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Conspiracy theories are like folk tales, says expert

nasa.univerzita@uniba.sk — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 16:56:00 +0200

How does a social anthropologist approach the study of conspiracy theories? Is the approach different than that of, say, political scientists? There are quite a number of shared interests. We all begin with some form of concern about the impact of conspiracy theories in the public space. But then we take different paths. Ethnologists are more interested in looking at the narrative forms of conspiracy theories. They try to understand conspiracy theories as the kind of narrative that is quite common among people, that tells stories about the world and gives them meaning. In that it is similar to folklore, storytelling, myths. There are anthropologists who look at conspiracy theories through the lens of cosmology and through the way in which people make sense of how things work in the world, and how they explain a universal order. What is the invisible power? Why do bad things happen? People use magic, religion, but also conspiracy theories to explain all this. It has a lot in common with studying beliefs, religion, magic, witchcraft. In anthropology and ethnology, we have recently began seeing a contextualisation of conspiracy theories in terms of the post-colonial theory. Looking at them as a weapon, as a whip. This is where we see a connection with political scientists, because now it is about political power. How is a conspiracy theory similar to a folk tale? The similarity is in the structure. In folk tales, you always have a villain and a hero. The hero needs to save the situation, and there are things that happen in the process. The pattern is similar in conspiracy theories, certain elements are told like in a folk tale. In current conspiracy theories circulating in Slovakia the villain is usually the U.S. or the NATO, and there is a hero, a certain politician, who will come and save the nation. You study the connection between conspiracy theories and culture. Which conspiracy theories are really widespread in Europe throughout cultures? Are there some that can be found in, for example, Scandinavia as well as in Slovakia, or Poland? Theories that are particularly common are antisemitic conspiracy theories. Unfortunately, this is quite a common European thread which we can find everywhere. In recent years, theories connected to the concerns about migration have also become common – anti-Muslim or anti-Arab conspiracy theories. These can take different names and shapes, for example the Great Replacement or the Great Reset. What does that mean? This particular conspiracy theory spreads the fear that someone is trying to replace the European population. According to it, there is a plan to erase the European culture, the European version of Christianity. The goal is supposedly to bring in people from the Middle East and Africa to Europe so they take over and Europeans as we know them cease to exist. The term „Great Replacement“ is not very common in Slovak discourse. It is a very well-known term in the world of conspiracy theorists, but only when you google it in English. If you try to find it in Polish or Slovak, the search engines will not always point you to theories about migrants, but offer advice on replacing eggs in your cooking or replacing certain car parts! That doesn't mean this sentiment is absent here in Eastern Central Europe. It is present but people do not always use this euphemism, they are much more straightforward. It is still more accepted here to hold such views, and people allow themselves to express them much more freely, not needing to hide them in a figure of speech. Anti-immigration views are quite normalised in our part of the world and are not questioned so widely, they are not branded as a conspiracy theory. Some Slovak and Polish politicians even spread them explicitly, are open about it and feel no shame about it, no embarrassment at all. It is considered a fully acceptable way of thinking. However, in the Western world this would create uproar. But it does not mean people do not hold those views, they just hide them in code. Nowadays, we see a growing acceptance of those views in politics even in Western Europe. There is a belief that social networks and digital media are responsible for the spreading of conspiracy theories. In your lecture at the Fake News Winter School you actually showed that some of them are very old and have been captivating people long before the invention of the social media. The invention of new technologies does not automatically mean that completely new theories are created. Of course, technologies can give rise to new theories – there are new conspiracy theories about AI or 5G. But they always echo the bigger stories, bigger concerns and older national tropes. In my research in Poland it was interesting to see there seems to be a 'repertoire' of fears and concerns that have always been present. Like cars parked in a parking lot. If the need arises, we