Reflections on Fake News, Demagoguery, and the alt-right

What is the definition of a demagogue?

 

A demagogue is an agitator. It is a political leader who, instead of being rational and using reason, gains support by appealing to popular ideals or prejudices. A modern example of a demagogue is Donald Trump who is often noted as being a demagogue due to the tactics he employs to gain support.

 

What is enclave extremism and how does it affect the political process?

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Given the nature of the internet and Social Media platforms in particular, it is easy for individuals to find information that supports their pre-existing views on controversial topics. It is just as easy to find people who share the same view-points, creating a sense of belonging for those involved. Since individuals are then primarily exposed to information and people that validate their viewpoints, their opinions tend to become more and more extreme. Thus, this environment has created, what Cass Sunstein has termed, enclave extremism.

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In regards to the political process, enclave extremism creates a polarization between political parties whose viewpoints move further and further apart on the ideological spectrum. Additionally, as exemplified in the most recent election, it can skew public opinion. Journalists, in this case, were using information that supported pre-existing theories to gauge public opinion but ended up being completely wrong. Ultimately, as argued by Sunstein, enclave extremism is dangerous to democracy because of its potential to create a misinformed public who are confident in their viewpoints because of the supporting, yet inaccurate, information they are surrounded by.

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References: 

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Heller, Nathan (2016, November 18). The Failure of Facebook Democracy.The New Yorker.

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Demagogue [Def. 1]. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster Online. In Merriam-Webster. Retrieved November 18, 2017 from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demagogue