Revealing schemes: the politics of conspiracy in Russia and the post-Soviet region: by Scott Radnitz, Oxford, UK, Oxford University Press, 2021, 248 pp., £64.00 (hardback), ISBN 9780197573532; £19.99 (paperback), ISBN 9780197573549. Published to Oxford Scholarship Online. doi:10.1093/oso/9780197573532.001.0001

"Revealing Schemes: The Politics of Conspiracy in Russia and the Post-Soviet Region" by Scott Radnitz explores the use of conspiracy theories by elites in authoritarian and hybrid regimes. The book compiles a database of conspiracy theories and examines their political use and efficacy in post-Soviet countries. The author argues that conspiracy theories are more frequently invoked in societies with competitive elections and free media, and rulers use them to bring down opponents or explain unexpected events. The book's findings suggest that conspiracy claims can be used pre-emptively or defensively, and a combination of both is common. [Extracted from the article]