Harrison Pates
PhD candidate in the Department of War Studies
Biography
Harrison Pates is a PhD Candidate in the Department of War Studies. His research explores how digital platforms are used by the far-right actors to construct and disseminate historical narratives that align with their ideological goals. Harrison’s work examines topics such as disinformation, nostalgia, and conspiratorial thinking as they appear in reactionary movements to foster support and propagate radical messages.
He holds an MA in International Security and Terrorism from the University of Birmingham, and a BA in History from the University of Warwick. Harrison has previously published work on the overlap between extreme ideologies and pseudohistorical conspiracy theories, and presented on the development of alternate knowledge inside QAnon. Prior to his current research, Harrison worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Warwick.
Research Interests
- Far-right, alt-right movements
- Conspiracy theory and disinformation
- Memory politics, nostalgia and revisionism
- Construction of identity and culture
Harrison’s research investigates how extremist ideologies manipulate historical narratives, often misrepresenting or distorting facts to serve political movements. He aims to explore the wider impacts of these narratives, particularly in the digital disinformation landscape.
Thesis title and abstract
Digital Histories of the Reactionary Right
Harrison’s thesis explores how the far-right utilises digital platforms to create, communicate, and propagate ideologically driven historical narratives. These narratives often evoke nostalgic, revanchist, and conspiratorial themes, aiming to construct a "useful past" that serves their political and cultural goals. The research aims to investigate the mechanisms of history-making employed by far-right movements, how these differ from pre-digital methods, and the societal impact of these narratives, particularly in the context of modern disinformation campaigns.
Supervisors
- Dr Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens
Publications
- Upcoming (2025): “‘Future proves past’: QAnon’s approach to doing history” in Critical Approaches to Conspiracy Narratives, Bloomsbury, Advances in Sociolinguistics.
- The Dangers of Pseudohistorical Conspiracy Theories, GNET Insights, February 2023.
- ‘Bakers’ and ‘dough’: The formation of QAnon worldview and narrative in online communities, Presented at BCUR, May 2021.