The politics of paranoia: paranoid positioning and conspiratorial narratives in the surveillance society

Journal article | Zeitschriftenartikel

The notion of paranoia is often implicitly reproduced in the work of surveillance researchers. However, in this article I will argue that this notion needs to be interrogated since current conceptions of paranoia are inherently dualistic: viewing paranoia solely at an individual or intra-psychic level; or, alternatively solely at a societal level. Inevitably, either perspective is limited. Here I will attempt to break down this dichotomy by, firstly, drawing on the notion of discursive positioning to: analyse the cultural discourses which "produce" paranoia; examine how subjects (i.e. individuals, communities, societies etc.) become positioned by others as paranoid; and explore the effects of such positioning. Secondly, I will investigate the discursive positions through which people may position themselves as paranoid and describe some of the effects of such positioning. I conclude by drawing out some implications of a more nuanced view of paranoia for the field of surveillance studies.

Angaben zum Objekt

• Umfang: Seite(n): 1-32
• Sprache: Englisch
• Anmerkungen: Status: Veröffentlichungsversion; begutachtet

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: Surveillance & Society, 5(1)

Klassifikation und Themen

• Thema: Psychologie ; Sozialpsychologie

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Ereignis: Geistige Schöpfung
• (wer): Harper, David
• Ereignis: Veröffentlichung
• (wo): Vereinigtes Königreich
• (wann): 2008

Weitere Informationen

• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-64434
• Rechteinformation: GESIS - Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften. Bibliothek Köln
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 21.06.2024, 16:27 MESZ