Title The populist response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania: from criticism to conspiracy theories /
Translation of Title Populistinis atsakas į COVID-19 pandemiją Lietuvoje: nuo kritikos iki sąmokslo teorijų.
Authors Jonutis, Karolis
DOI 10.51740/RT.2.22.2
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Is Part of Aktualu rytoj = Relevant tomorrow.. Vilnius : Lietuvos nacionalinė Martyno Mažvydo biblioteka. 2022, t. 2, Nr. 22, p. 46-63.. eISSN 2669-2899
Keywords [eng] conspiracy theory ; populism ; COVID-19 pandemic ; politicization
Abstract [eng] The COVID-19 crisis became a great opportunity to spread populistic discourses that were usually accompanied by conspiracy theories. The article reveals a gradual process of politicization of the crisis by various Lithuanian populist actors, transforming the COVID-19 pandemic from a medical issue into a political one. Ernesto Laclau’s theory of populism combined with William Felstiner’s framework of politicization conceptualize these processes. The research showed that populist actors used a specific discourse dynamic to make the pandemic a political issue, moving from criticism of the specific measures to manage the pandemic, to an abstract and negative assessment of the situation as a whole.
Published Vilnius : Lietuvos nacionalinė Martyno Mažvydo biblioteka
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2022
CC license CC license description