Article explores defensive strategies during crises, highlighting apologia and delegitimization techniques.
The article addresses defensive strategies adopted in crisis scenarios and is based on attacking those who accuse an actor of transgressions. Treating crises as disputes over meaning that threaten reputations, the text develops three movements. In the first, it revisits international contributions on the subject, focusing on the notions of apologia and kategoria. In the second, it discusses Mayhew’s contributions to the study of influence, betting that the author’s ideas about solidarity can assist in investigating strategies of delegitimization of accusers. Finally, it conducts a study on the Heartland Institute’s attacks against its critics, critically reflecting on their characteristics and issues related to asymmetries.
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Daniel Reis Silva (2025) studied this question.
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