Sebastian Klimasch analyses the debates surrounding conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 pandemic as a social process of mutual delegitimisation and social exclusion. From a phenomenologically grounded sociological perspective, three logics of exclusion – moralisation, pathologisation and dehumanisation – are distinguished typologically. The study thus develops a heuristic for analysing contemporary processes of polarisation that can be applied beyond the context of the pandemic.
Sebastian Klimasch
conspiracy theory Verschwörungstheorie Corona covid-19 COVID-19 pandemic crisis Pandemie Krise polarization fragmentation Polarisierung Fragmentierung social closure moralization, pathologization