Přehled o publikaci
2025
Abandoned by Elites, United by Crisis: Anti-Discourses and theReinforcement of a Dissatisfied Collective Identity Online
NOVOTNÁ, Martina and Lenka VOCHOCOVÁBasic information
Original name
Abandoned by Elites, United by Crisis: Anti-Discourses and theReinforcement of a Dissatisfied Collective Identity Online
Authors
NOVOTNÁ, Martina and Lenka VOCHOCOVÁ
Edition
Mass Communication and Society, Abingdon, Francis, 2025, 1520-5436
Other information
Language
English
Type of outcome
Article in a journal
Country of publisher
United States of America
Confidentiality degree
is not subject to a state or trade secret
References:
Organization
Fakulta sociálních studií – Repository – Repository
Keywords in English
online discussions, uncertainty, social identities, populist rhetoric, COVID-19, Russo-Ukrainian war
Links
LX22NPO5101, research and development project.
Changed: 5/12/2025 00:51, RNDr. Daniel Jakubík
Abstract
In the original language
During times of crisis, fear may prompt a greater need for identity confirmation in order to reduce uncertainty. People find comfort in identifying with an online in-group, but this could worsen societal division. Our study analyzed Facebook discussions about the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russo-Ukrainian war in order to identify the common patterns of economic and social uncertainties expressed through repeated anti-narratives. We focused on the public Facebook pages of the two Czech TV news outlets with the largest and most diverse audiences during two phases of each crisis. We analyzed 1,680 comments with grounded theory coding procedures. The findings reveal that, regardless of the media outlets’ ideology, crisis topic, and political representation, similar polarizing narratives that resemble populist discourse are used to construct the identity of “the people” standing against “the elites.” The study highlights how repetitive narratives in mainstream online spaces can reinforce polarization and pose broader societal risks.
