Fascist cross-pollination of Australian conspiracist Telegram channels

Authors

  • Gerard Gill Independent (Ph.D. from Curtin University)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v26i12.11830

Keywords:

fascism, telegram, conspiracy theories, australia, neo-nazi, covid-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about trauma and uncertainty for vast swathes of the world population, including in Australia. One effect of this has been the growth of COVID-19 conspiracy theories, and general conspiracism. This article explores efforts by fascists and neo-Nazis to exploit the rise in conspiratorial thinking for recruitment and dissemination of their ideas. Five Australian conspiracist Telegram channels are studied for signs of fascist cross-pollination, and it is found that users with fascist sympathies attempt to influence the channels’ discourse through appeals to purported ideological and situational commonalities.

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Published

2021-12-08

How to Cite

Gill, G. (2021). Fascist cross-pollination of Australian conspiracist Telegram channels. First Monday, 26(12). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v26i12.11830