Routledge Handbook of Conspiracy Theories
London; New York: Routledge (2020), xx, 680 pp.
Contains index
Series: Conspiracy Theories
ISBN 978-0-429-45273-4 (pdf); 978-0-8153-6174-9 (hbk)
"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. This handbook provides the most complete analysis of the phenomenon to date. It analyses conspiracy theories from a variety of perspectives, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. It maps out the key debates, and includes chapters on the historical origins of conspiracy theories, as well as their political significance in a broad range of countries and regions. Other chapters consider the psychology and the sociology of conspiracy beliefs, in addition to their changing cultural forms, functions and modes of transmission. This handbook examines where conspiracy theories come from, who believes in them and what their consequences are." (Publisher description)
SECTION 1: DEFINITIONS AND APPROACHES
Introduction / Todor Hristov, Andrew McKenzie-McHarg and Alejandro Romero-Reche, 11
1 Conceptual history and conspiracy theory / Andrew McKenzie-McHarg, 16
2 Conspiracy theory in historical, cultural and literary studies / Michael Butter and Peter Knight, 28
3 Semiotic approaches to conspiracy theories / Massimo Leone, Mari-Liis Madisson and Andreas Ventsel, 43
4 Philosophy and conspiracy theories / Juha Räikkä and Juho Ritola, 56
5 Psychoanalysis, critical theory and conspiracy theory / Nebojša Blanuša and Todor Hristov, 67
6 Conspiracy theory as occult cosmology in anthropology / Annika Rabo, 81
7 Sociology, social theory and conspiracy theory / Turkay Salim Nefes and Alejandro Romero-Reche, 94
8 Conspiracy theories in political science and political theory / Julien Giry and Pranvera Tika, 108
9 Social psychology of conspiracy theories / Olivier Klein and Kenzo Nera, 121
10 Social network analysis, social big data and conspiracy theories / Estrella Gualda Caballero, 135
SECTION 2: PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
Introduction / Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Karen M. Douglas, Aleksandra Cichocka and Micha. Bilewicz, 151
1 Personality traits, cognitive styles and worldviews associated with beliefs in conspiracy theories / Anthony Lantian, Mike Wood and Biljana Gjoneska, 155
2 Social-cognitive processes underlying belief in conspiracy theories /
Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Olivier Klein and Jasna Milosevic Dordevic, 168
3 Motivations, emotions and belief in conspiracy theories / Karen M. Douglas, Aleksandra Cichocka and Robbie M. Sutton, 181
4 Conspiracy beliefs as psycho-political reactions to perceived power / Roland Imhoff and Pia Lamberty, 192
5 How conspiracy theories spread / Adrian Bangerter, Pascal Wagner-Egger and Sylvain Delouvee, 206
6 Conspiracy theories and intergroup relations / Mikey Biddlestone, Aleksandra Cichocka, Iris Zezelj and Michal Bilewicz, 219
7 Consequences of conspiracy theories / Daniel Jolley, Silvia Mari and Karen M. Douglas, 231
8 Countering conspiracy theories and misinformation / Peter Kreko, 242
SECTION 3: SOCIETY AND POLITICS
Introduction / Eirikur Bergmann, Asbjorn Dyrendal, Jaron Harambam and Hulda Thorisdottir, 259
1 Who are the conspiracy theorists? demographics and conspiracy theories / Steven M. Smallpage, Hugo Drochon, Joseph E. Uscinski and Casey Klofstad, 263
2 Conspiracy theory entrepreneurs, movements and individuals / Jaron Harambam, 278
3 Conspiracy theories and gender and sexuality / Annika Thiem, 292
4 Conspiracy theories, political ideology and political behaviour / Hulda Thorisdottir, Silvia Mari and Andre Krouwel, 304
