Recent articles
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The Interdependence of Socio‑economic Factors and Media Literacy: Focus on Critical Media Content Analysis and Evaluation
(Volume 20, Issue 4)Abstract Media literacy is of fundamental importance for democracy, as it enables individuals to better navigate the complexity of digital media, critically evaluate media content and assess the trustworthiness of media representations. By promoting media literacy, societies can counter disinformation, misinformation, oversimplifications and manipulative practices in public discourse, thereby safeguarding principles of informed citizens’ engagement. Structural position of the individual in the...
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Media in Power: Media Actors in Ukranian Legislative Body and Zelensky’s Phenomenon
(Volume 20, Issue 4)Abstract The role of the media and its representatives has grown significantly due to mediatisation, which is especially evident in periods of weakening political institutions. In Ukraine, the Orange Revolution (2004) and the Revolution of Dignity (2013) opened the way to politics for an increasing number of media actors, which made it possible to analyse their legislative activities in 2006–2019 to define domination media or political logic. The ascension of new political figures in 2019, led by...
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Ripple/XRP in the Great Reset Conspiracy Theory: Comparative Analysis of Social Media in Poland and Slovenia
(Volume 20, Issue 4)Abstract Conspiracy theories are attempts to explain important events, situations or their consequences as being guided by hidden powers, usually hostile towards ordinary people, originating from a secret agreement rather than emerging by coincidence. A particular increase in the popularity of conspiracy theories could be observed with the popularisation of the World Wide Web as an instrument of political and social communication, coupled with populist politics and growing distrust in...
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How Active and Passive Social Media Engagement on Facebook and Instagram Shapes Democratic Attitudes Among Users in Slovakia
(Volume 20, Issue 4)Abstract Social media play an important role in the dissemination of political information and in political dialogue among agents, agencies and citizens. We study the effects of social media on democratic attitudes. Our analysis proceeds in two phases. First, we examine the effect of using eight social media platforms on support for democracy and liberal democratic principles. Second, we test the relationships between the intensity of six types of online political engagement on Facebook and...
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Only Another Adjective, or Finally a New Functional Post‑Ideological Subtype? A Conceptual Analysis of Valence Populism
(Volume 20, Issue 4)Abstract This paper explores the impact of the increasing focus on subtypes of populism on contemporary discussions within the field of political science. In an effort to provide more precise descriptions of emerging political tendencies, scholars have responded by introducing new and other types of ‘populism with adjectives’. Among these original conceptualisations remains a valance populism that fuses the appeals of populism and technocracy, and strategic positionality on the political...
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Return to Power: The Illiberal Playbook from Hungary, Poland and the United States
(Volume 20, Issue 4)Abstract This article examines how illiberal leaders’ behaviour towards the judiciary changes when they have a second chance in power. Drawing on Varieties of Democracy indicators for populist rhetoric and constitutional change, we identify several OECD worst performers and focus on two – Poland and Hungary – whose illiberal leaders ascended to power for a second time. For Hungary, we examine PM Orbán’s first time in office, time in opposition and second time in office, when he undertook...
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Who or What Caused the Rise of Populism?
(Volume 20, Issue 4)Abstract The article deals with who or what led to strengthening populist politics and its agents. This is a mutual combination of structural, cultural, political, media, etc. factors whereby one must recognise specifics in each country. However, the author pays special attention to the role of established elites, mainly political, but also others – i.e. business, intellectual and media in this respect. He claims that these elites bear a large part of the responsibility for the rise of...