Up at 3 am reading Google Scholar on why people are attracted to conspiracy theories.

Some broad themes, people are attracted to conspiracies when:
1. They feel powerless or hopeless
2. Feel alienated, low trust
3. Feel angry, like they are victimized
4. Their worldview has been repudiated

This made me think of another concept, which I think is more associated with history, “loss of empire.” All of those concepts—alienation, hopelessness, victimhood, hostility—can, imo, be emblematic of the emotions of loss of empire.