“... Inconceivable, Unrealistic and Inhumane”. Internet Communication on the Flood Disaster in West Germany of July 2021 between Conspiracy Theories and Moralization—A Neopragmatic Explorative Study

Olaf Kühne, Lara Koegst, Marie-Luise Zimmer and Greta Schäffauer
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Olaf Kühne: Department of Geography, Eberhard Karls University, 72074 Tubingen, Germany
Lara Koegst: Department of Geography, Eberhard Karls University, 72074 Tubingen, Germany
Marie-Luise Zimmer: Department of Geography, Eberhard Karls University, 72074 Tubingen, Germany
Greta Schäffauer: Department of Geography, Eberhard Karls University, 72074 Tubingen, Germany

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 20, 1-22

Abstract: The aim of this article is an explorative study of the debate on the flood in the western part of Germany in July 2021, based on the comments found below the coverage of a German public television channel (ZDF) published on YouTube. Based on the neopragmatic framing of the analysis by connecting morality and mass media according to Luhmann, as well as Dahrendorf’s conflict theory, four patterns of interpretation were identified which illustrate a high moralization of the conflict: conclusions drawn from the storm (e.g., of a political nature, references to COVID-19, etc.), far-reaching, predominantly negative interpretations that place the storm and its consequences in the context of other negatively interpreted aspects, as well as rational and empathetic interpretations regarding expressions of sympathy and offers of help, and, ultimately, interpretations that range from climate change and planning failures to various conspiracy-theoretical claims of responsibility for the flooding. All in all, a transformation from conflicts of interest and facts to conflicts of identity and values is taking place, revealing two utopias: the utopia in which man and nature are in harmonic unity, as well as the utopia of the satisfaction of individual (material) needs in a stable material-spatial and legal framework. Science has an instrumental application in both utopias.

Keywords: flood; West Germany; conspiracy theory; conflict; climate change; moralization; Dahrendorf; Luhmann (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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