Andreas Sobisch, Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Political Science, John Carroll University

Dear Colleagues:

Consider the idea of a “15-minute city.” The idea is to design cities “so that you can access amenities in a short walk, bike ride, or trip on public transport.”

This might sound perfectly reasonable, even attractive, to most recipients of this newsletter. But, as NPR reported, “there’s a conspiracy theory saying that this is a way to restrict people’s movement or to trap people in open-air prison.” Right-wing podcaster Joe Rogan has proclaimed, “you’ll essentially be contained unless you get permission to leave. That’s the idea that they’re starting to roll out in Europe.” But in Europe such ideas are met with similar conspiracy theories – as when the UK transport minister told a Conservative Party conference that, “what is sinister and what we shouldn’t tolerate is the idea that local councils can decide how often you go to the shops.”

One common theme of such conspiracy theories is that, climate change is a hoax meant to subdue populations. As Barry Rabe of the University of Michigan has explained, this theme is particularly strong in the United States because it taps into beliefs that the United States is exceptional and should be an island, and that this is especially true on energy matters because the U.S. is (roughly) self-sufficient. So claims about climate change are meant to force the U.S. to worry about the rest of the world when it shouldn’t have to. But as a special article in BJPsych Bulletin pointed out, while climate change denial is more prevalent in the United States than in most of Europe, it is still present in Europe. Conspiracy theories are a powerful way to promote or rationalize that denial.

That article defined conspiracy theories as “attempts to explain the ultimate causes of significant social and political events and circumstances with claims of secret plots by two or more powerful actors.” Four main themes are that, ”scientists are faking climate change (a) for political reasons or (b) to secure research funding, or (c) enable the ‘green agenda’ and (d) promote nuclear power.” As NPR reported, some attacks are on the idea that climate change exists, but others “are attacks on climate solutions,” such as ideas “that wind turbines cause cancer or cause birth defects in animals.” The attacks on “15-minute cities” are one example, and they have been raised in such unlikely-seeming places as Paris and Oxford.

While Americans naturally must worry most about conspiracy theories’ role in U.S. politics and policy-making, there is good reason to believe the phenomenon is becoming more important around the world. Our friend Andreas Sobisch from John Carroll University, who has kindly joined our discussion group on other topics, has been doing research on climate conspiracy theories in Europe and especially Germany. He joins us to report on what he has learned.

I am especially pleased to add that Ken Ledford will also join us to moderate the event and provide his own perspectives from his expertise on German politics. He is doing that because I am traveling. But I will also try to sign on via Zoom, both because I want to hear what Andreas has to say and because I will be in Berlin, so it only seems appropriate.

In-Person and Virtual Attendance

We will meet this week in our regular location, the Dampeer Room on the second floor of Kelvin Smith Library.

We continue also to offer the meetings on Zoom. We do require pre-registering so as to avoid “zoom-bombing.” The pre-registration link is posted below.

The discussion begins at 12:30 p.m., but the room should be open no later than Noon. We try to have beverages and refreshments set up soon after that. Participants should be able to sign on to Zoom also by Noon. But please remember not much will be happening online until the talk begins at 12:30 pm. Please also be prepared to show identification when entering Kelvin Smith Library.

Zoom participants should speak up when asked for questions or comments, or submit thoughts through Zoom’s chat function. Please keep yourself muted until you are choosing to speak.

Each week we will send out this newsletter with information about the topic. It will also include a link to register (for free) for the discussion. When you register, you will automatically receive from the Zoom system the link to join the meeting. If you do not get the newsletter, you should also be able to get the information each Monday by checking http://fridaylunch.case.edu Then if you choose you can use the contact form on that website to request the registration link.

This week’s Zoom link for registration is:

https://cwru.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwqfuiuqT8iGdff0L7PSADHixYxUNc5FfaY

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Please also e-mail padg@case.edu if you have questions about arrangements or any suggestions. Or call at 216 368-2426 and we’ll try to get back to you.

Hoping the Eclipse was a great experience for all,

Joe White
Luxenberg Family Professor of Public Policy and Director, Center for Policy Studies

About Our Guest

Born in Hamburg, Germany, Dr. Andreas Sobisch graduated cum laude from Georgia College with a B.S. in Political Science. He later earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Emory University. Having served as an Assistant Professor for John Carroll University from 1990 to 1996, Dr. Sobisch then became the Director of Global Education from 2005 to 2015. He is currently an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science.

Dr. Sobisch’s areas of study are Comparative Politics, European Politics, Politics of the European Union, and Research Methods. He currently teaches Comparative Politics, European Union, Political Parties, Public Policy, Global Citizenship Political Radicalism and Extremism, Neo-Nazism, Communism, Terrorism, and Research Methods: Philosophy of Science, Research Design, & Statistics. He is also part of the Advisory Board for the West European Studies Program out of the University of Pittsburg. A current member of the European Union Simulation Consortium, Dr. Sobisch also serves in the German Studies, the European Union Studies, and the American Political Science Association.

* Kelvin Smith Library requires all entrants to show identification when entering the building, unless they have a university i.d. that they can magnetically scan. We are sorry if that seems like a hassle, but it has been Library policy for a while in response to security concerns. Please do not complain to the library staff at the entrance, who are just doing their jobs.

Schedule of Friday Lunch Upcoming Topics and Speakers:

April 19: Why Our Children Struggle in School: Going Beyond the ADHD Metaphor. With Arthur Lavin MD, FAAP. Alternate Room: Kelvin Smith Library LL06

April 26: What Does It Mean for Us? Local Needs and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. With Howard Maier FAICP, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Political Science.