Exploring the impacts of conspiracy theories on election dynamics in Spain and Turkey
Metadata
Show full item recordEditorial
Taylor & Francis group
Materia
Conspiracy theories disinformation; elections;
Date
2024-05-20Referencia bibliográfica
Salim Nefes, T. Romero Reche, A. Exploring the impacts of conspiracy theories on election dynamics in Spain and Turkey, Mediterranean Politics. [https://doi.org/10.1080/13629395.2024.2355032]
Sponsorship
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación [RYC2018-023919-I]; Ramon y Cajal research grant (RYC2018-023919-I)Abstract
The academic literature has increasingly emphasized examining the impact of
conspiracy theories on political and social behaviour. However, there is
a notable dearth of studies on the potential effects of conspiracy theories on
elections. This study addresses this gap by discussing the plausible social
mechanisms through which conspiracy theories might influence individuals’
voting behaviour. It proposes three social mechanisms through which conspiracy
theories influence election results: (1) stimulating conspiracy intuitions, (2)
intensifying affective polarization and (3) unintended consequences arising
from efforts to debunk conspiracy theories. In sum, this research contributes
to the scholarship by elucidating the potential significance of these mechanisms
in contemporary Spanish and Turkish politics and posits suggestions for
policy interventions.