Routledge Handbook of Conspiracy Theories.
- 1st ed.
- 1 online resource (701 pages)
- Conspiracy Theories Series .
- Conspiracy Theories Series .
Cover -- Half Title -- Series Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of Contributors -- Acknowledgements -- General Introduction -- References -- Section 1 -- Definitions and approaches -- Introduction -- References -- 1 Conceptual history and conspiracy theory -- Introduction -- Conceptual history as a methodology -- The merger of conspiracy and theory -- References -- 2 Conspiracy theory in historical, cultural and literary studies -- Introduction -- Historical studies -- Cultural studies -- Literary studies -- Conclusion -- References -- 3 Semiotic approaches to conspiracy theories -- Introduction -- Main characteristics of conspiracist semiosis -- Code-text as a unifying mechanism of conspiracist semiosis -- Conspiracy theories as representations -- Conspiracy theories as a mechanism of identity creation -- Autocommunication and self-description of conspiracy theorists -- Conclusion and future directions -- Note -- References -- 4 Philosophy and conspiracy theories -- Introduction -- The question of the definition -- The epistemic status of conspiracy theories -- The ethics of conspiracy theories -- The fight against conspiracy theories -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 5 Psychoanalysis, critical theory and conspiracy theory -- Introduction: Beyond realist and symbolist approaches -- The pathologisation of conspiracy theory -- Psychoanalytic accounts of paranoia in social theory -- Symptomatic readings -- Lacanian accounts of conspiracist desire -- Conspiracy theory and fantasy -- Lacan and the normalisation of paranoia -- Conclusion -- References -- 6 Conspiracy theory as occult cosmology in anthropology -- Introduction: Disciplinary foundations -- The problem of definitions -- Witchcraft as ordinary and extraordinary -- Fear of satanic cults in the U.K. and elsewhere -- The ambivalence of close relations. From secret to public accusations -- Occult cosmologies and globalisation -- Female and male idioms and explanations -- The U.S.A. and the transfer of conspiracy theories -- Conspiracy theory and social theory -- Clarity, opacity, belief and doubt -- Conclusion -- References -- 7 Sociology, social theory and conspiracy theory -- Introduction -- Social reality as a conspiracy -- Sociological definitions of conspiracy theory -- Methodological questions -- Modernity as a conspiracy: Theorising conspiracy theories -- Empirical research -- Conclusion: Future research in the sociology of conspiracy theory -- References -- 8 Conspiracy theories in political science and political theory -- Introduction -- Political science and its context: A brief introduction -- Topics and methodologies: How political scientists deal with conspiracy theories -- Main findings and debates: What political scientists know and dispute about conspiracy theories -- Definitions and labels: Conspiracy theories according to political scientists -- Further perspectives: What political scientists could/should do about conspiracy theories -- Notes -- References -- 9 Social psychology of conspiracy theories -- Introduction -- Characterising social psychology -- History of research on conspiracy theories in social psychology -- Theoretical modelling in social psychology: An example -- Interpreting findings -- Correlations -- Study designs -- Main scales used to measure belief in conspiracy theories -- The contributions of social psychology to the understanding of conspiracy theories -- Limitations -- Conclusion -- References -- 10 Social network analysis, social big data and conspiracy theories -- Introduction -- The use of social network analysis -- Networks and dissemination through humans, bots and cyborgs -- Virtual communities and conspiracy theories. Social big data and conspiracy theories -- Case study: Retweet networks in the 'Help Catalonia' campaign -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- Section 2 -- Psychological factors -- Introduction -- References -- 1 Personality traits, cognitive styles and worldviews associated with beliefs in conspiracy theories -- Introduction -- The role of personality traits -- The role of cognitive styles -- The role of worldviews -- A dynamic system of individual differences -- References -- 2 Social-cognitive processes underlying belief in conspiracy theories -- Introduction -- Cognitive roots: Intuitive versus analytic thinking -- Cognitive roots: Threat and uncertainty -- Complex conspiracy theories -- What about real conspiracies? -- Conclusion -- References -- 3 Motivations, emotions and belief in conspiracy theories -- Introduction -- Motivations -- Feeling knowledgeable: Epistemic motives -- Feeling safe and secure: Existential motives -- Feeling good about the