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Konspiratoriska narrativ om COVID-19 vaccinet: En jämförelse mellan Frihet Sverige och Ryssland

Almroth, Björn Erik LU (2022) UNDA23 20221
Department of Political Science
Abstract
The paper's broader purpose is to explore how conspiracy narratives are used for influence operations. This is accomplished by comparing conspiracy narratives regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, being disseminated by the Swedish group Frihet Sverige in Eskilstuna, with narrative strategies being used toward Sweden, and narratives occurring in Russia. My first aim is to contribute with a local
perspective on a frequently debated academic topic internationally. My second aim is to nuance the debate regarding the use of conspiracy narratives in information operations. Through narrative analysis
I found how variants of the Swedish conspiracy narratives were also present in Russia. Recurring
themes in both are corrupt supra-governmental elites... (More)
The paper's broader purpose is to explore how conspiracy narratives are used for influence operations. This is accomplished by comparing conspiracy narratives regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, being disseminated by the Swedish group Frihet Sverige in Eskilstuna, with narrative strategies being used toward Sweden, and narratives occurring in Russia. My first aim is to contribute with a local
perspective on a frequently debated academic topic internationally. My second aim is to nuance the debate regarding the use of conspiracy narratives in information operations. Through narrative analysis
I found how variants of the Swedish conspiracy narratives were also present in Russia. Recurring
themes in both are corrupt supra-governmental elites vying for power while trying to control, poison,
or diminish the population. Other similarities are themes such as nanotechnology, poison and secret
medical experiments. Historically the KGB used disinformation through conspiracy narratives to
further their goals. If Russian authorities are involved in disseminating conspiracy narratives regarding
COVID-19 this seems to have backfired during the pandemic. This could be related to factors such as
the changing media and information environment, social factors or the information vacuum during
the pandemic itself. (Less)
Popular Abstract
The paper's broader purpose is to explore how conspiracy narratives are used for influence operations. This is accomplished by comparing conspiracy narratives regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, being disseminated by the Swedish group Frihet Sverige in Eskilstuna, with narrative strategies being used toward Sweden, and narratives occurring in Russia. My first aim is to contribute with a local
perspective on a frequently debated academic topic internationally. My second aim is to nuance the debate regarding the use of conspiracy narratives in information operations. Through narrative analysis, I found how variants of the Swedish conspiracy narratives were also present in Russia. Recurring themes in both are corrupt supra-governmental elites... (More)
The paper's broader purpose is to explore how conspiracy narratives are used for influence operations. This is accomplished by comparing conspiracy narratives regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, being disseminated by the Swedish group Frihet Sverige in Eskilstuna, with narrative strategies being used toward Sweden, and narratives occurring in Russia. My first aim is to contribute with a local
perspective on a frequently debated academic topic internationally. My second aim is to nuance the debate regarding the use of conspiracy narratives in information operations. Through narrative analysis, I found how variants of the Swedish conspiracy narratives were also present in Russia. Recurring themes in both are corrupt supra-governmental elites vying for power while trying to control, poison,
or diminish the population. Other similarities are themes such as nanotechnology, poison, and secret medical experiments. Historically the KGB used disinformation through conspiracy narratives to further their goals. If Russian authorities are involved in disseminating conspiracy narratives regarding COVID-19 this seems to have backfired during the pandemic. This could be related to factors such as
the changing media and information environment, social factors, or the information vacuum during the pandemic itself. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Almroth, Björn Erik LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Conspiracy narratives about the COVID-19 vaccine: A comparative case study of Sweden and Russia
course
UNDA23 20221
year
type
L2 - 2nd term paper (old degree order)
subject
keywords
Conspiracy narratives, conspiracies, covid-19, information operations, psychological warfare, propaganda, KGB, Frihet Sverige, Russia.
language
Swedish
id
9082024
date added to LUP
2022-08-09 12:07:20
date last changed
2022-08-09 12:07:20
@misc{9082024,
  abstract     = {{The paper's broader purpose is to explore how conspiracy narratives are used for influence operations. This is accomplished by comparing conspiracy narratives regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, being disseminated by the Swedish group Frihet Sverige in Eskilstuna, with narrative strategies being used toward Sweden, and narratives occurring in Russia. My first aim is to contribute with a local
perspective on a frequently debated academic topic internationally. My second aim is to nuance the debate regarding the use of conspiracy narratives in information operations. Through narrative analysis
I found how variants of the Swedish conspiracy narratives were also present in Russia. Recurring
themes in both are corrupt supra-governmental elites vying for power while trying to control, poison,
or diminish the population. Other similarities are themes such as nanotechnology, poison and secret
medical experiments. Historically the KGB used disinformation through conspiracy narratives to
further their goals. If Russian authorities are involved in disseminating conspiracy narratives regarding
COVID-19 this seems to have backfired during the pandemic. This could be related to factors such as
the changing media and information environment, social factors or the information vacuum during
the pandemic itself.}},
  author       = {{Almroth, Björn Erik}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Konspiratoriska narrativ om COVID-19 vaccinet: En jämförelse mellan Frihet Sverige och Ryssland}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}