Populist parties deliberately use divisive issues, study finds
Populist parties strategically use divisive issues to create an 'us vs. them' narrative, a study of 8748 Facebook posts reveals.
Why it matters
- Reveals strategic use of divisive issues by populist parties.
- Highlights the role of anti-liberal language in political messaging.
By the numbers
- 8748 Facebook posts analyzed.
- 13 countries included in the study.
The big picture
- Populist parties aim to shift focus from problem-solving to questioning liberal democratic values.
- The strategy is used to create strong emotions and divide voters.
What they're saying
- Some critique the study as stating the obvious.
- Others compare the tactics to fascism.
Caveats
- Findings may seem obvious to some observers.
- Study focuses on Facebook posts, which may not represent all political communication.
What’s next
- Further research on how this strategy affects voter behavior.
- Potential strategies to counter such divisive tactics.