Focus Areas The contributions in this collection largely continue the studies from the volume "Freemasons and Secret Societies in the 18th Century in Central Europe." This volume is also divided into three focus areas: problems and individual aspects, historical development, and forms and directions. Conspiracy Theories in the 19th and 20th Centuries The contributions address the development and forms of conspiracy theories in the 19th and 20th centuries. Additionally, the history of Freemasonry in Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland is outlined in broad strokes, along with important aspects and manifestations of Freemasonry. New Insights What is particularly interesting about this collection is that, on one hand, greater attention is given to political secret societies, and on the other hand, the studies are largely based on new source material.