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The role of conspiracy theories in American political culture. A case study of QAnon
Klofáč, Jan ; Hornát, Jan (advisor) ; Pondělíček, Jiří (referee)
Conspiracy theories can no longer be considered a fringe matter affecting only a few individuals. Their power has been greatly amplified by the development of information technology, allowing unknown individuals to reach the masses of people on an unprecedented scale. Conspiracy theories are not a new phenomenon, and American society has been influenced by conspiracy theories from the very beginning. Fear of conspiracies and conspiratorial thinking have played a significant role in American history. According to the conventional wisdom of conspiracy theorists, there has been a constant infiltration of enemies into key institutions of American society, which is predisposed to trust conspiracy theories because of its traditional values. Conspiracy theories are a tool of political propaganda, and QAnon has functioned the same way in American society. Thanks to the Internet and social media, which have contributed significantly to the distortion of shared reality, QAnon has managed to influence American society and become an influential conspiracy theory that has reached the highest levels of the American political scene. This bachelor thesis addresses the ques- tion of what specific qualities have helped QAnon become a mainstream conspiracy theory and how the tendency of American society to believe...
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Denying Scientific Facts as a New Form of Revisionism
Matesová, Julie ; Špelda, Petr (advisor) ; Karásek, Tomáš (referee)
Modern society has been plagued by revisionism since the 19th century. It has permeated historical milestones of the 20th century and has recently found a new footing thanks to social media. One of its facets is science denial, once a harbinger of things to come, it now presents new security challenges. This thesis makes an argument that further research is needed into the effect of science denial and its roles within the socio-political landscape. Not only to better understand and prepare for its imminent entry into mainstream discourse but to develop an effective tool to counter it. The Flat Earth movement represents one of the revisionist groups that have recently garnered a wide audience, mainly thanks to creating a well-oiled machine spurring a convincing mix of science denial and anti-establishment conspiracy theories. While social media has bowed to legislative pressure to police content, the denialists' hydra-like efforts remain predominantly unchecked. Unobstructed, Flat Earthers maintain a vice-like grip on establishing their alternative reality with their own future goals. The modern Flat Earth movement is thus examined by Hansson's unifying framework for the qualification and characterization of science denial movements both epistemologically and from a sociological perspective,...
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Conspiracy Theories and Politics in Slovakia: How Conspiracy Thinking Relates to Political Opinions and Preferences
Kondrótová, Katarína ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
Conspiracy Theories and Politics in Slovakia: How Conspiracy Thinking Relates to Political Opinions and Preferences Katarína Kondrótová Abstract (English) Conspiracy theories have become a fashionable buzzword, appearing across the internet, the media, and political speeches with great frequency. However, there are many misconceptions associated with them, making them more divisive and mysterious than they need to be. The present contribution seeks to remedy that by providing a deep dive into conspiracy theories. It examines the multitude of their possible definitions and conceptualizations, their existence across history, as well as past research findings about why they appeal to us. In the second half, conspiracy theories are presented through new research regarding their relation to political and ideological preferences of Slovaks. The findings are in line with past studies, showing a relationship between stronger conspiracy beliefs and extremist thinking, preference of authoritarian policies, and low faith in authorities. A regression analysis also uncovered a strong correlation between conspiracy beliefs and the political party the respondents had voted for, as well as their preference of the politics and ideologies of 'the West' (EU, USA) or 'the East' (Russian federation).
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The media image of the Velvet Revolution in terms of conspiracy theories
Mrnková, Kamila ; Cebe, Jan (advisor) ; Končelík, Jakub (referee)
The topic of this diploma thesis is the media image of the Velvet Revolution related to various conspiracy theories. This view can be traced in Czechoslovak (and later Czech periodicals) on the basis of predetermined storylines. The specified period for the analysis of individual elements of these theories is from November 17, 1989 to about mid-1993, or earlier if the periodical ceased to be published. The period of the Velvet Revolution is a fundamental period of our republic, which at this time underwent an economic, political, social transformation… And few aspects of everyday life remained the same as before the revolution. Because this change took place so suddenly and so quickly, a lot of rumors, misinformation, and conspiracy theories began to spread to explain to some extent what had happened, especially if they did not like the officially recognized version of events. It is these alternative explanations of the events of that time that are the subject of this work. I will analyze them in a total of 7 titles, in Rudé právo, Lidové noviny, Studentské listy, Respekt, Květy, Špígl and Analýza 17 listopadu by Miroslav Dolejší. First, I will introduce the theoretical basis of concepts such as conspiracy theory, misinformation, ect., with which I will continue to work. I will also outline the...
