Conspiracy Theories in Online Environments (Cluster D)

Cluster D explores the connection between conspiracy theories in online environments and religion.

We will find out what the 1) current contents and effects, 2) typical digital creation dynamics and verbalisations, and 3) normative conclusions (e.g., regulatory suggestions) are regarding religiously inspired conspiracy theories.

We provide an interdisciplinary conceptual framework for 1) defining conspiracy theories and their religious elements and connections, 2) analysing and explaining the interwovenness of digital discourses and non-digital effects (up to violence) of conspiracy theories with religious connotations, and 3) formulating normative conclusions based on these insights.

Our projects work closely together: E.g., the ethics project members will develop their normative conclusions in close dialogue with the basic research-oriented projects and test their hypotheses on parts of the other projects’ data sets.