Corona Conflicts in Germany. Old and New Constellations of Discourses, Practices and Groups

• In Event: Corona Truth Wars: Testing and Contesting Knowledge in a Hyper-Mobile Pandemic - III

Abstract

The proclamation of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has created a kind of asymmetrical duel situation internationally between a majority of supporters and a minority of critics of the various state-imposed measures. It is a partly dramatic situation, it is a matter of life and physical as well as social death, which puts work and family relationships as well as friendships to the test and sometimes even causes them to break. Many even see it as a threat to social cohesion, because behind the heated controversy over how dangerous the virus is and how best to respond to it in a socially balanced way, fundamental issues are quickly at stake: attitudes toward life and community, toward the state, science, disease, healing and death. Thus, in the corona truth wars of individual countries, specific long-standing discourses intersect and condense. Based on participant observation and interviews with protesters this presentation will focus on the particularities of the controversy in Germany, and elaborate how old frontlines appear at the same time as completely new and unexpected social constellations emerge.

Author

• Ehler Voss, University of Siegen