Conservapedia: problems, principles, mindset and implications for a polarized world

Purpose: In this article, I present an initial examination of Conservapedia; namely, the problems it identified in the Wikipedia project that made a split appear necessary and the principles it claims to follow. I then argue that Conservapedia is characterized by a “law-and-order” mindset. Finally, implications for the continued existence of Conservapedia in a polarized world are presented. Design/methodology/approach: A content analysis of key Conservapedia documents was conducted. Findings: The founders of Conservapedia took issue with Wikipedia over its supposed intolerance and inconsistency of thought. They developed a set of principles that attempted to reconcile open-mindedness with efficiency and an extreme point of view on certain subjects. Nevertheless, Conservapedia failed to produce a vibrant community, and its function today is more of a database of alt-right dogma controlled by a core group of supporters. Originality/value: There has been little scholarly attention paid to the various offshoots of Wikipedia, including Conservapedia. This is unfortunate. These alternative wiki encyclopedias represent knowledge universes of their own and in an increasingly polarized world they are important phenomena to understand.