Authors
Heidi Schulze, Julian Hohner, Simon Greipl, Maximilian Girgnhuber, Isabell Desta, Diana Rieger
Publication date
2022/8
Journal
Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies
Volume
28
Issue
4
Pages
1103-1126
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Description
Societal crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, produce societal instability and create a fertile ground for radicalization. Extremists exploit such crises by distributing disinformation to amplify uncertainty and distrust among the public. Based on these developments, this study presents a longitudinal analysis of far-right communication on fringe platforms, demonstrating radicalization dynamics. Public Telegram communication of three movements active in Germany (QAnon, Identitarian Movement, Querdenken) was analyzed through a quantitative content analysis of 4500 messages posted to nine channels between March 2020 and February 2021. We study the movements' discourse using several indicators of radicalization dynamics. The increasing prevalence of conspiracy narratives, anti-elitism, political activism, and support for violence indicate radicalization dynamics in these movements’ online …
Total citations
2021202220232024174325
Scholar articles
H Schulze, J Hohner, S Greipl, M Girgnhuber, I Desta… - Convergence: The International Journal of Research …, 2022