About this course
Dive deep into the broader historical, cultural and political context of conspiracy theories.
How do these theories emerge? Why do so many people believe in them? Could some conspiracy theories be true? And how can we distinguish conspiracy theories with merit from those that are clearly off the wall?
Employing theoretical approaches from a wide field of academic disciplines such as science, psychology, narratology, history, and politics, this course addresses all these questions using both historical and contemporary case studies.
Syllabus
Faculty
Brendan Sweeney
FacultyPh.D. (Political Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, 2005). Cand.mag. (Media Studies, University of Copenhagen, 1999). NCTJ Certificate in Journalism (Rathmines College of Journalism, Dublin, 1982). Worked as journalist for many years in different European countries. Information Officer and Project Manager, Danish Institute for Human Rights, 2007-2010. Teacher, International People’s College, 2010-2013. Published historical novel, Once in Another World (New Island, 2013). With DIS since 2013.
Milosz Jeromin Cordes
FacultyPhD (Cultural Studies, SWPS University, Warsaw 2017), MA (East-European Cultural Studies, University of Warsaw 2012), MA (International Relations, University of Warsaw & St. Petersburg State University, 2012), BA (History, University of Warsaw 2011), BA (International Relations, University of Warsaw 2010). Research Fellow at the Danish Foreign Policy Society (2021), Post-Doc Researcher at Lund University (2021). Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellow (2006). Vice-Consul at Poland’s Consulate General in Kaliningrad (2018-2021), Second Secretary at Poland’s Permanent Representation to the European Union (2016-2018), Second Secretary & Specialist at Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (2012-2016). With DIS since 2021.
Maya Lahav
FacultyPhD Criminology, Oxford University, Currently MSc Criminology & Criminal Justice, Oxford University 2021 MSc International Relations, Edinburgh University, 2020 BSc Anthropology, University of Copenhagen, 2019. Head of Section of Cyber- and Information Security, Danish Ministry of Defence, 2024-2025 Team Lead of Human Trafficking Mitigation Team, ActiveFence, 2021-2024 Research Fellow, University College London, 2021 Commercial Project Manager, Pepperminds, 2013-2015. With DIS since 2025.