5 Functions and uses of conspiracy theories in authoritarian regimes / Julien Giry and Dogan Gürpinar, 317
6 Conspiracy theory and populism / Eirikur Bergmann and Michael Butter, 330
7 Radicalisation and conspiracy theories / Benjamin Lee, 344
8 Antisemitism and conspiracism / Kjetil Braut Simonsen, 357
9 Conspiracy theory and religion / Asbjorn Dyrendal, 371
SECTION 4: MEDIA AND TRANSMISSION
Introduction / Stef Aupers, Dana Cracium and Andreas Önnerfors, 387
1 Rumours, urban legends and the verbal transmission of conspiracy theories / Anastasiya Astapova, 391
2 Conspiracy theorising and the history of media in the eighteenth century / Andrew McKenzie-McHarg and Claus Oberhauser, 401
3 genres of conspiracy in nineteenth-century british writing / Ben Carver, 415
4 Conspiracy in American narrative / Timothy Melley, 427
5 Conspiracy theories and visual culture / Ute Caumanns and Andreas Onnerfors, 441
6 Conspiracy theories in films and television shows / Michael Butter, 457
7 Decoding mass media/encoding conspiracy theory / Stef Aupers, 469
8 The Internet and the spread of conspiracy content / Simona Stano, 483
9 Networked disinformation and the lifecycle of online conspiracy theories / Hugo Leal, 497
10 Conspiracy theories and fake news / Kiril Avramov, Vasily Gatov and Ilya Yablokov, 512
SECTION 5: HISTORIES AND REGIONS
Introduction / Ilya Yablokov, Pascal Girard, Nebojsa Blanusa and Annika Rabo, 527
1 Conspiracy theories in the Roman empire / Victoria Emma Pagan, 531
2 Conspiracy theories in the Middle Ages and the early modern period / Cornel Zwierlein, 542
3 Freemasons, Illuminati and Jews: Conspiracy theories and the French Revolution / Claus Oberhauser, 555
4 Conspiracy theories in Europe during the twentieth century / Pascal Girard, 569
5 Conspiracy theories in Putin's Russia: The case of the 'New World Order' / Ilya Yablokov, 582
6 Conspiracy theories in and about the Balkans / Nebojsa Blanusa, 596
7 Conspiracy theories in Turkey / Dogan Gürpinar and Türkay Salim Nefes, 610
8 Conspiracy theories in the Middle East / Matthew Gray, 624
9 Conspiracy theories in Southeast Asia / Viren Swami, Hanoor Syahirah Zahari and David Barron, 638
10 Conspiracy theories in American history / Michael Butter, 648
11 Populism and conspiracy theory in Latin America: A case study of Venezuela / Rosanne Hooper, 660
Introduction / Todor Hristov, Andrew McKenzie-McHarg and Alejandro Romero-Reche, 11
1 Conceptual history and conspiracy theory / Andrew McKenzie-McHarg, 16
2 Conspiracy theory in historical, cultural and literary studies / Michael Butter and Peter Knight, 28
3 Semiotic approaches to conspiracy theories / Massimo Leone, Mari-Liis Madisson and Andreas Ventsel, 43
4 Philosophy and conspiracy theories / Juha Räikkä and Juho Ritola, 56
5 Psychoanalysis, critical theory and conspiracy theory / Nebojša Blanuša and Todor Hristov, 67
6 Conspiracy theory as occult cosmology in anthropology / Annika Rabo, 81
7 Sociology, social theory and conspiracy theory / Turkay Salim Nefes and Alejandro Romero-Reche, 94
8 Conspiracy theories in political science and political theory / Julien Giry and Pranvera Tika, 108
9 Social psychology of conspiracy theories / Olivier Klein and Kenzo Nera, 121
10 Social network analysis, social big data and conspiracy theories / Estrella Gualda Caballero, 135
SECTION 2: PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
Introduction / Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Karen M. Douglas, Aleksandra Cichocka and Micha. Bilewicz, 151
1 Personality traits, cognitive styles and worldviews associated with beliefs in conspiracy theories / Anthony Lantian, Mike Wood and Biljana Gjoneska, 155
