Whom Do You Trust? Doubt and Conspiracy
Theories in the 2009 Influenza Pandemic
Dublin Core
Title
Whom Do You Trust? Doubt and Conspiracy
Theories in the 2009 Influenza Pandemic
Theories in the 2009 Influenza Pandemic
Subject
An examination of doubt and conspiracy theories raised in response to the the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic
Description
The 2009 pandemic of H1N1 influenza led people
around the globe to create narratives about the epidemic defined by the question of trust; these narratives ranged from true conspiracy theories to simply accounts in which mistrust and betrayal formed a motif. In particular, most of these narratives reflected a fear of capitalism and
globalization, although in specific regions, other issues—such as religion—played a more central role. These stories were not unique to the H1N1 pandemic but rather have appeared with every contemporary outbreak of infectious disease. This paper will examine conspiracy theories and moral panics related to the H1N1 pandemic in different world regions to explore how the disease became associated with economic and social systems in these accounts.
around the globe to create narratives about the epidemic defined by the question of trust; these narratives ranged from true conspiracy theories to simply accounts in which mistrust and betrayal formed a motif. In particular, most of these narratives reflected a fear of capitalism and
globalization, although in specific regions, other issues—such as religion—played a more central role. These stories were not unique to the H1N1 pandemic but rather have appeared with every contemporary outbreak of infectious disease. This paper will examine conspiracy theories and moral panics related to the H1N1 pandemic in different world regions to explore how the disease became associated with economic and social systems in these accounts.
Creator
Shawn Smallman, PhD.
Publisher
Lindenwood University
Date
2015-04-30
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
https://www.lindenwood.edu/jigs/docs/volume6Issue2/essays/1-24.pdf
Coverage
2009
Text Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Paper
Files
Collection
Citation
Shawn Smallman, PhD., “Whom Do You Trust? Doubt and Conspiracy
Theories in the 2009 Influenza Pandemic ,” Dominican University SOIS Omeka Site, accessed February 22, 2025, http://108.166.64.190/omeka222/items/show/218.