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Conspiracy Theories And The Zika Epidemic, Shawn C. Smallman Ph.D.
Conspiracy Theories And The Zika Epidemic, Shawn C. Smallman Ph.D.
Journal of International and Global Studies
After a Zika outbreak began in Brazil in April 2015, narratives blamed the virus on a variety of international actors, including chemical companies and the Gates Foundation. Many of these narratives drew upon older conspiracy theories that had circulated in Latin America during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. Whether these narratives denounced transgenic mosquitoes or pesticides, they reflected not only the fear created by a mysterious wave of birth defects but also a profound mistrust of health authorities and transnational corporations. This paper will examine the narratives that circulated on YouTube, blogs, podcasts, and other alternative media sources, which typically …
Political Polarization And Nisman’S Death: Competing Conspiracy Theories In Argentina, Leopoldo Rodriguez Ph.D., Shawn C. Smallman Ph.D.
Political Polarization And Nisman’S Death: Competing Conspiracy Theories In Argentina, Leopoldo Rodriguez Ph.D., Shawn C. Smallman Ph.D.
Journal of International and Global Studies
The death of Alberto Nisman, the chief investigator of the 1994 AMIA bombing in Argentina, unleashed conspiracy theories and significant political turmoil upon President Cristina Fernández. We study the case and trace two of these theories, asking what they tell us about the Argentine political system and what can be inferred with respect to other countries in Latin America. We confirm that nations with high levels of political polarization are fertile ground for the emergence of conspiracy theories and that domestic and international media play an important role in both giving credence to and spreading such theories.