Why Populists Do Well on Social Networks

Bibliographic Data

ID19155403
AuthorsKai Spiekermann (0000-0003-4983-5589, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume12
Issue02
Pages50-71
Publication date2020-11-15
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGlobal Justice Theory Practice Rhetoric (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1835-6842 • E-ISSN: 1835-6842
PublisherGlobal Justice Network (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.21248/gjn.12.02.203
OpenAlexW3121065893
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited13

A link between populism and social media is often suspected. This paper spells out a set of possible mechanisms underpinning this link: that social media changes the communication structure of the public sphere, making it harder for citizens to obtain evidence that refutes populist assumptions. By developing a model of the public sphere, four core functions of the public sphere are identified: exposing citizens to diverse information, promoting equality of deliberative opportunity, creating deliberative transparency, and producing common knowledge. A wellworking public sphere allows citizens to learn that there are genuine disagreements among citizens that are held in good faith. Social media makes it harder to gain this insight, opening the door for populist ideology

Ideology · Media studies · Political science · Politics · Populism · Public relations · Public sphere · Social media · Sociology · Underpinning · Computer Science · Engineering · Law · Media Influence and Politics · Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence · Social Media and Politics

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Open DOIOpen Access