Mari-Liis Madisson

I study how narratives are constructed to shape meaning in contexts of conflict, crisis, and political contestation. My research spans disinformation, conspiracy theories, strategic narratives, and information influence activities, drawing on cultural semiotics to analyse how these phenomena work and what makes them effective. In practice, this means analysing how conspiracy theories are instrumentalised in Russian influence operations, in marketing, and in right-wing populist political communication. I am interested in what makes such communication effective, and how to recognise and counter its more harmful forms.

I have been working on these topics since 2012, long enough to watch the field grow from a niche interest that raised eyebrows in academic circles into a topic that now attracts serious institutional attention. I work at the University of Tartu, where semiotics has a long tradition. I also collaborate with defence institutions and media literacy educators, because I think research on disinformation and information influence is only useful if it reaches beyond academic journals.