ICA 2023

Destructive Political Polarisation in the Context of Digital Communication – A Critical Literature Review and Conceptual Framework

Katharina Esau, Tariq Choucair, Samantha Vilkins, Sebastian Svegaard, Axel Bruns, Kate O'Connor, and Carly Lubicz

• 30 May 2023 – Paper presented at the ICA 2023 conference, Toronto

Presentation Slides

Abstract

As an increasing amount of political communication takes place in a digital context, there is a heightened focus on the intersection of studies of political polarization and digital communication research. Digital communication research provides new opportunities for studying polarization in terms of traceable interactions and scale but adds further complexity to an already challenging concept. In this paper, we review literature from political science and media and communication studies, concluding that a large body of political communication studies focus on polarisation, but do not conceptualise it in relation to media and communication. Similarly, media and communication studies lack a clear conceptual definition of polarisation, reflecting disagreements in political science, and this can lead to common problems when applying the concept of polarization in a digital context. These problems include the conflation of different forms of polarization, the unquestioned adoption of technologically determinist perspectives, and the over-diagnosis of polarization. Building upon existing literature from both fields, we argue for a better demarcation of concepts when we study political polarization as a threat to democracy. We suggest calling this phenomenon destructive political polarization. We then discuss the concept with regard to studying its dynamics in a digital communication context, describing its recognizable elements as manifested in communication.

Full Paper

Katharina Esau, Tariq Choucair, Samantha Vilkins, Sebastian Svegaard, Axel Bruns, Kate O'Connor, and Carly Lubicz. “Destructive Political Polarisation in the Context of Digital Communication – A Critical Literature Review and Conceptual Framework.” Paper presented at the International Communication Association conference, Toronto, 30 May 2023.