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Cited by 151Social Media and PoliticsPolitical Theory and DemocracyPopulism, Right-Wing Movements

A review and provocation: On polarization and platforms

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Kreiss, Daniel, McGregor, Shannon C·2024·New Media & Society
DOI 10.1177/14614448231161880
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Abstract

Scholars increasingly point to polarization as a central threat to democracy—and identify technology platforms as key contributors to polarization. In contrast, we argue that polarization can only be seen as a central threat to democracy if inequality is ignored. The central theoretical claim of this piece is that political identities map more or less onto social groups, and groups are, in turn, located in social structures. As such, scholars must analyze groups as they are embedded in relations of power to meaningfully evaluate the democratic consequences of polarization. Groups struggling for equality, such as the Black Lives Matter movement, often cause polarization because they threaten the extant power and status of dominant groups. To develop a shared theoretical lens around polarization and its relationship with inequality, we take up the case of research on the role of platforms in polarization, showing how scholarship routinely lacks analysis of inequality.

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Research works printed but not linked: 10

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Authors
Kreiss, D., & McGregor, S. C.
Affiliations
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
Corresponding author
Kreiss, Daniel
ORCID
Venue
New Media & Society
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2023-04-11
Volume
26
Issue
1
Pages
556-579
ISSN
  • 1461-4448 (ISSN-L)
  • 1461-7315
DOI
10.1177/14614448231161880
OpenAlex
W4365142069
Cited by
151
References
135
Citations by year
2026: 52 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 50 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 2
FWCI
70.67
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
New Media & Society (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Social Media and Politics
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Theory and Democracy
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Populism, Right-Wing Movements
Keywords
political polarization, social networking sites, inequality, democracy, political identity, social groups, power relations, Black Lives Matter, dominant groups

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