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Parakratos in Post-Civil War Greece: Reality and Interpretation
Karasová, Nikola ; Králová, Kateřina (advisor) ; van Steen, Gonda (referee) ; Brunnbauer, Ulf (referee)
Based on a historiographical, archival and media analysis, this doctoral thesis explores the phenomenon of parakratos (translated as deep state or parastate) in post-civil war Greece (1949-1967). Research perspectives are fourfold: Firstly, parakratos is discussed in the context of academic debates on parapolitics and the concepts of the dual state, the security state and the deep state; and presented as a Cold War parallel power mechanism, analogical to Italy and Turkey. Secondly, parakratos is analysed as part of domestic political reality through the prism of the historical events documented in Greek historiography. In this sense, the thesis concentrates on the emergence and operation of clandestine military groups and parastate ultra- nationalist organisations against the backdrop of the Greek political, legal and social environment. Both phenomena are elaborated on through the lens of the inefficient Greek political and administrative system, a deeply divided society, the politicisation of the public space, and the persistence of clientelist networks constructed upon political loyalties. Third, the parakratos is examined on an interpretative level as a term and concept employed in Greek historiography. Focusing on its presumed roots, actors, purposes and relations with the state, three...
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Conspiracy Theories during the First Czechoslovak Republik (1918 - 1938)
Tesárek, Vojtěch ; Cebe, Jan (advisor) ; Knapík, Jiří (referee)
The thesis entitled Conspiracy Theories during the First Czechoslovak Republic (1918- 1938) deals with conspiracy theories, both in general and also specifically about those that were spread in the period from 1918 to 1938, known as the First Czechoslovak Republic. The author first characterizes conspiracy theories, divides them, introduces the readers to their main characteristics and describes why this theories are trusted by a large number of people. In the second part of this thesis the author deals specifically with periodicals from the First Czechoslovak Republic. These newspaper (Lidové noviny, Národní listy a České slovo) are examined by historical-comparative analysis and it is shown how on three specific cases (the mysterious death of Milan Rastislav Štefánik, the Gajda's affair and the alleged infection of Jiří Stříbrný with syphilis) conspiracy theories were spread during the First Czechoslovak Republic, what was the outcome, what was the motivation of those who spread them and how the state either opposed those theories or used them. In addition, for better understanding, this whole part is set in the historical context of the events. In the final part, the author examines whether the mentioned affairs and cases hold the characters of conspiracy theories or not.
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The role of the media in spreading conspiracy theories, fake news and hoaxes
Hamrník, Jan ; Cebe, Jan (advisor) ; Končelík, Jakub (referee)
This diploma thesis focuses on the dissemination of conspiracy theories, fake news and hoaxes and the role of media in this process. First, the basic concepts are explained and the topic of the thesis is put in a broader context. The functioning of disinformation media is described including the description of the local scene. Other channels used to deceive recipients include e-mails and applications, social networks, and word of mouth. Special attention is paid to the regular media and the rules according to which they should operate. The theory is followed by a practical part, which maps the spreading of specific misinformation not only through the media, but also fact-checking initiatives. Examples include conspiracy theories about the fire in Notre-Dame Cathedral, hoaxes about alleged refugees in Cheb, Czech Television journalist Marek Wollner and MP Olga Richterová, and the case of the dubious non-profit organization International Children's Cross. The analysis of these cases is conducted through a mixed research model: Data collection is carried out by a quantitative method, while working with them, qualitative methods associated with grounded theory are applied. The aim is to define and describe the forms that the media give to misinformation in their outputs, and to determine in which cases...
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Conspiracy theories as quasireligion
Hlaváčová, Kateřina ; Kostičová, Zuzana (advisor) ; Gebelt, Jiří (referee)
Conspiracy theories are an old-new phenomenon which has gained its importance and specific character over the last three centuries. Unofficially, they have become an alternative tradition of the interpretation of historical events connected with an alternative form of spirituality, known as conspirituality. This manner of the interpretation usually holds the power when the consensually accepted worldview loses its plausibility for the concrete person or group. Conspiracy theories are the verbalization of a certain way of thinking and action which depends on it. Most often, they are manifested in the form of myths. That is understood as one of the dominant structures, commonly connected with traditionally perceived religion. From this point of view and in terms of the function associated with conspiracy narratives, conspiracy theories are examined as functional and structural equivalents of religion. These functions are especially the defense of the order (nomos), differentiation of the outer reality or the explanation of the presence of Evil in the world. In addition, they can also become a medium or tool of social actors in power relations. This thesis represents the complementary overview of the contemporary approaches in the study of religion discourse, which deals with unconventional religiosity...
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Audience expectations in relation with film authenticity
Jelínek, Jakub ; BAGDASAROV, Georgy (advisor) ; Kratochvíl, Jaroslav (referee)
This study aims to examine the cosmos of mock-documentary films, that are trying to fool its audience throughout the acceptance of the form of real documentary films. By using the same stylistic elements they try to deprive the audience of its critical approach and make it believe. Through the analysis of those fictional mock-documentaries, we are going to reveal procedures used by many directors all over the world to create something what we call the illusion of the real. On the specific examples of "mockumentary" films, propaganda films and some conspiracy theory films, we will explore whether all of those film forms use the same procedures to convince their audience since they are all trying to achieve the same result – to create an ultimate vision of the real throughout the acceptance of visual and formal appearance of documentary film.
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