How conspiracy theories challenge liberal democracies

Abstract

The great replacement, rigged elections, climate change as a hoax, viruses such as HIV and COVID-19 originating in government labs, and George Soros as the mastermind of many evils are just some of the conspiracy narratives that have fuelled political debate in liberal democracies and resulted in significant new research on this phenomenon. Yet, despite a surge in new publications, we have not gained a more coherent understanding of how and for what purpose political actors utilize conspiracy theories and what factors explains the belief in conspiracy theories. The proposed panel seeks submissions addressing these questions. It provides the opportunity to take stock of ongoing empirical research on this crucial topic and gain a better understanding of the latest conceptions, approaches, measures, and data used to investigate the supply and demand side dimensions of conspiracy theories.

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