The politics of paranoia: paranoid positioning and conspiratorial narratives in the surveillance society

Article

Harper, D. 2008. The politics of paranoia: paranoid positioning and conspiratorial narratives in the surveillance society. Surveillance & Society. 5 (1), pp. 1-32. https://doi.org/10.24908/ss.v5i1.3437
AuthorsHarper, D.
Abstract

The notion of paranoia is often implicitly reproduced in the work of surveillance researchers. However, in this article I will argue that this notion needs to be interrogated since current conceptions of paranoia are inherently dualistic: viewing paranoia solely at an individual or intra-psychic level; or, alternatively solely at a societal level. Inevitably, either perspective is limited. Here I will attempt to break down this dichotomy by, firstly, drawing on the notion of discursive positioning to: analyse the cultural discourses which “produce” paranoia; examine how subjects (i.e. individuals, communities, societies etc.) become positioned by others as paranoid; and explore the effects of such positioning. Secondly, I will investigate the discursive positions through which people may position themselves as paranoid and describe some of the effects of such positioning. I conclude by drawing out some implications of a more nuanced view of paranoia for the field of surveillance studies.

Keywordsparanoia; psychology; conceptions; surveillance research; literary examples; panoptical culture; conspiritorial narratives; big brother; conspiracy theories; politics
JournalSurveillance & Society
Journal citation5 (1), pp. 1-32
ISSN1477-7487
Year2008
Publisher Surveillance Studies Network
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Anyone
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.24908/ss.v5i1.3437
Publication dates
Print01 Jan 2008
Publication process dates
Deposited10 Jun 2009
Copyright holder© 2008, The Author
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Citation:
Harper, D. (2008) 'The politics of paranoia: paranoid positioning and conspiratorial narratives in the surveillance society'. Surveillance & Society, 5 (1) 1–32.

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