Manufacturing Dissent: Manipulation and counter-manipulation in times of crisis

The authors of this book examine manipulation practices at the onset of the Covid-19 crisis in different countries and socio-political circumstances, exposing context-specific discourse and argumentation strategies of infodemics, public policy mismanagement, deceptive online and offline communication tactics, and conspiracy narratives. It debunks manipulation while highlighting compelling acts of counter-manipulation and provides unique perspectives by capturing crisis-related manipulations across a worldwide political and cultural spectrum.

Format: Hardback
Length: 311 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2024
Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Co

The authors delve into the intricate web of manipulation practices that emerged during the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, shedding light on the diverse contexts and socio-political landscapes where these tactics were employed. Through a comprehensive analysis of case studies spanning different countries and regions, they expose the contextualized discourse and argumentation strategies employed by infodemics (misleading information and fake news), public policy mismanagement, deceptive online and offline communication tactics, and conspiracy narratives. These narratives, driven by manipulation, have the potential to disrupt community social cohesion, creating divisions and fostering misinformation.

In addition to targeting manipulation-driven dissent across various discourse genres through corpus-based investigations, a significant strength of this volume lies in its debunking of manipulation while simultaneously highlighting inspiring acts of counter-manipulation. The volumes broad scope of topics, profound analytical insights, and diverse methodological frameworks offer unique perspectives by capturing crisis-related manipulations across a global political and cultural spectrum. Austria, Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries are examined in depth, providing a comprehensive examination of the scale and scope of multifaceted repercussions.

This book transcends the boundaries of pragmatics and discourse analysis, making it an invaluable resource for researchers and practitioners in rhetoric, argumentation, media studies, social and political sciences. By shedding light on the tactics employed by manipulators and highlighting the resilience and resistance of communities, it contributes to our understanding of the complex dynamics shaping our world during times of crisis.

ISBN-13: 9789027214447