Another reason I'm skeptical of the "top-down" thesis is the fact that covid has made things much, much harder for the elites.

Things were going along nicely with climate change.  No big jumps to put people on the alert.  All roads leading inexorably towards communism and no obvious obstacles, hardly any dissent.  But with covid they woke maybe 10% of the western world up to the fact they were being lied to systematically.  Those people will never believe anything they're told now.  Things are much, much harder for the elites as a result.

So literally I think that the most plausible "top-down" thesis, for covid anyway, is one where the elites are benevolent, and actively trying to wake people up in order to free humanity.  Not saying I believe that - the bottom-up thesis seems far more likely - but I cannot see covid being part of any rational strategy for global enslavement.  Unless the elites are retarded, in which case I think you end up with bottom up anyway.