just go there and take one of the vehicles to communicate something very contemporary. Can you give an example? For instance, one of the theories that is really very popular now is to compare the current geopolitical situation in Poland and in Europe to the 18th century partitions of Poland: the so-called Targowica treason, that led to the First Partition of Poland. Or to the 1938 Ribbentrop-Molotov pact between Nazi Germany and Soviet Union. It echoes the fears that Putin might attack Poland or that the Russians might have a deal with Germany. Sometimes we think that these old stories are gone. But they are only partly forgotten and suddenly someone brings them up and people respond to them. Why? Because the way our national myths and our national identity are constructed always involves those stories. It is easy to bring up Targowica because it is something that has constantly been a part of our culture, the arts, theatre. Children learn about it at school. There is a famous painting by the renowned Polish painter Jan Matejko called Rejtan. It depicts the nobleman Rejtan, a historical figure, who throws himself on the floor and blocks a door to the Senate to prevent the partition of Poland. It is a very dramatic image of someone who must fight and save the nation. Those who endorse conspiracy theories see themselves as such heroes. They think it is a good thing to be dramatic and to make such huge gestures, because that will save the nation. Your research of the 2023 Polish election campaign revealed that it is impossible to distinguish between the "good side" and the "bad side" when it comes to using conspiracy theories, because all parties use them. I was monitoring the social media before the Polish elections. I found it interesting to discover that it was not just the „usual suspects“ – highly conservative or right wing parties that were spreading theories of suspicion, but also the supporters of Donald Tusk and Platforma Obywatelska. In Poland, these suspicions are framed so that someone is accused of being a traitor and selling Poland to the external enemies – those enemies being Putin, the Germans, Brussels or Ukraine. For the past eight years, Kaczyński has been spreading theories about Tusk being the traitor – that Tusk had a grandpa in the Nazi army, that he was the one who orchestrated the Smoleńsk disaster (the crash of a Polish government plane in 2010 near Smoleńsk in Russia, in which a number of Polish state representatives were killed, including president Lech Kaczyński) together with Putin, that Tusk was selling Poland to Brussels or to Germany. The new element was to see theories come from Tusk supporters, saying that Kaczynski was the traitor – that he was plotting with Russia, that his government might be using Russian secret agents, even that he himself was in a way responsible for the Smoleńsk disaster. We collected data from Facebook during the campaign, and about 40% of the „traitor“ conspiracy theories were being spread by the supporters of Tusk, and 60% by the supporters of Kaczyński. So even the supporters of democratic parties are not immune to using and spreading these fake news and theories? Yes. For me it poses an interesting quandary that I still need to process. If democracy is at stake, are all tricks allowed? Can both sides use conspiracy theories? When does it become legitimate? What, then, is the difference between normal political discourse and conspiracy theories? In the U.S., when Hillary Clinton was running for president, she would say: When they go low, we go high. In Poland, it was more like: When they go low, we go lower. But on the other hand, Tusk won, and Hillary Clinton did not. What is it like, doing research in the online space? We have an expert on harvesting data who uses technology that allows him to find the discourse which is relevant for us using keywords, like the word „traitor.“ He then sends me thousands of posts that I filter using another software to get rid of false positives. There are also ethical issues. Digital space is like any other space. We cannot just collect data from people´s posts and use it without their knowledge or consent. There are many restrictions. For instance, we do not go into private groups or focus on specific individuals, but rather on the narratives. We are also aware that the data we collect is only a snapshot of what is available publicly and much, much more is hidden in the closed groups. Today, research is also made difficult by the fact that people constantly migrate between different social platforms. For instance, Facebook is still popular in Poland or Slovakia, but it's almost dead in the UK. There, everybody was on Twitter until Twitter died, and now people are looking for other channels. They tend to migrate to platforms that are more aligned with their political views like Telegram or Signal. But we don't just focus on the technologies, we also have cultural scientists, psychologists, political scientists. We all try to find common ground without fighting too much and look for methods that work for all of us.

