Bibtex export
@article{ Harper2008, title = {The politics of paranoia: paranoid positioning and conspiratorial narratives in the surveillance society}, author = {Harper, David}, journal = {Surveillance & Society}, number = {1}, pages = {1-32}, volume = {5}, year = {2008}, urn = {https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-64434}, abstract = {The notion of paranoia is often implicitly reproduced in the work of surveillance researchers. However, in this article I will argue that this notion needs to be interrogated since current conceptions of paranoia are inherently dualistic: viewing paranoia solely at an individual or intra-psychic level; or, alternatively solely at a societal level. Inevitably, either perspective is limited. Here I will attempt to break down this dichotomy by, firstly, drawing on the notion of discursive positioning to: analyse the cultural discourses which "produce" paranoia; examine how subjects (i.e. individuals, communities, societies etc.) become positioned by others as paranoid; and explore the effects of such positioning. Secondly, I will investigate the discursive positions through which people may position themselves as paranoid and describe some of the effects of such positioning. I conclude by drawing out some implications of a more nuanced view of paranoia for the field of surveillance studies.}, }