Abstract

Social media is an important transmitter of anti-immigration political rhetoric. In this study, we examine the discussions posted in a Finnish online forum provoked by an MP’s anti-multiculturalist Facebook post. We draw upon frame analysis and discursive social psychology to analyse the communicative processes that challenge and normalise anti-immigration political rhetoric. Using frame analysis, we study how forum users entered heated societal discussion on multiculturalism by framing the MP’s anti-multiculturalist address as either hate speech or – more dominantly – as normal political conduct. Using discursive social psychology, we examine constructions of multiculturalism in these discussions. We demonstrate how anti-immigration political communication was normalised, multiculturalism was constructed as a threat and the proponents of multiculturalism were discredited. We argue that to understand the rise of anti-immigration political movements, it is important to examine everyday political deliberation online as part of a wider discursive landscape.
Original languageEnglish
Article number1461444819899624
JournalNew Media & Society
Volume23
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)438-456
Number of pages19
ISSN1461-4448
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2021
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Fields of Science

  • 5144 Social psychology
  • discursive sosial psychology
  • frame analysis
  • hate speech
  • migration
  • multiculturalism
  • online political deliberation
  • ONLINE
  • RACIST
  • DISCOURSE
  • FRAME
  • CONSTRUCTION
  • PREJUDICE
  • POPULISM
  • INTERNET
  • ACCOUNTS
  • FORUMS

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