“Conspiracism is fascism’s fuel. Almost all successful conspiracy theories originate with or land with the far right.” So wrote Guardian reporter George Monbiot in his critique of Russell Brand, published 10th March 2023. And he’s not wrong. But he’s not 100% right, either. Monbiot’s approach downplays both the prevalence and significance of conspiracy theories on the far left. It fails to acknowledge the damage that conspiracism does to the leftist cause. And it ignores the fact that wherever you think Russell Brand lands in the political spectrum today, he was radicalized on the left and by the left.
