Chapter 9. Complementary concepts of disinformation
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Philip Seargeant
Abstract
This chapter looks at the relationship between two distinct but related forms of disinformation currently widespread in political discourse: ‘fake news’ and conspiracy theories. Both play a significant role in the promotion and circulation of forms of false information which are considered by many as a threat to civil society. They are both frequently co-opted as means of political persuasion, often for propaganda purposes. Despite their similarities, the two exist as distinct genres of disinformation. The aim of the chapter is to analyse the nature of their similarities and differences as rhetorical tools in order to provide a more nuanced picture of the role they both play in contemporary politics.
Abstract
This chapter looks at the relationship between two distinct but related forms of disinformation currently widespread in political discourse: ‘fake news’ and conspiracy theories. Both play a significant role in the promotion and circulation of forms of false information which are considered by many as a threat to civil society. They are both frequently co-opted as means of political persuasion, often for propaganda purposes. Despite their similarities, the two exist as distinct genres of disinformation. The aim of the chapter is to analyse the nature of their similarities and differences as rhetorical tools in order to provide a more nuanced picture of the role they both play in contemporary politics.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Chapter 1. Conspiracy theory discourses 1
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Part I. Conspiracy theories
- Chapter 2. A corpus-driven exploration of conspiracy theorising as a discourse type 25
- Chapter 3. Is my mobile phone listening to me? 49
- Chapter 4. “Go ahead and ‘debunk’ truth by calling it a conspiracy theory” 71
- Chapter 5. “You want me to be wrong” 99
- Chapter 6. Fake conspiracy 121
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Part II. Conspiracy theory-related communicative phenomena
- Chapter 7. Exploring the echo chamber concept 143
- Chapter 8. “If you can’t see the pattern here, there’s something wrong” 169
- Chapter 9. Complementary concepts of disinformation 193
- Chapter 10. COVID-19 conspiracy theories as affective discourse 215
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Part III. Social media and conspiracy theories
- Chapter 11. The ID2020 conspiracy theory in YouTube video comments during COVID-19 241
- Chapter 12. #conspiracymemes 267
- Chapter 13. The New World Order on Twitter 295
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Part IV. Stancetaking and (de-)legitimation within conspiracy and anti-conspiracy discourses
- Chapter 14. Expressing stance towards COVID-19 conspiracy theories in Macedonian online forum discussions 319
- Chapter 15. Ideologies and the representation of identities in anti-vaccination conspiracy theories 343
- Chapter 16. Collective identities in the online self-representation of conspiracy theorists 365
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Part V. Political and international dimensions of conspiracy theories
- Chapter 17. Anti-Sorosism 395
- Chapter 18. “These cameras won’t show the crowds” 421
- Chapter 19. From strategic depiction of conspiracies to conspiracy theories 443
- Chapter 20. “Gender ideology” and the discursive infrastructure of a transnational conspiracy theory 465
- Epilogue. Beyond discourse theory in the conspiratorial mode? 489
- Notes on contributors 495
- Index 505
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Chapter 1. Conspiracy theory discourses 1
-
Part I. Conspiracy theories
- Chapter 2. A corpus-driven exploration of conspiracy theorising as a discourse type 25
- Chapter 3. Is my mobile phone listening to me? 49
- Chapter 4. “Go ahead and ‘debunk’ truth by calling it a conspiracy theory” 71
- Chapter 5. “You want me to be wrong” 99
- Chapter 6. Fake conspiracy 121
-
Part II. Conspiracy theory-related communicative phenomena
- Chapter 7. Exploring the echo chamber concept 143
- Chapter 8. “If you can’t see the pattern here, there’s something wrong” 169
- Chapter 9. Complementary concepts of disinformation 193
- Chapter 10. COVID-19 conspiracy theories as affective discourse 215
-
Part III. Social media and conspiracy theories
- Chapter 11. The ID2020 conspiracy theory in YouTube video comments during COVID-19 241
- Chapter 12. #conspiracymemes 267
- Chapter 13. The New World Order on Twitter 295
-
Part IV. Stancetaking and (de-)legitimation within conspiracy and anti-conspiracy discourses
- Chapter 14. Expressing stance towards COVID-19 conspiracy theories in Macedonian online forum discussions 319
- Chapter 15. Ideologies and the representation of identities in anti-vaccination conspiracy theories 343
- Chapter 16. Collective identities in the online self-representation of conspiracy theorists 365
-
Part V. Political and international dimensions of conspiracy theories
- Chapter 17. Anti-Sorosism 395
- Chapter 18. “These cameras won’t show the crowds” 421
- Chapter 19. From strategic depiction of conspiracies to conspiracy theories 443
- Chapter 20. “Gender ideology” and the discursive infrastructure of a transnational conspiracy theory 465
- Epilogue. Beyond discourse theory in the conspiratorial mode? 489
- Notes on contributors 495
- Index 505