[Astromancer]

Pulling from recent history, conspiracy theories can drive history. Many people in Islamic nations sincerely believe that the USA has as much influence in the Islamic world as Britain had in Egypt between 1890 and 1950. Many terrorists see themselves as seeking the liberation of their nations and faith from America. The fact that we don't have anything like the power they think we have makes little difference or none.

This suggests that the popular conspiracy theories of other lands would have blowback in the Fifth Wave nations. If a person believes their nation is poor and wracked by civil war because your nation enforces both the poverty and the violence, then they are highly likely to strike out at you or seek power over you in other ways.

Thus Urban legends would be powerful motivators. And in a world of memetics, these motivators could be refined into weapons.