International conference

‘Truthers’ and ‘Truth Defenders’: Understanding Conflicts over Conspiracy Theories 

                                            6-7 November, Lund University, Sweden 

Keynote: Professor Clare Birchall, Kings College London

Call for Papers

Conspiracy theories used to be a niche topic. Nowadays, however, they are gradually  becoming an important issue not only to the people who propagate or endorse contested truths, but also to those who fear their consequences and design initiatives to push back against the ‘post-truth’ era. Civic actors, state representatives, as well as private companies, look for solutions that can help to address the proliferation of conspiracy theories and disinformation. 

Perceived as a major threat to liberal democracies, social cohesion, and peace, conspiracy theories are increasingly subjected to policy-making efforts. Across the world, many state, civic and private organisations are dedicated to preventing and combating not only conspiracy theories but also the wider problem of disinformation. This specific tension suggests that there is an urgent need to open a new chapter in the study of conspiracy theories. 

Therefore, the ERC CONSPIRATIONS project team is organizing a conference to discuss the relation between stakeholders involved in conflicts over truth (both those endorsing conspiracy theories and those combating them). We propose to discuss conspiracy theories not as a standalone phenomenon but as an outcome of the complex historical settings and relationships linking stakeholders on both sides of the conspiratorial divide. Thus, in the conference, we want to discuss not only why some individuals and groups turn to conspiracy theories but also why others do not, and why some groups strongly oppose them. 

Conference goals:

The idea for this conference is built on two premises. First, we argue that, like all forms of knowledge, conspiracy theories are relational: they attach themselves to relations between people, emerging within a dialogical field. Therefore, in this conference we want to approach conspiratorial thinking as an outcome of relationships that link groups endorsing conspiracy theories with wider society, in particular with stakeholders (experts, NGO activists, state leaders and administrators) who actively oppose conspiracy theories and the worldviews propagated by them. By expanding the scope of study from conspiracy theories to conflicts over conspiracy theories, we want to explore the possibility that the worlds of ‘truthers’ and ‘truth defenders’ are not opposing but rather are mutually constitutive.

Second, while researchers have already provided a considerable amount of knowledge about conspiracy theories and people who endorse them, we still know very little about the sector that counters disinformation and conspiracy theories. Our conference offers an opportunity to fill this gap. Analytically, with this conference we want to provide a better understanding of how conflicts over conspiracy theories are influenced by social contexts, and how they unfold across diverse cultural and socio-political settings. 

Thematic focuses: 

Given the goals of the conference, we invite papers that:

• explore how conflicts over conspiracy theories unfold in scientific, media, legal, social or political fields;
• Examine the relation between stakeholders involved; analyse if and how people on both sides of the conspiratorial divide interact with each other;
• Offer an analysis of the sector countering disinformation and conspiracy theories;
• Ask what conflicts over conspiracy theories can reveal about people’s fears and desires in relation to their private lives and the social organisation of their communities. 

The focus of this conference is on conspiracy theories, but we are also interested in presentations that discuss other related phenomena (dis/misinformation, information ecosystems, information technologies etc.). 

Abstract submissions: 

We invite 250-300-word abstracts along with a short bio, to be submitted on the 30th of April at the latest. In order to submit your abstract, you will first need to register on our website. The outcome of the selection process will be announced on the 15th of May.

Conference proceedings: 

Selected papers presented and discussed at this conference will be considered for publication in an edited volume on conflicts around conspiracy theories. 

Funding: 

There is no participation fee. A small fund is available to cover, fully or in part, travel and accommodation expenses of participants who have no other sources of funding. In order to claim reimbursement, check the box while sending your proposal, and we will consider you while allocating our available funds.