Baltic States and Russia information battles and conspiracy theories

Question 1

Function of the monument

Answer 1

legitimization of the dominant political elite.

Question 2

Diminishment of monuments in Lithuania and Latvia

Answer 2

Some Soviet time monuments were diminished in Lithuania and Russia created a massive propaganda campaign.

Question 3

Understanding the conspiracy theories

Answer 3

Conspiracy theories start as a suspicion on who is benefiting from the event or situation/conspirators. Any ‘evidence’ is then forced to fit the theory.
* Once they have taken root, conspiracy theories can grow quickly. They are hard to refute because any person who tries is seen as being part of the conspiracy.
* Conspiracy theories tend to snowball during times of crisis, when fear is prevalent and clear explanations are in short supply.

Question 4

Common characteristics of conspiracy theories

Answer 4

1. An alleged secret plot;
2. A group of conspirators;
   Understanding The Term
   3.‘Evidence’ that seems to support the conspiracy theory;
3. They falsely suggest that nothing happens by accident and that there are no coincidences; nothing is as it appears and everything is connected;
4. They divide the world into good or bad;
5. They scapegoat people and groups.

Question 5

3 Types of Conspiracy Theories based on the scope:

Answer 5

• Event Conspiracy: where a group of plotters are held responsible for a single event
• Systemic Conspiracy: the plotters are believed to have broader goals of ‘securing control over a country, a region, or even the entire world’.
• Superconspiracy: a hierarchy of conspiracies, where the lower-level conspirators are controlled and manipulated to act against innocent people by powerful and distant forces.

Question 6

Grounds for Believing in Conspiracy Theories:

Answer 6

a) Offer simplified explanations of complex events appeals to people who prefer cognitive simplicity over complexity – Epistemic Motives;
a) Help people to make sense of a world containing evil forces beyond the control of individuals (Hofstadter, 1965) – Existential Motives;
a) Permit people to externalize their angry feelings by providing them with enemies to blame for their problems (Goertzel,1994) – Social Motives.

Question 7

Role of Media in Conspiracy Theories

Answer 7

Introducing and strengthening conspiracy beliefs.
* False information = fake news, designed to manipulate people’s
perceptions of real facts, events, and statements.
* The emergence of the internet and social media have dramatically altered media coverage. The accessibility which impossible to effectively regulate, making it a perfect platform to spread fake news.
* Use of “clickbait” to generate more views regardless of the content.
* Frequent exposure to conspiracy messages might cause people to adopt conspiracy worldviews.

Question 8

Negative Societal Outcomes

Answer 8

• Change the way people think and their attitude about events;
• Increase distrust in authorities;
• Political apathy;
• Stimulate radical and extremist activities;
• Prejudice and discrimination toward specific group;
• Climate and science denialism;
• Risky health choices.

Question 9

What Can Be Done?

Answer 9

• Promoting a collectivist mindset;
• Counterarguments come from people
  who are trusted;
• Pre-exposure warnings on the possibility of misleading information in the future;
• Addressing people’s psychological needs.

Question 10

Conspiracy Theories Throughout History

Answer 10

1. Flat Earth Theory
2. US Government Orchestrated 9/11 Attack*
3. John F. Kennedy was killed not just by 1 man
   *Widely spread conspiracy theory which caused global disbelief to the US government

Question 11

What About Indonesia?

Answer 11

1. US Involvement in Bali Bombing 2002*
2. Covid Testing Cause Death
3. China’s Involvement in 30 September Movement**