Understanding the Freedom Convoy Movement's Collective Identity and Roles of Conspiracy Narratives: A Study of a Telegram Group
(2023) SIMZ51 20231Graduate School
- Abstract
- This thesis analyses how conspiracy narratives are used to negotiate a collective identity within the global branch of the Freedom Convoy movement. To better understand what common conspiracies are present and how they function for the group’s collective identity, this paper is based on empirical data from text messages and memes shared in a group chat on Telegram, an instant messaging platform. While the first part of the analysis is explorative, it then applies thematic analysis to move from establishing what conspiracies are out there to, in the second part of the thesis focus, on the functions of conspiracies, using a joint framework of identity negotiation through conspiracy narratives. The findings reveal that the present conspiracy... (More)
- This thesis analyses how conspiracy narratives are used to negotiate a collective identity within the global branch of the Freedom Convoy movement. To better understand what common conspiracies are present and how they function for the group’s collective identity, this paper is based on empirical data from text messages and memes shared in a group chat on Telegram, an instant messaging platform. While the first part of the analysis is explorative, it then applies thematic analysis to move from establishing what conspiracies are out there to, in the second part of the thesis focus, on the functions of conspiracies, using a joint framework of identity negotiation through conspiracy narratives. The findings reveal that the present conspiracy narratives are not isolated, they often intersect one another and new events or strands of information are located within those previously established conspiracy narratives. Apart from conspiracies regarding Covid-19 in the Telegram group, there are also traces of conspiracy narratives regarding the Deep State, the Great Reset, and QAnon, just to mention a few. Moreover, those narratives contribute to the group’s collective sense in three ways: distinguishing between us and them, providing compelling interpretations where the group’s members are threatened by “them”, and amplifying those sentiments with repetitive and confirmative messages. Finally, this thesis concludes that the boundaries of conspiracies in the group are fluid; hence one narrative can have several functions for collective identity negotiation. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- Although not a new phenomenon, with information technologies and social media, conspiracy
theories increase in visibility and significance. Conspiracies are no longer at the margins of our
society, drawing attention as absurd, entertaining, probable or definite stories. Their ability to
undermine people’s trust and polarise society also poses a security risk. As the world faced one
of its most significant global crises in modern times during the Covid-19 pandemic, conspiracy
theories became increasingly mainstream, spurring ideas of it being an intentionally
manufactured virus, hoax, or tool to control the population. Several initiatives and protests took
place in response to this crisis, including the Freedom Convoy movement in... (More) - Although not a new phenomenon, with information technologies and social media, conspiracy
theories increase in visibility and significance. Conspiracies are no longer at the margins of our
society, drawing attention as absurd, entertaining, probable or definite stories. Their ability to
undermine people’s trust and polarise society also poses a security risk. As the world faced one
of its most significant global crises in modern times during the Covid-19 pandemic, conspiracy
theories became increasingly mainstream, spurring ideas of it being an intentionally
manufactured virus, hoax, or tool to control the population. Several initiatives and protests took
place in response to this crisis, including the Freedom Convoy movement in Canada at the
beginning of 2022. Apart from the physical protests between January and February, where
trucks were used to block roads, this movement was organised mainly online and gathered
people from various countries to share their dissatisfaction with the perceived limitations of
freedom. Several of these protest groups remained active, although the physical protests were
over, and Covid-19 is today no longer classified as a health emergency (McPhillips, 2023).
This study attempts to understand the present conspiracies and how those conspiracies create a
collective identity among, to this day, active, global Freedom Convoy movement group on
Telegram. Traces of common conspiracy theories are found by exploring text messages and
memes shared from the beginning of the group’s formation up to a year after the physical
protests. These often interrelated conspiracy theories contribute to the collective identity by
making people question certain events and provide explanations as to why those events ought
to have been manipulated. The conspiracies also make a case for why more people should
engage and confirm previous ideas by providing a conspiracy context to new global events,
such as the war in Ukraine. This study made it apparent that the vast array of present
conspiracies in the group and its functions are fluid, raising concerns about whether it is about
the narrative or a particular way of thinking and how Covid-19 served as a gateway into this
conspiracy thinking. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9132437
- author
- Konopka, Michelle LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SIMZ51 20231
- year
- 2023
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- conspiracy theories, collective identity, Covid-19, Telegram, text messages, memes
- language
- English
- id
- 9132437
- date added to LUP
- 2023-08-01 14:02:03
- date last changed
- 2023-08-01 14:02:03
@misc{9132437,
abstract = {{This thesis analyses how conspiracy narratives are used to negotiate a collective identity within the global branch of the Freedom Convoy movement. To better understand what common conspiracies are present and how they function for the group’s collective identity, this paper is based on empirical data from text messages and memes shared in a group chat on Telegram, an instant messaging platform. While the first part of the analysis is explorative, it then applies thematic analysis to move from establishing what conspiracies are out there to, in the second part of the thesis focus, on the functions of conspiracies, using a joint framework of identity negotiation through conspiracy narratives. The findings reveal that the present conspiracy narratives are not isolated, they often intersect one another and new events or strands of information are located within those previously established conspiracy narratives. Apart from conspiracies regarding Covid-19 in the Telegram group, there are also traces of conspiracy narratives regarding the Deep State, the Great Reset, and QAnon, just to mention a few. Moreover, those narratives contribute to the group’s collective sense in three ways: distinguishing between us and them, providing compelling interpretations where the group’s members are threatened by “them”, and amplifying those sentiments with repetitive and confirmative messages. Finally, this thesis concludes that the boundaries of conspiracies in the group are fluid; hence one narrative can have several functions for collective identity negotiation.}},
author = {{Konopka, Michelle}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Understanding the Freedom Convoy Movement's Collective Identity and Roles of Conspiracy Narratives: A Study of a Telegram Group}},
year = {{2023}},
}