A Lot of People Are Saying : : The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy / / Nancy L. Rosenblum, Russell Muirhead.

How the new conspiracists are undermining democracy-and what can be done about itConspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new-conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the electi...

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Superior document:Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter EBOOK PACKAGE COMPLETE 2019 English
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Place / Publishing House:Princeton, NJ : : Princeton University Press, , [2019]
©2019
Year of Publication:2019
Language:English
Online Access:
Physical Description:1 online resource (232 p.)
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Other title:Frontmatter --
CONTENTS --
PREFACE --
Introduction --
SECTION I. THE NEW CONSPIRACISM --
1. Conspiracy without the Theory --
2. It's True Enough --
3. Presidential Conspiracism --
SECTION II. DELEGITIMATING DEMOCRACY --
4. Political Parties --
5. Knowledge --
6. Who Owns Reality? --
SECTION III. DEFENDING DEMOCRACY --
7. Speaking Truth --
Conclusion. THE CRISIS OF DEMOCRACY --
NOTES --
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --
INDEX
Summary:How the new conspiracists are undermining democracy-and what can be done about itConspiracy theories are as old as politics. But conspiracists today have introduced something new-conspiracy without theory. And the new conspiracism has moved from the fringes to the heart of government with the election of Donald Trump. In A Lot of People Are Saying, Russell Muirhead and Nancy Rosenblum show how the new conspiracism differs from classic conspiracy theory, why so few officials speak truth to conspiracy, and what needs to be done to resist it.Classic conspiracy theory insists that things are not what they seem and gathers evidence-especially facts ominously withheld by official sources-to tease out secret machinations. The new conspiracism is different. There is no demand for evidence, no dots revealed to form a pattern, no close examination of shadowy plotters. Dispensing with the burden of explanation, the new conspiracism imposes its own reality through repetition (exemplified by the Trump catchphrase "a lot of people are saying") and bare assertion ("rigged!").The new conspiracism targets democratic foundations-political parties and knowledge-producing institutions. It makes it more difficult to argue, persuade, negotiate, compromise, and even to disagree. Ultimately, it delegitimates democracy.Filled with vivid examples, A Lot of People Are Saying diagnoses a defining and disorienting feature of today's politics and offers a guide to responding to the threat.
Format:Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.
ISBN:9780691190068
9783110610765
9783110664232
9783110610550
9783110606423
DOI:10.1515/9780691190068?locatt=mode:legacy
Access:restricted access
Hierarchical level:Monograph
Statement of Responsibility: Nancy L. Rosenblum, Russell Muirhead.