Extremism, Populism and Digital Media

Abstract

The growing importance of extremist, radical and populist parties, politicians and movements around the world has led to questioning the complex relationship between digital media and the diffusion of their ideas. Some have claimed that digital media are the perfect habitat for the diffusion of extremist, radical and populist ideas, representing the main channel through which these groups and politicians build their support. Others instead recognize that digital media are certainly venues through which extremist and populist ideas are spread, but emphasize also their potential for countering extremists' and populists’ views and their moderate impact on offline support. In sum, whether and how exactly digital media fuel or inhibit the diffusion of extremist, radical and populist ideas and support for extremist, radical, populist parties, candidates and social movements is a question open for debate. The Panel brings together contributions using digital traces to (1) map the genus of extremism, radicalism, populism and (2) to investigate the effects of exposure to online extremist, radical and populist grievances on (offline) political outcomes. We will also be looking at broader dynamics that might link extreme, radical, populist support/voting to digital media use and content. The panel includes theoretical and empirical contributions dealing with these topics based on different techniques (surveys, experiments, content analysis) and approaches (qualitative/quantitative, mixed methods, experimental, comparative or case studies). We also include contributions focusing on different digital media (Facebook, Twitter, Instragram, Youtube, etc.)