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Religions and Conspiracy Theories as the Authoritarian "Other" of Democracy?
[journal article]
Abstract This article theorises and conceptualises the ambivalent role of religions and conspiracy theories in modern democracies. Based on a concise comparison of both phenomena, it elaborates the similar risks and functions of religions and conspiracy theories for the political community without neglecting... view more
This article theorises and conceptualises the ambivalent role of religions and conspiracy theories in modern democracies. Based on a concise comparison of both phenomena, it elaborates the similar risks and functions of religions and conspiracy theories for the political community without neglecting the fact that, under secular conditions, the spread of conspiracy narratives might outweigh those of religious messages in the long run. That observation seems particularly relevant for contemporary governance and political science, as a tendency towards social anomie in the sense of Durkheim can be deduced from democratic theory, which significantly increases democracy’s need for compensatory moral and cognitive authorities.... view less
Keywords
anomie; democracy; authority; integration; emotion; orientation; faith; ideology
Classification
Philosophy, Ethics, Religion
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Social Psychology
Free Keywords
belief; conspiracy; disintegration; substitute religions; uncertainty
Document language
English
Publication Year
2022
Page/Pages
p. 146-156
Journal
Politics and Governance, 10 (2022) 4
Issue topic
The Role of Religions and Conspiracy Theories in Democratic and Authoritarian Regimes
ISSN
2183-2463
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed