[Commlist] CFP Convergence Special Issue 'Conspiracy Theories in Digital Environments'

  *Conspiracy Theories in Digital Environments*

  *Special Issue of Convergence: The International Journal of Research 
into New Media Technologies*


Guest editors:

Dr. Jing Zeng (University of Zurich, Switzerland)

Prof. Mike S. Schäfer (University of Zurich, Switzerland)

Prof. Thaiane Oliveira (Federal Fluminense University, Brazil)


Timeline:

  Deadline for Abstracts: 1 May 2021

  Notification on submitted abstracts: 4 June 2021

  Full article submission deadline: 1 September 2021


  “Conspiracy theories” have garnered increased attention among 
scholars, in news media and public discourse. Despite the recent 
expansion of scholarship about conspiracy theories, more academic 
attention is required to systematically and comprehensively interrogate 
the role of new media technologies in shaping, disseminating, but also 
potentially mitigating conspiracy theories. Cross-cultural and 
cross-platform perspectives are particularly needed in order to 
investigate the full scope of the topic. This requires not only 
methodological innovation, but also new theoretical ideas and conceptual 
heuristics. This special issue aims to assemble scholarship from 
different disciplinary perspectives that offer conceptual reflections, 
methodological advances, and in-depth discussions of conspiracy theories 
in digital environments. We particularly welcome submissions 
investigating this topic in countries or regions in the Global South. 
The editors welcome contributions that explore, or go beyond, questions 
such as:

- Which actors propagate conspiracy theories in digital environments, 
how prevalent are conspiracy theories in public discourse, which users 
contribute to this reach and in what ways does it affect them?

- To what extent do the communication and social functions of online 
conspiracy theories differ across cultural contexts? How do conspiracy 
theories operate online in different political systems?

- What conceptual and theoretical approaches are needed to analyse 
conspiracy theories in digital environments - in how far do existing 
concepts and theories have to be adapted or are novel concepts and 
theories needed?

- What methodological approaches are suitable for 
cross-platform/cross-lingual/cross-national analysis of conspiracy theories?

- How do platform affordances influence conspiracy theories in digital 
environments, especially in the case of emerging or “fringe” platforms 
(such as TikTok, 8kun, Gab or Parler)?


Please send a 500-word abstract and a 100-word bio to guest editors: 
(j.zeng /at/ ikmz.uzh.ch) <mailto:(j.zeng /at/ ikmz.uzh.ch)>, (m.schaefer /at/ ikmz.uzh.ch) 
<mailto:(m.schaefer /at/ ikmz.uzh.ch)>, and (thaianeoliveira /at/ id.uff.br) 
<mailto:(thaianeoliveira /at/ id.uff.br)> by 1 May 2021.


No fee is required to submit and publish articles in the special issue.


See full CFP: 
https://journals.sagepub.com/pb-assets/cmscontent/CON/convergenceCFP_2021March9-1615523497.pdf 
<https://journals.sagepub.com/pb-assets/cmscontent/CON/convergenceCFP_2021March9-1615523497.pdf>
<https://journals.sagepub.com/pb-assets/cmscontent/CON/convergenceCFP_2021March9-1615523497.pdf 
<https://journals.sagepub.com/pb-assets/cmscontent/CON/convergenceCFP_2021March9-1615523497.pdf>>

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