self and groups: Social motives -- Emotions -- Do conspiracy theories 'work'? -- Future research -- Conclusion -- References -- 4 Conspiracy beliefs as psycho-political reactions to perceived power -- Some preliminary notes on questions of definitions -- Who can pull off a conspiracy? -- Inferring threat from power -- Feelings of powerlessness and conspiracy beliefs -- Powerless and betrayed - what next? -- Levelling of power differences as a functional aspect of conspiracy beliefs? -- The power paradox: integrating conspiracy research with power research -- Conclusion -- References -- 5 How conspiracy theories spread -- Introduction -- The transmission process -- Situational factors affecting transmission -- The reciprocal relations between content and transmission -- Discussion and outlook -- References -- 6 Conspiracy theories and intergroup relations -- Introduction. Conspiracy stereotypes and images of conspiring outgroups -- What motivates conspiring images of outgroups? -- What are the intergroup consequences of beliefs in intergroup conspiracy theories? -- Conclusion -- References -- 7 Consequences of conspiracy theories -- Introduction -- Belief in conspiracy theories -- Consequences of conspiracy theories -- Positive consequences -- Negative consequences -- Psychological needs -- Polarisation and attitude change -- Political consequences -- Science denialism -- Daily life context -- Conclusion -- References -- 8 Countering conspiracy theories and misinformation -- Introduction -- To debunk or not to debunk? That is the question -- The difficulties of debunking conspiracy theories -- The typology of counterstrategies -- Immunisation -- Pre-emptive strike -- Healing -- Striking back -- Conclusion -- Note -- References -- Section 3 -- Society and politics -- Introduction -- References -- 1 Who are the conspiracy theorists? Demographics and conspiracy theories -- Introduction -- Definitions -- Do we measure at all and what do we measure? -- Demographics -- Conspiracy theories across contexts -- Conspiracy theories and ideology -- Conspiracy theories outside of W.E.I.R.D. countries -- Conclusion -- References -- 2 Conspiracy theory entrepreneurs, movements and individuals -- Introduction -- Academic work on conspiracy theorists -- Conspiracy theory entrepreneurs -- Conspiracy theory movements -- Conspiracy theory individuals -- Conclusion -- References -- 3 Conspiracy theories and gender and sexuality -- Introduction -- The influence of gender and sexuality on conspiracy belief -- The importance of gender and (deviant) sexuality in conspiracy theory narratives -- Conclusion -- Note -- References -- 4 Conspiracy theories, political ideology and political behaviour -- Introduction. Conspiracy theories and politics -- Political trust and knowledge -- Political ideology -- Party affiliation -- Political participation -- Supporting data -- Conclusion -- References -- 5 Functions and uses of conspiracy theories in authoritarian regimes -- Introduction -- Political functions of conspiracy theories -- Conspiracy theories as a tool of propaganda -- Historicisation -- The post-Soviet space and Russia as conspiracy state -- Populism and conspiracy theories: Populism in power and populism as manual for authoritarianism -- The Middle East and Islamic world -- References -- 6 Conspiracy theory and populism -- Introduction -- Defining populism -- Populism and conspiracy theory -- Anti-immigrant conspiracy theories in the Nordic countries -- Donald Trump's conspiracist populism -- Conclusion -- References -- 7 Radicalisation and conspiracy theories -- Introduction -- On conspiracy theories and radicalisation -- How radicalisation works -- Conspiracy theories and extremist narratives -- Psychological factors -- Radicalisation and conspiracy theory as social context -- Conclusion -- Note -- References -- 8 Antisemitism and conspiracism -- Introduction -- Premodern conspiracy narratives -- Modern antisemitism and conspiracism -- World War, revolution and radicalisation -- Nazi antisemitism -- Post-war developments -- Far-right antisemitism -- Stalinism and anti-Zionism -- Antisemitism in the Middle East -- Antisemitism as a tradition of conspiracism -- References -- 9 Conspiracy theory and religion -- Introduction -- Conspiracy theory as religion - or its substitute -- Conspiracy theories about religion(s) -- Conspiracy theory in religion: 'W.E.I.R.D.' people -- Conspiracy theories in religion: State, Church and Pussy Riot -- Conspiracy theory in religion: Islam and polio vaccine theories in Nigeria. Conspiracy theory in religion: New Age and 'conspirituality'.
Taking a global and interdisciplinary approach, the Routledge Handbook of Conspiracy Theories provides a comprehensive overview of conspiracy theories as an important social, cultural and political phenomenon in contemporary life.