Elżbieta Drążkiewicz is a social anthropologist and ethnologist. She studied at Warsaw University and received her PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge. She was an assistant professor and Marie Skłodowska Curie Fellow at Maynooth University, Ireland. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava and Associate Professor at Lund University in Sweden. In her current research she focuses on conspiracy theories, political trust and global and local governance. In 2022 she received the prestigious ERC Starting Grant for her project entitled Conflicts due to conspiracy theories. It focuses on analysing the growing tension related to conspiracy theories across Europe. Its aim is to understand how these conflicts are influenced by social contexts and how they develop in different European environments. She is also the principal investigator of the CHASE REDACT project, which analyses how digitization shapes the form, content and consequences of conspiracy theories, and the head of the APVV PanTruth project, analysing the conspiracy environment in the Visegrád Group countries.

Does that mean that research in ethnology and social anthropology is mostly computer work nowadays? In anthropology, there is some fetishization of field research. Field work is extremely important and I still do it. But we have to recognise the fact that a large part of people's lives moved to the digital space and digital space is just another space. Just like we do research in churches and in schools or in the forest, we can do research there. Earlier, you would interview people in a village. Now you have to go to Facebook or WhatsApp groups to hear them talk. Have you encountered any positive effects of conspiracy theories? The definition of positive depends on where I stand as a scholar. Where are we in this? In the 2023 Polish elections both sides used suspicious claims, and the turnout in the election was very high. That can be viewed as an overall positive effect. The other positive example could be in the form of good investigative journalism, which led some journalists to fact-check conspiracy tropes in a military context. A colleague of mine studied Greek environmentalists and she concluded that they often use conspiracy tropes when they fight for more action on climate change. They employ the typical plot of big companies who want to maximise profits and so they block all climate action. Both sides use the same manipulative techniques, headlines and unproven accusations. But if those theories motivate the society to act more against climate change, we tend to give them a pass. No one is debunking them. If it is done for good, then it should be good. But who defines good? It is an extremely complicated issue. Those who work in political science need to study how we perceive successful political mobilisation and what role fears, ceremony, suspicion and mistrust play in it. What is the role of culture in this discourse involving fake news and conspiracy theories? I think culture is extremely important. In order for a conspiracy theory to gain traction, it needs to resonate with something, a cultural trope, a sentiment, a philosophy, worldview. For instance, there might be many conspiracy theories concerning the death of Princess Diana or President Kennedy. Both are stories of tragic deaths, of power and elites, but it is not something that people in Poland or Slovakia will post a lot or worry about. It is pleasant to watch The Crown, but that's it, we move on. It doesn't resonate with us, it is not our story, our politics. The theories that are important for Poland will include the Smoleńsk disaster or who is plotting with Putin. But do people in Spain care about Smoleńsk? They do not and need not. It is culture and history that decide which conspiracy theories resonate with people. Slovakia is a young state and in such new countries with a short history of statehood it is often very natural to discuss who supports the nation and who is against it. The important questions are: 'Who are we?' and 'What makes us 'us'?', 'Who is included?', 'Who is excluded?'. There is a fear of others, of those that are different. Reasonable fears that people sometimes have might take the form of a conspiracy theory. I think it is the job of the state to be aware of this and to try and find other ways to unite people. So that what makes us "us" in Slovakia is not based on a fear of others, of foreigners or people who have a different way of living, but on something else. Barbora Tancerová

Summer School Memories

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 15:00:00 +0200

Summer Course - MODERN MARKETING – NEW TRENDS AND IT TOOLS - July 1-5, 2024 - in Bratislava

The Taiwan Studies Center in Bratislava

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 11:41:00 +0200

Taipei Representative Office in Bratislava and Faculty of Management, Comenius University...

Three Jessenius Faculty Figures Inducted into Slovak Medical Hall of Fame

milos.hrabovsky@uniba.sk — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 12:11:00 +0200

The Slovak Medical Hall of Fame project aims to highlight and celebrate notable figures in the field of medicine, including scientists and educators who have significantly contributed to the advancement of medical science, research, and education. These individuals have improved healthcare standards and enhanced the international reputation of Slovak medicine. The awards were presented by Professor Marián Bernadič. The program featured musical performances and an art exhibition by Professor Janka Buchancová, who has been painting for 20 years. Her landscape paintings, depicting her local environment, have been previously displayed at the Academic Library of JFMED CU. The event also included a lecture by Professor Július Mazuch on "The History of Vascular Surgery in Slovakia."

Profiles of the Honorees:

Prof. Ján Buchanec, MD, DSc.:

A graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Prof. Buchanec completed postgraduate studies at Martin University Hospital with specializations in pediatrics, nephrology, and adolescent medicine. His career was dedicated to the Children's Clinic at Martin Hospital, where he served as head from 1986 to 2001. He focused on introducing new radionuclide examination methodologies for the pediatric uropoietic system. His most significant discovery was elucidating the cause of orthostatic proteinuria related to decreased kidney perfusion in children. He is a founding member of the International Pediatric Nephrology Association USA and a recipient of several national and international awards. Prof. Janka Buchancová, MD, CSc.: A graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at Comenius University in Bratislava, Prof. Buchancová worked in various departments at Martin Hospital, including infectious diseases, surgery, internal medicine, and occupational medicine and toxicology, which she later led. She was also a lead teacher at the University of the Third Age at JFMED CU. Her professional focus included utilizing special diagnostic methods in occupational medicine and assessing metal toxicity using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Her epidemiological studies on occupational risk factors and occupational diseases are highly regarded. She has received numerous prestigious awards for her contributions. Prof. Július Mazuch, MD, DSc.: Graduating from the Faculty of Medicine at UPJŠ Košice, Prof. Mazuch joined the surgical team at JFMED CU’s Surgical Clinic in Martin under Professor Pavol Šteiner. He later headed the Department of General and Vascular Surgery in Lučenec for 25 years. In 1971, he was the first in Czechoslovakia to use local streptokinase in the main pulmonary artery to treat massive pulmonary embolism. Since 2000, he has worked at the Surgical Clinic of JFMED CU and University Hospital Martin, specializing in angiosurgery, general surgery, phlebosurgery, gastrointestinal surgery, pulmonary embolectomy, and minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgery. He holds a patent for a conical papillo-sphincteroscopic probe and is an active member of the Slovak Medical Society, having received numerous accolades for his medical contributions.

