Presenter Type
UNO Undergraduate Student
Major/Field of Study
Communication
Other
Communication Studies
Advisor Information
Communications Professor
Location
CEC RM #231
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Poster Size
(WxH) 46.8x33.1 inches
Start Date
22-3-2024 1:00 PM
End Date
22-3-2024 2:15 PM
Abstract
There is a growing threat of terrorist attacks from far-right extremists. The use of rhetorical strategies by extremist actors has aided in the proliferation of far-right extremist ideologies. While many studies have focused on far-right rhetoric, few have comparatively studied rhetorical differences within the far right. To better disrupt the spread of far-right extremism, it is necessary to study the scope of ideologies and identities communicated, as well as the tactics used to circulate rhetoric. The study focuses on communication and rhetorical tactics used by those with a disproportionate amount of power or influence. The present effort will qualitatively code texts from influential people in the far-right to understand tactics used to communicate ideology and influence to followers. Critical Discourse Analysis, a structured textual analysis method often used to study texts created by political elites, is employed to understand how ideology and power is communicated and reproduced. Examples of areas where differences could occur include influence strategy, symbol use, and identification of in and out groups and narratives. The findings from this study will contribute to the understanding of nuances between specific far-right ideologies, and aid in constructing more specialized strategies to interrupt radicalization.
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What Did They Say?!: Analyzing Differences in Extremist Rhetoric
CEC RM #231
There is a growing threat of terrorist attacks from far-right extremists. The use of rhetorical strategies by extremist actors has aided in the proliferation of far-right extremist ideologies. While many studies have focused on far-right rhetoric, few have comparatively studied rhetorical differences within the far right. To better disrupt the spread of far-right extremism, it is necessary to study the scope of ideologies and identities communicated, as well as the tactics used to circulate rhetoric. The study focuses on communication and rhetorical tactics used by those with a disproportionate amount of power or influence. The present effort will qualitatively code texts from influential people in the far-right to understand tactics used to communicate ideology and influence to followers. Critical Discourse Analysis, a structured textual analysis method often used to study texts created by political elites, is employed to understand how ideology and power is communicated and reproduced. Examples of areas where differences could occur include influence strategy, symbol use, and identification of in and out groups and narratives. The findings from this study will contribute to the understanding of nuances between specific far-right ideologies, and aid in constructing more specialized strategies to interrupt radicalization.