Conspiracy Theories in the European Digital Sphere
Birchall, Clare ; Blanuša, Nebojša ; Butter, Michael ; Drazkiewicz, Elzbieta LU
; Knight, Peter
and Madisson, Mari-Liis
(2026)
- Abstract
- Conspiracy Theories in the European Digital Sphere offers a comparative account of online conspiracism, considered in terms of platform preferences, ideological content, aesthetic choices, political context, flow of travel and the role online conspiracism plays in the formation of community and identity.
The book examines the assumptions that inform current ways of framing and combatting online conspiracy theories. Rather than approach online conspiracy theories as merely a symptom of post-truth social media, or as simply a problem of either too little or false information and, therefore, as the same as other forms of mis- and disinformation that can be more easily corrected, the book proposes that online conspiracy theories need... (More) - Conspiracy Theories in the European Digital Sphere offers a comparative account of online conspiracism, considered in terms of platform preferences, ideological content, aesthetic choices, political context, flow of travel and the role online conspiracism plays in the formation of community and identity.
The book examines the assumptions that inform current ways of framing and combatting online conspiracy theories. Rather than approach online conspiracy theories as merely a symptom of post-truth social media, or as simply a problem of either too little or false information and, therefore, as the same as other forms of mis- and disinformation that can be more easily corrected, the book proposes that online conspiracy theories need to be understood as a distinctive mode of digital disinformation because they are a vernacular knowledge and interpretation rooted in, engaged with and defined by regional and supra-regional political histories. The book is concerned with how experiences with freedom of speech, the role of the press, democratic and epistemological norms, levels of state control, conflict, authoritarianism and propaganda shape online conspiracy theories and the response to them.
This book is methodologically ambitious, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, and will appeal to anyone interested in conspiracy theories, misinformation, culture wars, social media and contemporary society. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/7eaea0e9-7ef4-4071-a301-654f9ceb2a6f
- author
- Birchall, Clare
; Blanuša, Nebojša
; Butter, Michael
; Drazkiewicz, Elzbieta
LU
; Knight, Peter
and Madisson, Mari-Liis
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-08
- type
- Book/Report
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- conspiracy theories, Europe, digital platforms, AI, radicalisation, great replacement, LGBTQ, 1984, conspiracims, Poland, Slovakia, Germany, UK, Estonia, Balkans, Visegrad Countries, climate change, 15 minute cities, disinformation
- pages
- 402 pages
- publisher
- Routledge
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105047322869
- ISBN
- 9781041129141
- 9781003667223
- DOI
- 10.4324/9781003667223
- project
- Researching Europe, Digitalisation and Conspiracy Theories
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 7eaea0e9-7ef4-4071-a301-654f9ceb2a6f
- date added to LUP
- 2026-07-10 13:51:10
- date last changed
- 2026-08-27 04:00:52
@book{7eaea0e9-7ef4-4071-a301-654f9ceb2a6f,
abstract = {{Conspiracy Theories in the European Digital Sphere offers a comparative account of online conspiracism, considered in terms of platform preferences, ideological content, aesthetic choices, political context, flow of travel and the role online conspiracism plays in the formation of community and identity.<br/><br/>The book examines the assumptions that inform current ways of framing and combatting online conspiracy theories. Rather than approach online conspiracy theories as merely a symptom of post-truth social media, or as simply a problem of either too little or false information and, therefore, as the same as other forms of mis- and disinformation that can be more easily corrected, the book proposes that online conspiracy theories need to be understood as a distinctive mode of digital disinformation because they are a vernacular knowledge and interpretation rooted in, engaged with and defined by regional and supra-regional political histories. The book is concerned with how experiences with freedom of speech, the role of the press, democratic and epistemological norms, levels of state control, conflict, authoritarianism and propaganda shape online conspiracy theories and the response to them.<br/><br/>This book is methodologically ambitious, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, and will appeal to anyone interested in conspiracy theories, misinformation, culture wars, social media and contemporary society.}},
author = {{Birchall, Clare and Blanuša, Nebojša and Butter, Michael and Drazkiewicz, Elzbieta and Knight, Peter and Madisson, Mari-Liis}},
isbn = {{9781041129141}},
keywords = {{conspiracy theories; Europe; digital platforms; AI; radicalisation; great replacement; LGBTQ; 1984; conspiracims; Poland; Slovakia; Germany; UK; Estonia; Balkans; Visegrad Countries; climate change; 15 minute cities; disinformation}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Book Editor}},
publisher = {{Routledge}},
title = {{Conspiracy Theories in the European Digital Sphere}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/257324122/Conspiracy_Theories_in_the_European_Digital_Sphere_26_08_06_10_15_29.pdf}},
doi = {{10.4324/9781003667223}},
year = {{2026}},
}