Source: Lekárske listy Photo: Boris Caban

Česká asociace v Řecku - Stáže v Athénách

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 09:45:00 +0200

4-12 měsíční praktické stáže

Od začátku naší činnosti jsou naše akce směřované na českou a slovenskou komunitu v Řecku a proto bychom v našem týmu uplatnili i slovensky mluvící stážisty.

Více informací studenti naleznou také na https://czechassociation.org/staze/

Preferujeme studenty pedagogiky, knihovnictví, evropských studií, marketingu či managementu neziskových organizací, ale nebráníme se ani studentům jiných oborů, pokud se jejich studijní zaměření a zájmy budou shodovat s aktuálními kulturními a vzdělávacími projekty České asociace.

Jessenius Faculty of Medicine Celebrates 55th Anniversary of Independence

milos.hrabovsky@uniba.sk — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:10:00 +0200

The idea to establish a medical faculty in Martin originated in the 1960s due to a pressing need for better healthcare staffing in certain regions of Slovakia. In 1962, there was one doctor for every 800 inhabitants, and the healthcare situation was notably worse than in the Czech regions. Thus, the necessity to expand educational capacities to train new doctors in central Slovakia became increasingly evident. Three cities were considered for the new faculty: Banská Bystrica, Martin, and Prievidza. An expert commission, including representatives from the medical faculties in Bratislava and Košice, evaluated the hospitals in these cities and ultimately chose Martin as the most suitable location. At that time, the Martin hospital was the third-largest in Slovakia. In September 1962, a branch of the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University in Bratislava was established in Martin for fourth-year medical students. Plans for an independent medical faculty and teaching hospital were soon put in place. The Slovak Socialist Republic’s government decree and the announcement by Rector Prof. Emil Huraj, MD, DSc., officially established the independent Faculty of Medicine in Martin on July 21, 1969. The academic year 1969/1970 began with a grand ceremony at the Strojár cinema, with Prof. Viliam Mézeš, MD, CSc., serving as the first dean for the next 20 years. “Martin’s medical faculty is the result of big dreams and hard work. At its inception, it held great significance for the region, which has since extended beyond its borders and the country’s boundaries. I wish the faculty continued success in providing a good place for study and work, and may all those who work here continue to grow both professionally and personally, always placing the faculty’s benefit above personal interests,” said Dean Prof. Andrea Čalkovská, MD, DSc., on the occasion of the 55th anniversary. The Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, with its rich history and significant contributions to medical education and healthcare, remains a beacon of progress and excellence in Slovakia. Source: History and Present of the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava 1969–2019 Photo: Archive of JFMED CU

VISUALISATION OF THE RECONSTRUCTION ON THE VAJANSKÉHO NÁBREŽIE EMBANKMENT

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 08:47:00 +0200

The project of the building reconstruction on Vajanského nábrežie 10 for the needs of the Faculty of Law of Comenius University, which was realized by a talented team from the Belluš studios of FAD STU. The aim of the reconstruction will be to expand the space capacities for teaching, which will significantly improve the user comfort for our students and staff. The historical building, purchased by the Faculty of Law of Comenius University, will offer a modern and inclusive environment for education. The reconstruction will affect the entire building facade and common areas, while preserving the heritage value of the building. The new extension, situated in the courtyard of the building underground, will extend the existing building by one classroom and will not interfere with the heritage values. We would like to thank the whole team from the Belluš studios of FAD STU for their excellent work and we are looking forward to the new possibilities that these spaces will bring to our students! Source: Belluš studios of FAD STU

Erasmus mobility for teachers and staff

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Our teachers at the summer school in Brno improved their teaching skills and got inspiration from...

Invitation on International Conference "8th ABEM 2024 Conference"

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 13:21:00 +0200

8th ABEM 2024 Conference
on
Political Turbulence and Business Growth in Emerging Markets
August 6-8, 2024
Faculty of Management
Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia
Odbojárov 10, Bratislava, Slovakia

Program Schedule

July 2024 at IRO

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This week /15.07-19.07.2024/ we are hosting colleagues from a newly contracted university -...