<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The overall aim of this study is to explore the authoritarian dimension in the far-right discourse of online forums. The study argues for a focus on the articulations of authoritarianism to understand the dynamics of far-right discourse. Four central features of authoritarianism are identified and explored: 1) the authoritarian values underlying articulated opinions on diverse issues; 2) the emotional dimension of authoritarianism; 3) the coexistence of civil and uncivil articulations of authoritarianism; and 4) the role of mainstream news as reference for and trigger of authoritarian responses. The qualitative study is based on data from two Swedish forums, Flashback and Familjeliv [Family life], and consists of 79 threads related to three issues on the agenda: disorder in school, gang crime, and transgender. The results show expressions of authoritarian–liberal value conflicts, and, most significantly, the vigour of an authoritarian culture on the forums, with implications for the normalisation of far-right discourse.</p>
</abstract>

The overall aim of this study is to explore the authoritarian dimension in the far-right discourse of online forums. The study argues for a focus on the articulations of authoritarianism to understand the dynamics of far-right discourse. Four central features of authoritarianism are identified and explored: 1) the authoritarian values underlying articulated opinions on diverse issues; 2) the emotional dimension of authoritarianism; 3) the coexistence of civil and uncivil articulations of authoritarianism; and 4) the role of mainstream news as reference for and trigger of authoritarian responses. The qualitative study is based on data from two Swedish forums, Flashback and Familjeliv [Family life], and consists of 79 threads related to three issues on the agenda: disorder in school, gang crime, and transgender. The results show expressions of authoritarian–liberal value conflicts, and, most significantly, the vigour of an authoritarian culture on the forums, with implications for the normalisation of far-right discourse.

Authoritarianism in the discourse of online forums: A study of its articulations in the Swedish context

Department of Journalism, Media and Communication

Nordicom Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The overall aim of this study is to explore the authoritarian dimension in the far-right discourse of online forums. The study argues for a focus on the...

Authoritarianism in the discourse of online forums: A study of its articulations in the Swedish context

Published Online: Aug 10, 2023

Page range: 194 - 216

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2023-0011

Keywords
authoritarianism, online discourse, emotions, far-right, normalisation

© 2023 Mats Ekström, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Authoritarianism in the discourse of online forums: A study of its articulations in the Swedish context

Published Online: Aug 10, 2023

Page range: 194 - 216

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2023-0011

Keywordsauthoritarianism, online discourse, emotions, far-right, normalisation

© 2023 Mats Ekström, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
authoritarianism, online discourse, emotions, far-right, normalisation