Jorg Matthes
Effects of Anti-Muslim Populist Campaigns on Majority and Minority Groups: Implications for Social Cohesion
This talk gives an overview of experimental research on the effects of anti-Muslim right-wing populist campaigns on attitudes of the Austrian public as well as Muslim minority members.
SESSION 1
News Media, Populism, and Political Communication
+ Group Panel Discussion
Focus
- Populism
- Political Communication
- News Media
Overall, findings suggest two parallel processes.
First, negative portrayals of Muslims in populist campaigns foster explicit and implicit anti-Muslim attitudes of the public.
Second, when Muslim minority are exposed to such campaigns, they react with increased hostility toward the majority population.
This may lead to a “spiral of hostility” in which both groups become increasingly distant to each other. Implications for social cohesion are discussed.