How do we make sense of the insurrection at the US Capitol
and the rise of extremism in the United States? This panel will look at the
circulation of ideas – conspiracy theories, myths, and misinformation – that
have rapidly spread in both the United States and abroad to create a network of
far-right extremist organizations. Our two panelists will show how today’s
extremism is not new, but rather connects to ideas and myths that have long
circulated in American political discourse. After presenting on their own work,
the panelists will take questions from the audience.
Dr. Lauren Kerby is a religious literacy
specialist and lecturer on religious studies at Harvard Divinity School. Her
work analyzes the way that white American evangelicals use history as a
political resource. Her book, Saving History: How White Evangelicals
Tour the nation’s Capital and Redeem a Christian America was published
in 2020. She recently published an article in The Atlantic showing how her work
helps explain the Capitol insurrection. Dr. Kerby received her PhD in religious
studies from Boston University.
Dr. Matt Motta is assistant professor of
political science at Oklahoma State University. His research focuses on
American politics, public opinion, and science communication, with a focus on
identifying the causes of anti-science attitudes and investigating their policy
impact. His work has been published in Social Sciences & Medicine,
Environmental Communication, Political Behavior, and Political
Research Quarterly, among others. Dr. Motta received his PhD in political
science from the University of Minnesota.