The term “conspiracy theory” is used to describe any theory that attempts to characterize observed events as the result of some secret conspiracy. The term is often used dismissively, implying that the theory is implausible. While some of the conspiracy theories are hundreds of years old, the idea that many important political events or economic and social trends are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public has been adopted, used and benefited by many important political, economic and cultural actors.
Significant turning points in political history have always welcomed ‘conspiracy theories’ that argue such events have occurred as a result of delicately designed and processed plan by a small and powerful group of individuals. Despite the fact that conspiracy theories use different plotters and targets, the common denominator for all is the way they perpetuate distrust against certain institutions or groups of people. It is not possible to disregard these theories as irrelevant in the context of conflict studies as such theories have been the cement in the process recruiting new members or sympathisers as well as sustaining the extremist acts from a wide spectrum of religious, far-right to anarchic, eco and far-left ideological positions While researches show that conspiracy theories are widespread among the extremist groups, evidently conspiracy theories have also been the locomotive of such sweeping dominant ideologies as ethno-nationalism and consumerism. Thus, the role of conspiracy theories in both local and global formations and conflicts has been one of the catchy subjects of popular culture as well as populist politics, in films such as Seven Days in May (1964), The Parallax View (1974), JFK (1991), The Insider (1999), as well as populist politics.
This year’s theme in ICCTS seeks to cultivate the notion of conspiracy and its social and political uses from a range of angles, such as extremist movements, nationalism, popular culture, social movements, and consumer culture, by discussing both theoretical bases of conspiracies in global conflicts and diverse cases from all around the world. Within this perspective, the conference aims to bring together scholars from across disciplines to discuss issues related to conspiracy theories and beliefs.
Theoretical discussions and historical bases of conspiracy theories,
Populist political discourses and the use of conspiracy theories
The influence of conspiracy theories in the perception of international organisations,
Global politics, local politics, NGOs and big businesses.
Popular culture and the audience response to conspiracy theories
The role and function of conspiracy theories in daily life
Debunking conspiracy theories
Why do individuals believe conspiracy theories?
How are conspiracy theories disseminated?
How do conspiracy theories vary in relation to cultural, political and/or ideological context?
04月11日
2017
04月12日
2017
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注册截止日期
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