Single title
Secret powers that control the world – they cannot exist. The world is too complicated, too many things are connected. It is a patently unrealistic assumption that people agree on a perfect plan and pursue this plan over a long period of time. It is impossible to control the world based on a long-term plan. Instead, there are coincidences, surprises, mishaps and disagreement. Belief in secret powers controlling the world is belief in a conspiracy theory.
There is a widespread belief in conspiracy theory. 31 percent of the electorate in Germany consider a world conspiracy to be certainly or likely true. Almost one in three think it is at least likely that secret powers are controlling the world. 8 percent are convinced of this.
Immediately before the covid-19 pandemic, a similar proportion of people (30 percent) thought a world conspiracy was certainly or likely true. During the pandemic, when the topic of conspiracy theories received a great deal of attention, the proportion fell slightly to 24 percent, but gradually more people again believe that a world conspiracy is certainly or likely true.
Further information and results can be found in the study "Das ist alles bewiesen." (in German).