Conspiracy Theories, Populism and Crisis in the Global World

The panel discusses the role of conspiracy theories in global crises, from Covid-19 pandemic to the most recent international crises. What are the connections between the development of populism and the distrust of official political and scientific institutions? What social and cultural cleavages fuel the proliferation of conspiracy theories? Who are the entrepreneurs of the politics of fear? The aim is to sociologically investigate why conspiracy theories attract support, why people believe in them and what ideological worldview fuels them. Papers addressing the topics of the relationship between populism and culture, identity politics, the social construction of crises, the leadership of fear, the relationship between populism and science, the no vax movements, the role of mass media in conspiracy theories, and the politicisation of risk in global society, are particularly welcome. The panel includes theoretical and empirical papers.