A course on conspiracy theories and disinformation
What do the nature of the origin of anti-Semitism, anti-vaccinationism and fake news have in common? What are the origins and impact of anti-Ukrainian narratives before and during the Russian full-scale war against Ukraine? How have theories on the origins of COVID-19 pandemic led to radicalisation of societies? What are the psychological reasons for conspiracy belief and how can one improve critical thinking and media literacy skills?
In this section, we have gathered the materials that accompanied the Citizen+ online course “Conspiracy 101” dedicated to conspiracy theories and disinformation. In the text publications, podcast episodes and videos, researchers and journalists discuss specific cultural and political features, freedom of expression and critical thinking in Ukrainian, German and Russian society.
Humans want to control all situations in their lives and they want to be sure that someone controls everything. They don’t want to believe that accidents are random as it is psychologically hard for us to understand chaos. Our brain looks for reasons – and when we do not find answers, we imagine all pictures as complete. This is how conspiratorial concepts appear. In social and personal crises, conspiracy theories that have existed for centuries take over people’s heads again and again.
Listen how to deal with conspiracy theories and learn about the most popular ones in our podcast, in which historians, political scientists, philosophers, journalists and psychologists discuss with each other.
Conspiracy 101 is a free online course on conspiracy theories and disinformation. Lectures, podcasts and illustrated texts cover origins and impact of anti-Ukrainian narratives before and during the Russian full-scale war against Ukraine, conspiracy theories around the COVID-19 pandemic and the historical origins of antisemitic conspiracy theories. Also, we look at psychological reasons for conspiracy belief. Researchers and journalists discuss specific cultural and political features, freedom of expression and critical thinking in Ukrainian, German and Russian society.
Udemy
Oleksandra Gorchynska is a journalist working with well-known Ukrainian media. She covers social issues in her articles.
Petro Oleshchuk is a political scientist from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
Kateryna Bragina is a graduate student in psychology at Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. She studies hubristic motivation and emotional intelligence of the elderly.
Mykhailo Koltsov is a philosopher and expert in cyber security, data analysis and fact-checking.
Artur Koldomasov is an expert on US politics and international information at the ADASTRA analytical center.
Yuriy Amir Radchenko is a PhD candidate of historical sciences, director of the Center for the Study of Interethnic Relations of Eastern Europe, Kharkiv.
Vyacheslav Likhachev is a public figure, historian and political scientist in the fields of ethnopolitical conflictology, nationalism, the history of anti-Semitism and revival of Jewish communities in the post-Soviet space.
Olga Lazorko is a doctor of psychology, head of the Department of General and Social Psychology and Sociology at Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University.
Oleksandr Symonenko is a Ukrainian archaeologist, a specialist in the history and archeology of the Sarmatians, a doctor of historical sciences, a leading researcher of the Early Iron Age Archeology Department of the Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
Ilya Yablokov, PhD, is a Lecturer of Journalism and Digital Media at the Department of Journalism Studies, University of Sheffield
The project is funded by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany in the framework of the Eastern Partnership program.
2020
Democracy is what people in many countries of the world speak of when they think of freedom, a just legal system, chances for their own economic well-being or the hope not to be discriminated against religious belief or sexual orientation. Protest movements that demand a dictator to leave and free and fair elections are often portrayed in the media worldwide. But what does “democracy” mean? Is it an ideal that a society can try to get as close as possible? Or can a constitution and elections guarantee a democracy to stay? Which role do media and civil society play? And how can you participate in a democracy?
online course
videos
articles
2024
The media project (video series and podcast) ‘‘Because of them: the history of Ukrainians’’ tells how Ukrainian political history was created and how the Ukrainian political nation was formed – from the early 19th century to the modern era of independence.
Restoring historical memory is extremely important for Ukrainian society, as it is part of the path to victory in the current war. Through immersion in the historical process, viewers and listeners can learn why Ukraine in 2024 continues to fight for independence.
educational videos
podcast
interviews
info cards
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