O NEGACIONISMO CIENTÍFICO NA PANDEMIA DA COVID-19: um estudo das narrativas anticiência nas redes bolsonaristas

Resumo (EN)

This thesis aims to analyze anti-science narratives in Bolsonarist networks published on Twitter. Its objective is to understand the influence of the most prominent profiles during the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic, from March to June 2021, when the country reached the grim milestone of 500,000 deaths from the disease. The research focuses on the denialist narrative that circulated on online social networks. At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) coined the term “infodemic” to describe the mass dissemination of information contradicting scientific consensus, which undermined the credibility of official news, particularly those supported by the scientific community. In the Brazilian context, disinformation assumes even greater significance due to the ongoing conflict between the federal government (Jair Bolsonaro administration, 2019 to 2022) and media institutions, acting as intermediaries between science and the population. This conflict is further amplified on social media platforms. Consequently, it is essential to comprehend how these denialist narratives emerged and identify the key actors involved in these networks. To contextualize the Brazilian political landscape, this research incorporates discussions on digital populism and the crisis of representation, thereby illuminating the role of the Brazilian government in the political and health crises faced by the country. Lastly, the study proposes a discussion on the impact of anti-science discourse on the management of the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil.