Index Entries

Clare Birchall and Peter Knight
November 3, 2022

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Chapter 1:  Deep Background

Chapter 2:  Infodemic

Chapter 3: A Year of Covid-19 Conspiracy Theories Part 1

Chapter 4: A Year of Covid-19 Conspiracy Theories Part 2

Chapter 5: Coalitions of Distrust

Chapter 6: Conspiracy Entrepreneurs and Marketplace Bots

Chapter 7: Infrastructural Design and Disinfo Capitalism

Conclusion

"Abstract 

Conspiracy Theories in the Time of Covid-19 provides a wide-ranging analysis of the emergence and development of conspiracy theories during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a focus on the US and the UK.

The book combines digital methods analysis of large datasets assembled from social media with politically and culturally contextualised close readings informed by cultural studies. In contrast to other studies which often have an alarmist take on the 'infodemic,' it places Covid-19 conspiracy theories in a longer historical perspective. It also argues against the tendency to view conspiracy theories as merely evidence of a fringe or pathological way of thinking. Instead, the starting assumption is that conspiracy theories, including Covid-19 conspiracy theories, often reflect genuine and legitimate concerns, even if their factual claims are wide of the mark. The authors examine the nature and origins of the conspiracy theories that have emerged; the identity and rationale of those drawn to Covid-19 conspiracism; how these conspiracy theories fit within the wider political, economic and technological landscape of the online information environment; and proposed interventions from social media platforms and regulatory agencies."

document
censorship,COVID-19,vaccines