The chapter revisits Michael Billig’s writing on conspiracy theories, as featured in the book Fas... more The chapter revisits Michael Billig’s writing on conspiracy theories, as featured in the book Fascists: A social psychological view of the National Front (1978) and a number of other works published in the 1980s. In spite of its originality and continuing relevance, Billig's writing on conspiracy theories is today surprisingly neglected in literature on the subject, especially that written by social psychologists. The chapter looks at conceptual, theoretical and methodological issues that have prevented social psychologists from engaging with Billig’s writing on conspiracy theories, and argues that, at a time when conspiracism is said to be on the rise, there is much to be gained from a return to this pioneering and original work.
The book examines the rehabilitation over the past two decades of Bishop Nikolaj Velimirovic (188... more The book examines the rehabilitation over the past two decades of Bishop Nikolaj Velimirovic (1881-1956), the controversial Serbian Orthodox Christian philosopher who, having been vilified by the former Yugoslav Communist authorities as a traitor, antisemite and a fascist, has come to be regarded in Serbian society as a saintly figure and the most important religious persona since medieval times. The book, written fifty years after Velimirović’s death, charts his posthumous passage from ‘traitor’ to ‘saint’ and examines the complementary dynamics of repression and denial which were used to divert public attention from the controversies surrounding Velimirovic’s life (most important of which is his antisemitism) and which enabled favourable representations to penetrate the public sphere and come to dominate memorial discourse. Also, the book presents the first detailed examination of the way in which an Eastern Orthodox Church manages controversy surrounding the presence of anti-Semi...
No event of any significance in the world today – be it an unexpected election result, a terroris... more No event of any significance in the world today – be it an unexpected election result, a terrorist attack, the death of a public figure, a meteorological anomaly, or the flu pandemic – takes place without generating at least a flutter of conspiracy speculations. Conspiracy Theories: A Critical Introduction offers a well informed, highly accessible, and thoroughly engaging introduction to conspiracy theories, discussing their nature and history, causes and consequences. Through a series of specific questions that cut to the core of conspiracism as a global social and cultural phenomenon, the book deconstructs the logic and rhetoric of conspiracy theories and analyses the broader social and psychological factors that contribute to their persistence in modern society. • What are the defining characteristics of conspiracy theories and how do they differ from legitimate inquiries into actual conspiracies? • How long have conspiracy theories been around and to what extent are contemporary...
The chapter revisits Michael Billig’s writing on conspiracy theories, as featured in the book Fas... more The chapter revisits Michael Billig’s writing on conspiracy theories, as featured in the book Fascists: A social psychological view of the National Front (1978) and a number of other works published in the 1980s. In spite of its originality and continuing relevance, Billig's writing on conspiracy theories is today surprisingly neglected in literature on the subject, especially that written by social psychologists. The chapter looks at conceptual, theoretical and methodological issues that have prevented social psychologists from engaging with Billig’s writing on conspiracy theories, and argues that, at a time when conspiracism is said to be on the rise, there is much to be gained from a return to this pioneering and original work.
The book examines the rehabilitation over the past two decades of Bishop Nikolaj Velimirovic (188... more The book examines the rehabilitation over the past two decades of Bishop Nikolaj Velimirovic (1881-1956), the controversial Serbian Orthodox Christian philosopher who, having been vilified by the former Yugoslav Communist authorities as a traitor, antisemite and a fascist, has come to be regarded in Serbian society as a saintly figure and the most important religious persona since medieval times. The book, written fifty years after Velimirović’s death, charts his posthumous passage from ‘traitor’ to ‘saint’ and examines the complementary dynamics of repression and denial which were used to divert public attention from the controversies surrounding Velimirovic’s life (most important of which is his antisemitism) and which enabled favourable representations to penetrate the public sphere and come to dominate memorial discourse. Also, the book presents the first detailed examination of the way in which an Eastern Orthodox Church manages controversy surrounding the presence of anti-Semi...
No event of any significance in the world today – be it an unexpected election result, a terroris... more No event of any significance in the world today – be it an unexpected election result, a terrorist attack, the death of a public figure, a meteorological anomaly, or the flu pandemic – takes place without generating at least a flutter of conspiracy speculations. Conspiracy Theories: A Critical Introduction offers a well informed, highly accessible, and thoroughly engaging introduction to conspiracy theories, discussing their nature and history, causes and consequences. Through a series of specific questions that cut to the core of conspiracism as a global social and cultural phenomenon, the book deconstructs the logic and rhetoric of conspiracy theories and analyses the broader social and psychological factors that contribute to their persistence in modern society. • What are the defining characteristics of conspiracy theories and how do they differ from legitimate inquiries into actual conspiracies? • How long have conspiracy theories been around and to what extent are contemporary...
Uploads
Papers by Jovan Byford