Conspiracy Nation
Title: Conspiracy Nation
Authors: Cam Wilson and Ariel Bogle
Publisher: Ultimo Press
Shortlist: Non-Fiction
Through new investigations and first-hand accounts, Conspiracy Nation takes readers to the rallies, homes, courtrooms, secret chat rooms and $2000 Byron Bay luxury retreats where Australia’s conspiracy theories spread.
‘There are microchips in vaccines’; ‘5G spreads COVID-19’; ‘the Australian government is hiding a list of powerful predators’ – Conspiracy Nation exposes the world of Australian conspiracy theories, their history, appeal and political influence. It’s easy to dismiss these as fringe concerns or imported concepts, but conspiratorial ideas are gaining traction with everyday Australians and being wielded by those in power.
In this boots-on-the-ground report, journalists Ariel Bogle and Cam Wilson meet the people dedicated to living and spreading these ideas, those who have been left reeling by their impact and the ones who are fighting back.
From Port Arthur and QAnon, to the rise of ‘wellness’ influencers and ‘sovereign citizen’ gurus, to the delusions that inspired the Wieambilla murders, Bogle and Wilson show the devastating consequences of unchecked lies and radicalisation, and make a compelling case that by ignoring the looming threat of conspiratorial thinking, we put our community at risk.
Judges’ Report
What happens when journalists slow down, zoom out and return to subjects long after the out-of-town press pack has gone home? Ariel Bogle and Cam Wilson, two reporters with expertise in extremism and internet culture, weave together seemingly disparate threads in their remarkable book Conspiracy Nation. Whipsmart, lucid and empathetic, their work explores the Port Arthur Massacre through to today’s so-called ‘sovereign citizen’ movement. One of the writers even goes undercover at a health retreat run by former My Kitchen Rules host Pete Evans. ‘Once-fringe ideas and the language of conspiracy have become increasingly part of Australian life,’ Bogle and Wilson note. ‘Energy for resistance and change can be frittered away by paranoia and score-settling.’ A must-read for any Australian concerned about the spread of misinformation and those curious about how best to push back.
Extract
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About the Authors
Cam Wilson
Photo by Teresa Tan
Ariel Bogle
VPLA book photography by Shannyn Higgins
The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards are proudly supported by the Victorian Government.
