None Dare Call It Conspiracy Theory : The Anti-Gender Narratives of the Illiberal Right in Central Europe
Drazkiewicz, Elzbieta LU
and Hardos, Pavol
(2026)
p.116-160
- Abstract
- The focus of this chapter is gender-related conspiracy theories in Poland and Slovakia. In both countries, the fear of ‘gender ideology’ and ‘the gay lobby’ has particularly strong power in mobilising political imagination and galvanising support for radical right-wing parties. The aim of the chapter is threefold: first, by analysing online conspiracy theories about feminist and LGBTQ+ communities, we explore the reasons for their high popularity in the region. Second, we analyse the connections between offline and online environments, analysing how these spaces serve to entrench or contest anti-gender narratives. Third, we consider why narratives casting suspicion on gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights movements, even though they fit most... (More)
- The focus of this chapter is gender-related conspiracy theories in Poland and Slovakia. In both countries, the fear of ‘gender ideology’ and ‘the gay lobby’ has particularly strong power in mobilising political imagination and galvanising support for radical right-wing parties. The aim of the chapter is threefold: first, by analysing online conspiracy theories about feminist and LGBTQ+ communities, we explore the reasons for their high popularity in the region. Second, we analyse the connections between offline and online environments, analysing how these spaces serve to entrench or contest anti-gender narratives. Third, we consider why narratives casting suspicion on gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights movements, even though they fit most definitions of conspiracy theories, are rarely labelled as such. Through this, we examine the cultural work performed by the label ‘conspiracy theory’. Importantly, instead of just focusing on the act of applying the label, we build our argumentation by studying the mechanisms of label avoidance. Thus, while the chapter offers some insight into the online world of conspiracy theories in Central Europe, it also addresses wider questions about the social life of the concept of ‘conspiracy theory’, and the way the label is not only used but also avoided. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/dc14594e-5c6c-4400-bab1-b995e5e454b8
- author
- Drazkiewicz, Elzbieta
LU
and Hardos, Pavol
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- conspiracy theories, LGBTQ+, LGBTQ+ rights, terrorist attacks, Slovakia, Poland, Gender, anti-gender politics, culture wars
- host publication
- Conspiracy theories in the European Digital Sphere
- editor
- Birchall, Clare ; Blanusa, Nebojsa ; Butter, Michael ; Drazkiewicz, Elzbieta ; Knight, Peter and Madisson, Marii-Lis
- pages
- 116 - 160
- publisher
- Routledge
- ISBN
- 9781003667223
- 9781041129141
- project
- Researching Europe, Digitalisation and Conspiracy Theories
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- dc14594e-5c6c-4400-bab1-b995e5e454b8
- alternative location
- https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003667223-10/none-dare-call-conspiracy-theory-el%C5%BCbieta-dr%C4%85%C5%BCkiewicz-pavol-hardo%C5%A1?context=ubx&refId=f987ef84-5448-4370-806a-c49228d7f624
- date added to LUP
- 2026-08-06 10:41:35
- date last changed
- 2026-08-15 03:29:59
@inbook{dc14594e-5c6c-4400-bab1-b995e5e454b8,
abstract = {{The focus of this chapter is gender-related conspiracy theories in Poland and Slovakia. In both countries, the fear of ‘gender ideology’ and ‘the gay lobby’ has particularly strong power in mobilising political imagination and galvanising support for radical right-wing parties. The aim of the chapter is threefold: first, by analysing online conspiracy theories about feminist and LGBTQ+ communities, we explore the reasons for their high popularity in the region. Second, we analyse the connections between offline and online environments, analysing how these spaces serve to entrench or contest anti-gender narratives. Third, we consider why narratives casting suspicion on gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights movements, even though they fit most definitions of conspiracy theories, are rarely labelled as such. Through this, we examine the cultural work performed by the label ‘conspiracy theory’. Importantly, instead of just focusing on the act of applying the label, we build our argumentation by studying the mechanisms of label avoidance. Thus, while the chapter offers some insight into the online world of conspiracy theories in Central Europe, it also addresses wider questions about the social life of the concept of ‘conspiracy theory’, and the way the label is not only used but also avoided.}},
author = {{Drazkiewicz, Elzbieta and Hardos, Pavol}},
booktitle = {{Conspiracy theories in the European Digital Sphere}},
editor = {{Birchall, Clare and Blanusa, Nebojsa and Butter, Michael and Drazkiewicz, Elzbieta and Knight, Peter and Madisson, Marii-Lis}},
isbn = {{9781003667223}},
keywords = {{conspiracy theories; LGBTQ+; LGBTQ+ rights; terrorist attacks; Slovakia; Poland; Gender; anti-gender politics; culture wars}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{116--160}},
publisher = {{Routledge}},
title = {{None Dare Call It Conspiracy Theory : The Anti-Gender Narratives of the Illiberal Right in Central Europe}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/257325082/None_Dare_Call_It_Conspiracy_Theory_26_08_06_10_39_41.pdf}},
year = {{2026}},
}