Conspiracy narratives in Russia: A search for identity, religious worldviews, and Russian politics
Conspiracy thinking plays an important role in Russian culture. Contemporary Russian conspiracism inherits elements of the Cold War rhetoric, French anti-Freemasonic literature, ideas of conservative Russian Orthodox thinkers and North American Christian writers. In today's Russia we see two di...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Wiley-Blackwell
2022
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In: |
Religion compass
Year: 2022, Volume: 16, Issue: 8 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Russia
/ Russisch-Orthodoxe Kirche
/ Conspiracy theory
/ Religion
/ Popular belief
/ State ideology
/ History 1917-2022
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IxTheo Classification: | AD Sociology of religion; religious policy AG Religious life; material religion AX Inter-religious relations BH Judaism CC Christianity and Non-Christian religion; Inter-religious relations CH Christianity and Society KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history KBK Europe (East) KDF Orthodox Church |
Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Summary: | Conspiracy thinking plays an important role in Russian culture. Contemporary Russian conspiracism inherits elements of the Cold War rhetoric, French anti-Freemasonic literature, ideas of conservative Russian Orthodox thinkers and North American Christian writers. In today's Russia we see two distinct, although interconnected, types of conspiracy narratives—official and popular. Official narratives, which can be seen as a component of the new Russian ideology and civil religion, promote a patriotic sentiment in order to consolidate the nation and solidify political hierarchy through a sharp distinction between “traditional values” and the “depraved West.” Popular conspiracy narratives share similar characteristics but lean towards a thorough disbelief in institutions. From this perspective, elites worldwide, including Russia, participate in the conspiracy of governments and corporations. Because of this attitude, popular conspiracy narratives often conflict with official rhetoric even if at times official and popular narratives seem aligned. |
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ISSN: | 1749-8171 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Religion compass
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1111/rec3.12446 |