When Science Becomes Embroiled in Conflict: Recognizing the Public’s Need for Debate while Combating Conspiracies and Misinformation

AuthorAhmed Al-Rawi,Dawn Liu Holford,Sunita Sah,Ulrike Hahn,Philipp Schmid,John Cook,Hendrik Bruns,Stephan Lewandowsky,Konstantinos Armaos
DOI10.1177/00027162221084663
Published date01 March 2022
Date01 March 2022
Subject MatterPoliticization
26 ANNALS, AAPSS, 700, March 2022
DOI: 10.1177/00027162221084663
When Science
Becomes
Embroiled in
Conflict:
Recognizing the
Public’s Need
for Debate while
Combating
Conspiracies
and
Misinformation
By
STEPHAN LEWANDOWSKY,
KONSTANTINOS ARMAOS,
HENDRIK BRUNS,
PHILIPP SCHMID,
DAWN LIU HOLFORD,
ULRIKE HAHN,
AHMED AL-RAWI,
SUNITA SAH,
and
JOHN COOK
1084663ANN THE ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMYSCIENCE IN CONFLICT
research-article2022
We explore the common attributes of political conflicts
in which scientific findings have a central role, using
the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study, but also draw-
ing on long-standing conflicts over climate change and
vaccinations. We analyze situations in which the sys-
tematic spread of disinformation or conspiracy theories
undermines public trust in the work of scientists and
prevents policy from being informed by the best avail-
able evidence. We also examine instances in which
public opposition to scientifically grounded policy
arises from legitimate value judgments and lived expe-
rience. We argue for the public benefit of quick identi-
fication of politically motivated science denial, and
inoculation of the public against its ill effects.
Keywords: COVID-19; misinformation; conspiracy
theories; climate change; science denial;
public health; scientific evidence; vaccine
hesitancy
When scientists discover a planet in our
Milky Way that is made of diamonds
(Bailes et al. 2011), public fascination and
admiration are virtually assured. Who would
not revel in the idea that we might spot a par-
ticularly bright sparkle in the night sky?
However, when scientists discover that burning
Stephan Lewandowsky is a cognitive scientist at the
University of Bristol. His research focuses on people’s
responses to misinformation and the potential tension
between online technology and democracy.
Konstantinos Armaos is a PhD candidate at the
University of Lausanne. His dissertation is on the cog-
nitive and motivational aspects of identity processes,
with a special focus on motivated beliefs related to cli-
mate change, COVID-19, and intergroup bias.
Hendrik Bruns is a policy analyst at the European
Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC). He tries to
understand individual behavior and attitudes relating
to climate, energy, and the environment and to apply
behavioral interventions to motivate proenvironmental
behavior and to reduce the spread of misinformation.
Correspondence: stephan.lewandowsky@bristol.ac.uk

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT