Although conspiracy thinking is of all times, we now face a different kind of #conspiracy theories: conspiracy without theory. 1/
The increased visibility of conspiracy thinking at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be partly explained by the need for certainty in uncertain times. But there is more going. 2/
There is a distinction between classical conspiracy thinking and the new conspiracy thinking. Classical conspiracy thinking aims to offer an alternative explanation for a major event, sometimes by following journalistic or even scientific standards. 3/
Classical conspiracy theories are to some extent useful for #democracy because they serve as an alarm system: conspiracy theories are a way for the weakest in society to have their voices heard 4/
New conspiracy thinking are conspiracies without theory. Whereas classic conspiracy theorists seek recognition within the social debate for an alternative theory, the new conspiracy theorist, on the contrary, withdraws from the ''mainstream'' society. 5/
The new conspiracy theorist lives in a #parallel #society made possible by new media, such as #Facebook , #TikTok and #YouTube. In the United States, with the election of #Trump, the new conspiracy theorist has moved from the periphery of democracy to the heart of democracy. 6/
Finally, the new conspiracy thinking focuses on democratic institutions, such as political parties, the judiciary, #science, and the #media. 7/
This makes it more difficult to conduct a dialogue with the new conspiracy theorist than with the classic conspiracy theorist; the new conspiracy theorist has alternative facts, which means that there is no common basis from which to start a dialogue. /8 #phdlife
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