to those who feel distant from authorities and other power holders. In this chapter, we explore the link between conspiracy theories, political beliefs and political engagement in order to answer the question of whether conspiracy theories can be viewed as a vehicle for the outsider to articulate their doubts about governments and ruling powers. In this context, we specifically examine whether belief in conspiracy theories is linked with a discernible profile of political engagement and participation. Do we see evidence for engagement or disengagement with conventional politics and actors, or does the conspiratorial mindset drive citizens towards anti-establishment and fringe political parties? What about non-conventional political participation?
