In this final episode of the first installment of the series, Assistant Professor Robert Fahey (Waseda Institute for Advanced Study) serves as the guest and talks candidly with his Research Assistant Romeo Marcantuoni (Ph.D. Candidate, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies) about their joint research project examining the rise of Japan’s Sanseito party, which was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their conversation explores the interplay between conspiracy beliefs, the increasingly complex information environment, populist movements, and the broader political system in Japan and beyond.

Link to their discussion paper "From conspiracy theory movement to challenger party: The case of Japan’s Sanseito": https://www.waseda.jp/inst/wias/assets/uploads/2025/01/dp2024001.pdf

Link to the transcript: https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/83437

About the Guests:

Guest Assistant Professor Robert A. Fahey:
Dr. Robert A. Fahey is an assistant professor of political science at the Waseda Institute for Advanced Study in Tokyo, Japan. His research interests include populism, polarisation, the effects of conspiracy theory belief, and Japanese politics. He is currently working on a series of large-scale surveys aimed at discovering what kinds of conspiracy beliefs are widespread in East Asian countries, and how those beliefs impact the political and social life of those nations.

MC Ph.D. Candidate Romeo Marcantuoni:
Romeo Marcantuoni is a Ph.D. candidate at the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies at Waseda University. He earned his MA and BA in Japanese Studies at KU Leuven, Belgium. His research centers on Japan's progressive parties.

Unlocking the Rise of Conspiracy Movements in Japan (Assistant Professor Robert Fahey)