2 Social-cognitive processes underlying belief in conspiracy theories /
Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Olivier Klein and Jasna Milosevic Dordevic, 168
3 Motivations, emotions and belief in conspiracy theories / Karen M. Douglas, Aleksandra Cichocka and Robbie M. Sutton, 181
4 Conspiracy beliefs as psycho-political reactions to perceived power / Roland Imhoff and Pia Lamberty, 192
5 How conspiracy theories spread / Adrian Bangerter, Pascal Wagner-Egger and Sylvain Delouvee, 206
6 Conspiracy theories and intergroup relations / Mikey Biddlestone, Aleksandra Cichocka, Iris Zezelj and Michal Bilewicz, 219
7 Consequences of conspiracy theories / Daniel Jolley, Silvia Mari and Karen M. Douglas, 231
8 Countering conspiracy theories and misinformation / Peter Kreko, 242
SECTION 3: SOCIETY AND POLITICS
Introduction / Eirikur Bergmann, Asbjorn Dyrendal, Jaron Harambam and Hulda Thorisdottir, 259
1 Who are the conspiracy theorists? demographics and conspiracy theories / Steven M. Smallpage, Hugo Drochon, Joseph E. Uscinski and Casey Klofstad, 263
2 Conspiracy theory entrepreneurs, movements and individuals / Jaron Harambam, 278
3 Conspiracy theories and gender and sexuality / Annika Thiem, 292
4 Conspiracy theories, political ideology and political behaviour / Hulda Thorisdottir, Silvia Mari and Andre Krouwel, 304
5 Functions and uses of conspiracy theories in authoritarian regimes / Julien Giry and Dogan Gürpinar, 317
6 Conspiracy theory and populism / Eirikur Bergmann and Michael Butter, 330
7 Radicalisation and conspiracy theories / Benjamin Lee, 344
8 Antisemitism and conspiracism / Kjetil Braut Simonsen, 357
9 Conspiracy theory and religion / Asbjorn Dyrendal, 371
SECTION 4: MEDIA AND TRANSMISSION
Introduction / Stef Aupers, Dana Cracium and Andreas Önnerfors, 387
1 Rumours, urban legends and the verbal transmission of conspiracy theories / Anastasiya Astapova, 391
2 Conspiracy theorising and the history of media in the eighteenth century / Andrew McKenzie-McHarg and Claus Oberhauser, 401
3 genres of conspiracy in nineteenth-century british writing / Ben Carver, 415
4 Conspiracy in American narrative / Timothy Melley, 427
5 Conspiracy theories and visual culture / Ute Caumanns and Andreas Onnerfors, 441
6 Conspiracy theories in films and television shows / Michael Butter, 457
7 Decoding mass media/encoding conspiracy theory / Stef Aupers, 469
8 The Internet and the spread of conspiracy content / Simona Stano, 483
9 Networked disinformation and the lifecycle of online conspiracy theories / Hugo Leal, 497
10 Conspiracy theories and fake news / Kiril Avramov, Vasily Gatov and Ilya Yablokov, 512
SECTION 5: HISTORIES AND REGIONS
Introduction / Ilya Yablokov, Pascal Girard, Nebojsa Blanusa and Annika Rabo, 527
1 Conspiracy theories in the Roman empire / Victoria Emma Pagan, 531
2 Conspiracy theories in the Middle Ages and the early modern period / Cornel Zwierlein, 542
3 Freemasons, Illuminati and Jews: Conspiracy theories and the French Revolution / Claus Oberhauser, 555
4 Conspiracy theories in Europe during the twentieth century / Pascal Girard, 569
5 Conspiracy theories in Putin's Russia: The case of the 'New World Order' / Ilya Yablokov, 582
6 Conspiracy theories in and about the Balkans / Nebojsa Blanusa, 596
7 Conspiracy theories in Turkey / Dogan Gürpinar and Türkay Salim Nefes, 610
8 Conspiracy theories in the Middle East / Matthew Gray, 624
9 Conspiracy theories in Southeast Asia / Viren Swami, Hanoor Syahirah Zahari and David Barron, 638
10 Conspiracy theories in American history / Michael Butter, 648
11 Populism and conspiracy theory in Latin America: A case study of Venezuela / Rosanne Hooper, 660
