{"product_id":"the-nature-of-conspiracy-theories-paperback-softback-9781509540822","title":"The Nature of Conspiracy Theories (Paperback \/ softback) 9781509540822","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eThe Nature of Conspiracy Theories\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eMichael Butter (Author), Sharon Howe (Translated by)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781509540822, Polity Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 2 October 2020\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e210 pages\u003cbr\u003e21.3 x 13.7 x 1.8 cm, 0.272 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\"In this stunningly wide-ranging book, Michael Butter runs conspiracy theory through a prism that reveals its logic, narratology, history, cultural specificity and psychological appeal. Using examples from the assassination of Julius Caesar to the suspicions of Donald Trump, Butter shows how the scholarly delegitimation of conspiracy theory has paradoxically enhanced its visibility. The result is a compelling account of how conspiracy theory works, why it seems so pervasive, and how we can combat its most dangerous consequences.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTimothy Melley, author of \u003ci\u003eEmpire of Conspiracy: The Culture of Paranoia in Postwar America\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"In this compelling book, Michael Butter provides a detailed perspective on the nature of conspiracy theories. He takes a historical perspective yet expertly weaves together research across many disciplines to explain why conspiracy theories are sometimes believed but often belittled.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eKaren Douglas, University of Kent\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A strong contribution, and an excellent starting point for anyone interested in understanding conspiracy theories.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Fortean Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eConspiracy theories seem to be proliferating today. Long relegated to a niche existence, conspiracy theories are now pervasive, and older conspiracy theories have been joined by a constant stream of new ones – that the USA carried out the 9\/11 attacks itself, that the Ukrainian crisis was orchestrated by NATO, that we are being secretly controlled by a New World Order that keep us docile via chemtrails and vaccinations. Not to mention the moon landing that never happened. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut what are conspiracy theories and why do people believe them? Have they always existed or are they something new, a feature of our modern world? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this book Michael Butter provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to the nature and development of conspiracy theories. Contrary to popular belief, he shows that conspiracy theories are less popular and influential today than they were in the past. Up to the 1950s, the Western world regarded conspiracy theories as a legitimate form of knowledge and it was therefore normal to believe in them. It was only after the Second World War that this knowledge was delegitimized, causing conspiracy theories to be banished from public discourse and relegated to subcultures. The recent renaissance of conspiracy theories is linked to internet which gives them wider exposure and contributes to the fragmentation of the public sphere. Conspiracy theories are still stigmatized today in many sections of mainstream culture but are being accepted once again as legitimate knowledge in others. It is the clash between these domains and their different conceptions of truth that is fuelling the current debate over conspiracy theories.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eAcknowledgements \u003cp\u003eIntroduction, or: What’s the plan?\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNotes\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1 ‘Everything is planned’, or: What is a conspiracy theory?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacteristics\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTypologies\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConspiracy theories and real conspiracies\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe term as a means of delegitimization\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConspiracy theories as theories\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNotes\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2 ‘Nothing is as it seems’, or: How do conspiracy theorists argue?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStructure and strategies of argumentation\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEvidence\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCountering the official version\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCase study: Daniele Ganser\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMetaphors and more\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNotes\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3 ‘Everything is connected’, or: Why do people believe in conspiracy theories?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFunctions\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAre conspiracy theories for losers?\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePropaganda and commerce\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCase study: Alex Jones\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNotes\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4 The story so far, or: How have conspiracy theories evolved historically?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEmergence and development up to the twentieth century\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDelegitimization and stigmatization after 1945\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCase study: the myth of the global Jewish conspiracy\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConspiracy theories and populism\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNotes\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5 Current trends, or: How is the internet changing conspiracy theories?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe ‘truth’ is just a Google search away\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRelegitimization in the echo chamber\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrom conspiracy theories to conspiracy rumours\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCase study: Donald Trump\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNotes\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConclusion: When are conspiracy theories dangerous and what can we do about them?\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNotes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Index\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Politics \u0026amp; government [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Politics \u0026amp; government\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Politics%20\u0026amp;%20government%20%5BJP%5D%22\"\u003eJP\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Polity","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52475000750360,"sku":"9781509540822","price":16.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/files\/9781509540822.jpg?v=1785802948","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/the-nature-of-conspiracy-theories-paperback-softback-9781509540822","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}