Counteracting Dangerous Narratives in Times of Uncertainty
Following the release of the U.S.-focused “Counteracting Dangerous Narratives in the Time of COVID-19” guide, Over Zero, in collaboration with Caleb Gichuhi, has developed a globally-focused set of resources on counteracting dangerous narratives in times of uncertainty, including the current COVID-19 pandemic. Access the full guide here and the workbook here.
As the pandemic and related economic downturns continue, we are witnessing intensifying narratives that demonize, scapegoat, and otherwise target marginalized groups. We’ve also seen governments and political elites use the pandemic as a pretense to tighten their grip on civil society, the press, and others working to support vulnerable populations. As questions abound surrounding how the vaccine will be distributed, these dynamics may further intensify and entrench.
We also know that community leaders, civil society organizations, and individuals have shown incredible resilience in navigating and pushing back on these dynamics. These resources aim to support such efforts amidst periods of threat and uncertainty, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resources specifically address:
How pandemics and other times of threat and uncertainty heighten conflict dynamics;
Narrative patterns that simultaneously scapegoat or target a “them” while mobilizing an “us” to participate in or support violence or discrimination; and
Recommendations for counteracting these dynamics, including “do no harm” considerations.
To ensure this is a practical resource, we’ve also developed a corresponding workbook that seeks to operationalize the content. It includes charts and activities that can be used in workshops, meetings, or other planning activities. The workbook specifically includes charts for:
Using metaphors wisely;
Building empathy and engagement with targeted communities;
Selecting a credible messenger; and
Selecting channels
To facilitate adapting any of these charts for your own communities or work, we include blank, downloadable PDFs in the linked resources below: