Violent protest and social media in liberal democracies: an analysis of the US Capital riot
Date
2023-12
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gewelddadige betogings is aan die toeneem oor 'n groot deel van die wêreld, en aangesien gewelddadige protes strydig is met demokratiese norme, kan hierdie neiging lei tot demokratiese terugval of selfs dekonsolidasie. Om hierdie tendens te verstaan is dus potensieël van kardinale belang. Aangesien sosiale media voorheen aan gewelddadige protes gekoppel is, is die ondersoek van die rol daarvan in verhouding tot gewelddadige protes in liberale demokrasieë 'n geldige navorsingsweg. As gevolg daarvan, het hierdie studie 'n kwalitatiewe gevallestudie uitgevoer oor die 2021 Bestorming van die VS Kongresgebou om die rol wat sosiale media in die voorval gespeel het te identifiseer, en om hopelik insig te kry in hoe sosiale media 'n faktor kan wees in die voortdurende neiging in gewelddadige protes.
Hierdie studie het vier hoofbevindings gemaak met betrekking tot die rol wat sosiale media moontlik in gewelddadige protes in liberale demokrasieë speel. Eerstens kan sosiale media gebruik word om deelname aan protesaksie te organiseer en te mobiliseer, insluitend protes wat gewelddadig kan word. Tweedens kan sosiale media gebruik word om geweld met betrekking tot protesoptrede aan te hits en te legitimeer. Eggokamers en moralisering op sosiale media kan ook moontlik tot geweld tydens protesaksie lei. Derdens kan sosiale media gebruik word om valse narratiewe te versprei wat gewelddadige protesaksie kan motiveer en kan dien om die gebruik van geweld te regverdig. In die nasleep van gewelddadige protesaksie kan valse narratiewe op sosiale media dien om publieke steun vir gewelddadige betogers te skep, wat as 'n uitdaging in hul vervolging kan dien. Vierdens kan sosiale media ook dien as 'n instrument vir wetstoepassing in hul pogings om gewelddadige betogers te identifiseer en te vervolg. Daar is egter ook die potensiaal vir owerhede om sosiale media te misbruik en dele van die bevolking te onderdruk. Die tweede en derde rolle wat sosiale media in gewelddadige protes in liberale demokrasieë kan speel dui daarop dat sosiale media 'n potensiële beduidende faktor in die voorkoms van gewelddadige protesaksie is en 'n beduidende instrument kan wees in pogings om hierdie geweld te regverdig. Dit dui daarop dat sosiale media 'n belangrike faktor kan wees in die oënskynlike voortdurende toename in gewelddadige betogings oor 'n groot deel van die wêreld.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Violent demonstrations are on the rise across much of the globe, and as violent protest is contrary to democratic norms, this trend could lead to democratic backsliding or even deconsolidation. Understanding this trend is thus potentially of vital importance. As social media has previously been linked to violent protest, exploring its role in relation to violent protest in liberal democracies represents a valid avenue of research. As such, this study conducted a qualitative case study on the 2021 US Capitol Riot to identify the role that social media had in the incident and to hopefully gain insight into how social media may be a factor in the ongoing trend in violent protest. This study made four main findings in regard to the role that social media potentially plays in violent protest in liberal democracies. Firstly, social media can be used to organise and mobilise participation in protest action, including protests that may become violent. Secondly, social media can be used to incite and legitimise violence in regard to protest action. Echo chambers and moralisation on social media platforms can also potentially lead to violence during protest action. Thirdly, social media can be used to disseminate false narratives that could motivate violent protest action and serve to justify the use of violence. In the aftermath of violent protest action, false narratives on social media platforms can serve to create public support for violent protestors, which can serve as a challenge in their prosecution. Fourthly, social media can also serve as a tool for law enforcement in their efforts to identify and prosecute violent protestors. However, there is also the potential for authorities to abuse social media and repress sections of the population. The second and third roles that social media can play in violent protests in liberal democracies indicate that social media is a potentially significant factor in the occurrence of violent protest action and can be a significant tool in efforts to justify said violence. This suggests that social media can be a significant factor in the apparent ongoing increase in violent protests across much of the globe.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Violent demonstrations are on the rise across much of the globe, and as violent protest is contrary to democratic norms, this trend could lead to democratic backsliding or even deconsolidation. Understanding this trend is thus potentially of vital importance. As social media has previously been linked to violent protest, exploring its role in relation to violent protest in liberal democracies represents a valid avenue of research. As such, this study conducted a qualitative case study on the 2021 US Capitol Riot to identify the role that social media had in the incident and to hopefully gain insight into how social media may be a factor in the ongoing trend in violent protest. This study made four main findings in regard to the role that social media potentially plays in violent protest in liberal democracies. Firstly, social media can be used to organise and mobilise participation in protest action, including protests that may become violent. Secondly, social media can be used to incite and legitimise violence in regard to protest action. Echo chambers and moralisation on social media platforms can also potentially lead to violence during protest action. Thirdly, social media can be used to disseminate false narratives that could motivate violent protest action and serve to justify the use of violence. In the aftermath of violent protest action, false narratives on social media platforms can serve to create public support for violent protestors, which can serve as a challenge in their prosecution. Fourthly, social media can also serve as a tool for law enforcement in their efforts to identify and prosecute violent protestors. However, there is also the potential for authorities to abuse social media and repress sections of the population. The second and third roles that social media can play in violent protests in liberal democracies indicate that social media is a potentially significant factor in the occurrence of violent protest action and can be a significant tool in efforts to justify said violence. This suggests that social media can be a significant factor in the apparent ongoing increase in violent protests across much of the globe.
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.