Dr Campbell Thomson is a social anthropologist. His research has explored the emergence and sustaining of conspiracy attuned social activism in response to COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccination policy. He is particularly interested in meetings of populist political narratives with “conspiracy theory” and “misinformation” (however defined), digital and media cultures, and the anthropology of Britain and Europe. His recent work examines the (mis)appropriation of legal discourses within radical political movements.

At The Dickson Poon School of Law, Campbell is working on the Wellcome Discovery-funded project "Between Deception and Dissent" which examines how contested health-related claims are regulated in contemporary states, and the socio-political implications of these strategies. An interdisciplinary project, it brings together research from law, the humanities and the social sciences. As part of the project’s work across Europe, Africa and North America, Campbell is conducting research in the UK and Ireland.

Before joining King’s, Campbell completed PhD research at University College London (UCL) on the UK Freedom Movement, a social movement which emerged in opposition to the introduction of COVID-19 lockdowns and the rollout of mass vaccination measures.

Research interests 

• Conceptions of “conspiracy theory” and “misinformation”
• Social movements
• Pseudolaw and “sovereign citizens”
• Political anthropology
•  Digital and media anthropology