The radical right has always been good at spreading misinformation; now they might be spreading Covid-19. It is easy to look at the core ideology of the radical right—nativism, white supremacy, homophobia, misogyny—and call it ignorant and uninformed. This labelling is problematic because it is lazy; it assumes an either/or approach to knowledge and does… Continue reading “Is the radical right spreading the coronavirus?”
There is a wealth of evidence to suggest that incidents relating to the fear of foreigners are on the rise. There is no part of the globe that has not been affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic. At the time of writing, over 200 countries and territories have reported outbreaks as the global number of… Continue reading “Hate in the Time of Coronavirus”
Almost four months after the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in China, we can state with confidence that coronavirus pandemic has the potential to radically change the world and society that we live in. As part of mainstream narratives on the consequences of the pandemic has been the idea that globalisation will be reversed, and… Continue reading “The ‘other’ in a time of a crisis: Europe’s Populist Radical Right Response to Covid-19”
From lies about 5G to vast conspiracies of a Bill Gates vaccine plot, COVID-19 has sparked an avalanche of conspiracy theories. Here’s how to spot them. Did you know that the anagram of “Carnivorous” spells “Coronavirus?” Think about it!!!!!!! (a Facebook post) This was posted by a vegan who peddles all types of conspiracies about… Continue reading “How To Debunk Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories”
Since Trump’s electoral victory in 2016, many journalists have praised The Authoritarian Personality as a prophetic text that predicted the rise of fascism in the United States. On the seventieth anniversary of its publication, Andrew Woods reflects on The Authoritarian Personality’s approach to conspiracy theories and conspiracy theorists in the radical right. Following the 2016… Continue reading “Revisiting the Authoritarian Personality: Conspiracy Theories and the Crank”
What conspiracy storylines are helping create the beliefs that justify the cause of the radical right? Conspiracy theories create insecurity. If malevolent forces are said to manipulate everything on earth—the economy, politics, society, vaccination, agriculture, education, media and life itself—it affects the sense of security and normalcy that people need to feel in order to… Continue reading “Apocalypse now: the conspiracy theories of the radical right”
The world has been brought to a stop after Coronavirus’s unprecedented expansion throughout the world, with many nations enforcing full lockdowns and quarantines in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. Aside from the most immediate and pressing health risks, COVID-19 will have a critical impact on the tourism, arts and entertainment sectors,… Continue reading “How Coronavirus will impact the fight against the radical right”
From President Trump himself to conservative commentators on Fox News, conspiracy theories about COVID-19 are putting lives at risk. At first, it seems hard to believe that reactions to the now worldwide coronavirus pandemic would divide American political leaders and ordinary citizens along ideological lines. But, in fact, it has. It began with President Trump’s initial take that the… Continue reading “The Dangers Of Right-Wing Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories”
How is the radical right using the COVID-19 pandemic to advance their political agenda? On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Originally identified in Wuhan, China, in late December, COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that causes flu and pneumonia-like symptoms. As of March 12, 2020, the number of infected… Continue reading “Coronavirus and the radical right: conspiracy, disinformation, and xenophobia”
When the world’s attention turned towards the burning Amazon rain forest, Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, did everything to turn himself into an environmental villain – of sorts. Why – in the face of an environmental crisis – did he lose control of his country’s image abroad and, above all, image as a ‘strong man’ leader?… Continue reading “The rise of a culture warrior: Jair Bolsonaro’s far-right revolution”