Covid Conspiracy Theories in Global Perspective
London; New York: Routledge (2023), xvi, 397 pp.
Contains figures, index
Series: Conspiracy Theories
ISBN 978-1-032-35943-4 (pbk); 978-1-003-33076-9 (ebk)
"Covid Conspiracy Theories in Global Perspective examines how conspiracy theories and related forms of misinformation and disinformation about the Covid-19 pandemic have circulated widely around the world. Covid conspiracy theories have attracted considerable attention from researchers, journalists, and politicians, not least because conspiracy beliefs have the potential to negatively affect adherence to public health measures. While most of this focus has been on the United States and Western Europe, this collection provides a unique global perspective on the emergence and development of conspiracy theories through a series of case studies. The chapters have been commissioned by recognized experts on area studies and conspiracy theories. The chapters present case studies on how Covid conspiracism has played out (some focused on a single country, others on regions), using a range of methods from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, including history, politics, sociology, anthropology, and psychology. Collectively, the authors reveal that, although there are many narratives that have spread virally, they have been adapted for different uses and take on different meanings in local contexts." (Publisher description)
Introduction: Covid-19 Conspiracy Theories in Global Perspective / Michael Butter and Peter Knight, 3
PART 1: GENERAL PERSPECTIVES
1 The Psychology of Pandemic Conspiracy Theories / Roland Imhoff, 15
2 Leak or Leap? Evidence and Cognition Surrounding the Origins of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus / Stephan Lewandowsky, Peter H. Jacobs, and Stuart Neil, 26
PART 2: ASIA
3 Covid Origins, Nationalism, and Diasporic Heterogeneity: China, Chineseness, and Covid-19 / Carwyn Morris, Andy Hanlun Li, and Lotus Ruan, 43
4 Dis-Spiracy Theory: Why Corona Rhymes with Corruption in Indonesia / Nils Bubandt, 58
5 Covid-19, Conspiracy Narratives, and the Arab State / Johannes Sauerland, 73
6 Conspiracy Theories about the Covid-19 Pandemic in Turkey / Türkay Salim Nefes, 88
PART 3: AFRICA
7 Covid-19-Related Rumors and Conspiracy Theories: A Case Study from Cameroon / Martina Drescher, 99
8 “Complòóót?”: Theorizing about Covid-19 Conspiracies in Côte d’Ivoire / Oumarou Boukari and Joschka Philipps, 114
9 A Disease of the Rich and a Disease of the Poor: Comparing Rumors about the Coronavirus and Ebola in Guinea / Joschka Philipps and Saïkou Oumar Sagnane, 128
10 The Constitutional Crisis and the Coronavirus: Conspiracies and Deep Politics during South Africa’s Pandemic / Nicholas Abrams and Mongezi Bolofo, 143
11 Africa Out of the Shadows: Authoritarian Anti-Imperialism, Transnational Pentecostalism, and Covid-19 “Conspiracy Theories” [Tanzania] / Laura A. Meek, 158
12 “The Truth is Not Known”: Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy as a Failure of Biomedicine’s Moral Legitimacy in Zambia / Justin Lee Haruyama, 172
PART 4: EUROPE
13 Covid-19-related Conspiracy Theories in the Baltic States / Mari-Liis Madisson and Andreas Ventsel, 185
14 Covid-19 Conspiracy Theories in France / Julien Giry, 200
15 Covid Conspiracy Theories in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland / Michael Butter, 208
16 Conspiracy Entrepreneurs, Fringe Movements, and the Pervasive Style of Conspiracy During the Coronavirus Pandemic: The Case of Hungary / Lili Turza, 221
17 Italian Uprising from Covid Skepticism to Societal Polarization / Cecilia Vergnano, 236
18 The Proliferation of Alternative Media: How Corona Conspiracy Theories in the Netherlands Fostered New Social Movements / Jaron Harambam, 252
19 Covid, Conspiracy Theories, and the Nordic Countries / Asbjørn Dyrendal, 268
20 The Usual Suspects? Conspiracy Theories and the Covid-19 Pandemic in Poland / Olivia Rachwol, 280
21 A (Cold) War for Vaccines: Retro-Conspiracism in Kremlin-Aligned Russian Discourse on Sputnik V / Boris Noordenbos, 293
