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Paper short abstract

This paper examines socio-cultural aspects and emotional dynamics of countering conspiracy theories in Germany, focusing on counselling and civic education.

Paper long abstract

Conspiracy theories (CT) have become a highly polarized topic in Germany. They are to a certain extent “hypervisible”, normalized and politicized by various actors. But CT are also perceived as a threat to democracy and social cohesion, which is why they are increasingly the subject of political efforts, civic education work and civil society activism. This paper opens the perspective from the exclusive focus on conspiracy theorists, also to actors and organizations that are countering them and are developing initiatives to defend themselves against the “post-truth”. This paper examines socio-cultural aspects of countering CT in Germany and aims to better understand how this is practiced by the organizations and people. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, I will first, put a specific focus on counselling and civic education as “tools” to tackle and counter CT. Counselling in this context implies confidential counselling for relatives, friends and the environment of people who believe in CT. Civic education then again includes various topics such as media literacy, democracy promotion, prevention of extremism, culture of remembrance and aim to reach a broad range of target groups such as skilled workers, schools or the public. Secondly, by considering current political developments as well as flourishing public debates, especially normalization processes of far-right politics and delegitimizations through the “Anti-Ngo-Narrative” I aim to trace the socio-political challenges those organizations are embedded in. By focusing on cultural practices including emotional dynamics this paper aims to contribute to better understanding broader conflicts over truth, politics, values and knowledge.