Apocalyptic Visions of Conspiracy Theories on Slovak Internet Antisystem Websites

• Authors: Panczová Zuzana

Title variants

CS

Apokalyptické vízie konšpiračných teórií na slovenských antisystémových internetových stránkach

• Languages of publication: CS

Abstracts

EN

Conspiracy theories belong to rumours which are specific for their theme - they speak about secret coadunations that influence different spheres of public interest. Albeit the following may not be a rule, such theories often express negative attitudes toward the existing system, understanding official state institutions, media and authorities representing the official discourse as representatives of this system. Non-confidence against the system is connected with visions about approaching catastrophe, or about gradual planned decline of society. The increase in popularity of conspiratorial interpretations is also supported by specific features of the Internet communication. Current “conspiracy culture” spreads mainly in cyberspace, while absorbing a wide spectrum of themes and motives interconnecting different spheres of ongoing events with ideas going back to the past. It creates a platform for attitudes and persuasions being excluded, which moreover form coalitions of opinion through a picture of the common enemy. The article tries to explain narrative and argumentation strategies, which unite different types of ideological persuasions.

Keywords

EN

Conspiracy theories; antisystem persuasions; New World Order; Internet; Internet memes; social media

Discipline

• ANTHROPOLOGY: ANTHROPOLOGY

• Publisher: The National Institute of Folk Culture
• Journal: Národopisná revue (Journal of Ethnology)
• Year: 2017
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 283 - 297

Contributors

author

Panczová Zuzana