Conspiracy theories and their truth trajectories

Pelkmans, Mathijs; Machold, Rhys

doi:10.3167/fcl.2011.590105

Cited by 86 publications

(40 citation statements)

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“…Although some present-day anthropologists would argue that, epistemologically, "there are no inherent differences" between conspiracy theories and other theories (Pelkmans & Machold 2011), it seems that in terms of social effect and adaptability conspiratorial narratives that constitute a vast part of contemporary legends should still be set apart. In my opinion, their specific fitness potential is related to unique combinations of emotional, moral, and epistemological expectations, which constitute the very idea of conspiracy and secret power in many present-day societies.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From this perspective, the concept of mystery appears to be the most powerful element of conspiratorial narratives that operate in both preand postindustrial societies. Recent academic research of conspiracy theories provides a set of interpretations ranging from medicalization (social/political paranoids) to the concept of popular knowledge as a specifically postmodern phenomenon (Hofstadter 1965(Hofstadter [1952Wood 1982;Pipes 1997;Marcus 1999;Knight 2000;West & Sanders 2003;Birchall 2006;Pelkmans & Machold 2011). It is obvious, however, that social, political, and cultural power of conspiratorial narratives should not be underestimated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Beast Computer in Brussels: Religion, Conspiracy Theories, and Contemporary Legends in Post-Soviet Culture

Panchenko¹

2017

FEJF

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Conspiracy theory is a powerful explanatory model or a way of thinking, which influences many cultural forms and social processes across the contemporary world. Recent academic research into conspiracy theories provides a set of interpretations ranging from medicalization (social/political paranoids) to the concept of 'popular knowledge' as a specifically postmodern phenomenon. In modern and postmodern societies, conspiracy theories often motivate political action and social praxis, accompany the transformation of institutional and informational networks, and provoke moral panic and changes of identity. The paper deals with the role of conspiratorial motifs and themes in the formation and transmission of what is known as contemporary legend. The discussion of empirical data focuses on apocalyptic narratives about 'the Beast of Brussels'. Proceeding from the memetic approach in folklore studies as well as the concept of emotional communities, I try to show how and why present-day conspiracy theories and practices of conspiratorial hermeneutics are inspired by particular combinations of emotional, moral, and epistemological expectations.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Beast Computer in Brussels: Religion, Conspiracy Theories, and Contemporary Legends in Post-Soviet Culture

Panchenko¹

2017

FEJF

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“…The dispossession of public, and sometimes private, property toward international investors constitutes an elaborate privatization program deemed necessary as part of the Troika-enforced economic reforms. However, this does not sit well with local historical consciousness and has become shrouded with conspiracy theories disseminated through the mass media (Pelkmans and Machold 2011).…”

Section: The Situation In Trikalamentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Conspiracy theories concerning global power are merely one aspect of a much deeper understanding of accountability that incorporates overt historical consciousness and media influence (Pelkmans and Machold 2011;cf. Sutton 2003).…”

Section: The Situation In Trikalamentioning

confidence: 99%

The Greek economic crisis as trope

Knight

2013

Focaal

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Abstract:The Greek economic crisis resonates across Europe as synonymous with corruption, poor government, austerity, financial bailouts, civil unrest, and social turmoil. The search for accountability on the local level is entangled with competing rhetorics of persuasion, fear, and complex historical consciousness. Internationally, the Greek crisis is employed as a trope to call for collective mobilization and political change. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in Trikala, central Greece, this article outlines how accountability for the Greek economic crisis is understood in local and international arenas. Trikala can be considered a microcosm for the study of the pan-European economic turmoil as the "Greek crisis" is heralded as a warning on national stages throughout the continent.

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“…Conspiracy theories may be conceptually defined as the tendency to explain prominent political and societal events as due to a plot by hidden, powerful agents to achieve malevolent aims through systematic deception of the public (e.g., Swami & Furnham, 2014;Zonis & Joseph, 1994) and may serve to make sense of threatening situations (e.g., van Prooijen, Krouwel, & Pollet, 2015). As noted by Knight (2013), especially in Greece, "austerity measures create [d] tangible sense of destitution and persecution" (p. 149), augmenting the gap between political rhetoric and the social reality experienced by ordinary people (see also Pelkmans & Machold, 2011;Sutton, 2003). As a consequence the appeal of conspiracy theories increased.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Political Orientation and Vulnerability Shape Representations of the Economic Crisis in Greece and Italy

Mari¹,

Volpato²,

Παπαστάμου³

et al. 2017

International Review of Social Psychology

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In the current research, we investigated the lay representations of the recent economic downturn, that had severe consequences on the lives of the involved people. We compared data of respondents from two countries that were affected to a different degree by the crisis: Greece (N = 529) and Italy (N = 327). We examined laypeople's representations of the perceived causes of the crunch (e.g., overconsumption, obscure power conspiracy), the strategies that are believed to be useful to overcome it (e.g., conforming to EU request, EU exit), and the political participatory activities (e.g., legal and illegal activism) that people intend to adopt. These variables were analyzed in light of two main predictors: political orientation and subjective economic vulnerability. The main hypothesis was that self-positioning on the left/ right axis may be a strong driver of lay representations and political participation. However, we expected that in conjunction with the linear effect of this variable, its quadratic effect should be considered as well. The latter specifies that in some circumstances the opinions of people self-positioned at the poles of the political spectrum may be closer to each other than to the opinions of the people that position themselves in the center which sometimes do not behave as moderate but appear more conformist. Additionally, we hypothesized that vulnerability may be a motive to seek for explanations of the crisis, to find strategies and to engage in activities to overcome it. Findings were generally in line with predictions and were discussed in the light of recent research and the context of analysis.

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Conspiracy theories and their truth trajectories

Cited by 86 publications

References 1 publication

The Beast Computer in Brussels: Religion, Conspiracy Theories, and Contemporary Legends in Post-Soviet Culture

The Beast Computer in Brussels: Religion, Conspiracy Theories, and Contemporary Legends in Post-Soviet Culture

The Greek economic crisis as trope

How Political Orientation and Vulnerability Shape Representations of the Economic Crisis in Greece and Italy

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