22 A Communist Coup by Lockdown: Covid Conspiracy Theories in Spain / Alejandro Romero-Reche, 309
PART 5: NORTH AMERICA
23 Anti-Colonialism Meets Anti-Vax Suspicion: The Case of Guadeloupe / Nicole Simek, 323
24 A Perfect Storm: Covid-19 Conspiracy Theories in the United States / Clare Birchall and Peter Knight, 335
PART 6: SOUTH AMERICA
25 Vulnerability and Conspiracy Theories: Latin America in the Time of Covid-19 / Luis Roniger and Leonardo Senkman, 353
26 “The Communavirus is Here”: Anti-Communist Conspiracy Theories in Brazil’s Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic / Katerina Hatzikidi, 366
PART 7: OCEANIA
27 Covid-19 in Aotearoa New Zealand: The Darker Side of Paradise / M R. X. Dentith, 381
PART 1: GENERAL PERSPECTIVES
1 The Psychology of Pandemic Conspiracy Theories / Roland Imhoff, 15
2 Leak or Leap? Evidence and Cognition Surrounding the Origins of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus / Stephan Lewandowsky, Peter H. Jacobs, and Stuart Neil, 26
PART 2: ASIA
3 Covid Origins, Nationalism, and Diasporic Heterogeneity: China, Chineseness, and Covid-19 / Carwyn Morris, Andy Hanlun Li, and Lotus Ruan, 43
4 Dis-Spiracy Theory: Why Corona Rhymes with Corruption in Indonesia / Nils Bubandt, 58
5 Covid-19, Conspiracy Narratives, and the Arab State / Johannes Sauerland, 73
6 Conspiracy Theories about the Covid-19 Pandemic in Turkey / Türkay Salim Nefes, 88
PART 3: AFRICA
7 Covid-19-Related Rumors and Conspiracy Theories: A Case Study from Cameroon / Martina Drescher, 99
8 “Complòóót?”: Theorizing about Covid-19 Conspiracies in Côte d’Ivoire / Oumarou Boukari and Joschka Philipps, 114
9 A Disease of the Rich and a Disease of the Poor: Comparing Rumors about the Coronavirus and Ebola in Guinea / Joschka Philipps and Saïkou Oumar Sagnane, 128
10 The Constitutional Crisis and the Coronavirus: Conspiracies and Deep Politics during South Africa’s Pandemic / Nicholas Abrams and Mongezi Bolofo, 143
11 Africa Out of the Shadows: Authoritarian Anti-Imperialism, Transnational Pentecostalism, and Covid-19 “Conspiracy Theories” [Tanzania] / Laura A. Meek, 158
12 “The Truth is Not Known”: Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy as a Failure of Biomedicine’s Moral Legitimacy in Zambia / Justin Lee Haruyama, 172
PART 4: EUROPE
13 Covid-19-related Conspiracy Theories in the Baltic States / Mari-Liis Madisson and Andreas Ventsel, 185
14 Covid-19 Conspiracy Theories in France / Julien Giry, 200
15 Covid Conspiracy Theories in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland / Michael Butter, 208
16 Conspiracy Entrepreneurs, Fringe Movements, and the Pervasive Style of Conspiracy During the Coronavirus Pandemic: The Case of Hungary / Lili Turza, 221
17 Italian Uprising from Covid Skepticism to Societal Polarization / Cecilia Vergnano, 236
18 The Proliferation of Alternative Media: How Corona Conspiracy Theories in the Netherlands Fostered New Social Movements / Jaron Harambam, 252
19 Covid, Conspiracy Theories, and the Nordic Countries / Asbjørn Dyrendal, 268
20 The Usual Suspects? Conspiracy Theories and the Covid-19 Pandemic in Poland / Olivia Rachwol, 280
21 A (Cold) War for Vaccines: Retro-Conspiracism in Kremlin-Aligned Russian Discourse on Sputnik V / Boris Noordenbos, 293
22 A Communist Coup by Lockdown: Covid Conspiracy Theories in Spain / Alejandro Romero-Reche, 309
PART 5: NORTH AMERICA
23 Anti-Colonialism Meets Anti-Vax Suspicion: The Case of Guadeloupe / Nicole Simek, 323
24 A Perfect Storm: Covid-19 Conspiracy Theories in the United States / Clare Birchall and Peter Knight, 335
PART 6: SOUTH AMERICA
25 Vulnerability and Conspiracy Theories: Latin America in the Time of Covid-19 / Luis Roniger and Leonardo Senkman, 353
26 “The Communavirus is Here”: Anti-Communist Conspiracy Theories in Brazil’s Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic / Katerina Hatzikidi, 366
PART 7: OCEANIA
27 Covid-19 in Aotearoa New Zealand: The Darker Side of Paradise / M R. X. Dentith, 381
