Building [dis]trust in COVID discourses

Abstract

The study is devoted to how (dis)trust is constructed in the measures taken by the authorities during the coronovirus pandemic. Using the concept of biopolitics, we analyze the reactions of social network users and their communication with the authorities. The material for the analysis was publications for 1 year on various anti-covid measures - vaccination, mask regimen, distance learning and other restrictions and comments on them in one of the official public pages of the St. Petersburg authorities. The AntConc program was used for analysis. Based on the results, we identified 3 discourses, of which 2 are most clearly represented - disagreements and resistances. They are based on distrust, doubts and unwillingness to follow the proposed measures on the part of users. It is within the framework of these two discourses that the most active communication of users with different authorities takes place. Communication is built on the same patterns - in response to questions, the authorities give template references to regulations governing specific restrictions, which does not lead to the emergence of trust and only increases the reciprocal dissatisfaction on the part of users. The discourse of consent is based on the expression of solidarity with the measures taken, and the central point here is persuasive communication by some users of others in favor of vaccination, keeping a distance, wearing masks. Since there are practically no opportunities for active and legal resistance to biopolitics measures, we believe that in practice discursive resistance results in the invention of evasion tactics - not wearing a mask, not getting vaccinated, getting a fake Quarcode, etc.