The Alarmists

Since the COVID-19 pandemic in particular, conspiracy theories have become an emblem of our times. As our world becomes more complex, an increasing number of people seem to be susceptible to their explanatory promises. Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, has turned an entire social network into a machine for circulating conspiratorial narratives. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, the most powerful man in the world, sits in the White House, serving as the conspiracy theorist in chief.

In this book, Michael Butter, a bestselling author and one of the most renowned experts in the field, presents the findings of years of research. Butter argues that as great as the danger is, a free and democratic society cannot allow itself to be ruled by fear of conspiracy theories and succumbing to alarmism. As with populism, these theories are a reaction to a perceived or feared form of exclusion. If we want to combat them, we should not simply brand others as crackpots or gullible idiots. Rather, we need to combat the societal causes behind these developments. Inclusion and participation, argues Butter, are the most effective protection against scapegoating and untruths.