Global Studies Seminar presents Chris Crews

The Global Studies Seminar presents “COVIDenial: Race, Religion, and Conspiracy Theories” by Chris Crews, visiting assistant professor in International Studies at Denison.

As we move into a third year of the global coronavirus pandemic, it has become increasingly clear that politics are becoming increasingly contentious, not only in the U.S., but around the world. Fascism is on the rise again, from strongman leaders to full blown state authoritarianism. Behind these trends is a mix of religious and ethnic nationalism and the explosion of conspiracy theories, from QAnon and anti-vaxxers to unfounded claims of stolen elections. These conspiratorial politics are increasingly being weaponized via social media, and finding new audiences thanks to globalization and the power of the internet. This talk will explore the rise of these global COVIDenial politics through the lens of race, religion, and conspiracy theories.

Prior to joining Denison, Crews taught in the Comparative Religion program at CSU, Chico in California, and the Global Studies department at GVSU in Michigan. His areas of research include social movements, Indigenous rights, environmental justice, religious nationalism, and white supremacist politics. He earned a Doctors of Philosophy in Politics from the New School for Social Research in New York City.