Political Influencers in the Age of Fascization and Polarization

Abstract

This panel - examine how politics intersect with the content creator economy in contemporary digital media environments marked by intensifying polarization, authoritarian practices, and ongoing debates around fascization. We invite papers that address the following themes: the authority, authenticity, and community-building strategies of political influencers; the negotiation between political messaging and monetization; the role of platform governance, algorithms, and AI in shaping political influencer ecosystems; the tensions between ego-driven influencer culture and collective political ideals; the production, circulation, and contestation of anti-genderism by political influencers; and the offline political ramifications of online influence. We particularly encourage contributions focusing on Global South contexts and exploring vernacularized forms of political influencer culture.

Title	Details
AI, ICT, and Influencers in Authoritarian Influence and Control as Part of Cognitive Warfare	View Paper Details
Aesthetic Authoritarianism? Visual Propaganda and the Politics of Urban Renewal in Ethiopia	View Paper Details
Propaganda That Doesn’t Look Political: Experimental Evidence on Influencer-Based Pro-Russian Propaganda	View Paper Details
Between Risk and Reach: Gender-Based Barriers to Feminist Political Influencers Among Russian Youth Under Authoritarianism	View Paper Details
Quality Content Creators and Left-Wing Influencers	View Paper Details