Manipulation in the context of populist discourse - a danger to democracy in the post-truth era
Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: In the current context, characterized by the rapid spread of information and the influence of social media, populist discourse has become an increasingly widespread phenomenon. Manipulation through populist rhetoric poses a major threat to democracy, especially in the post-truth era, where objective truth is replaced by subjective and emotional narratives. Populism in this era capitalizes on the fears and insecurities of citizens, appealing to emotions and resentments, and constructing a "common enemy" identified as the political elites or other groups perceived as being against the people's interests. Thus, populist discourse promotes the idea of a struggle between "us" and "them", where "us" represents the popular masses or the majority, and "them" are those held responsible for corruption, inequality, and various failures. In the post-truth era, in which false or distorted information is quickly spread and accepted, manipulation through populist discourse can undermine trust in democratic institutions and weaken the democratic process as a whole. Therefore, the danger lies not only in the ideological manipulation of the public but also in the risk of eroding the fundamental values of democracy.
DOI: 10.54481/pcss2025.60
Author: Zinaida Gribincea
Institution: Free International University of Moldova
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W7086911091
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