Publication details
Abandoned public: How Disinformation and Elite Disconnect Shape Political Engagement
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| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Citation | |
| Description | The erosion of trust in institutions is often perceived by citizens as the result of elites failing to listen to their needs (Thorbjornsrud & Figenschou, 2022). This communication asymmetry not only impacts people’s willingness to participate in the system (Quandt, 2018) but also alters the ways they seek out information (Thorbjornsrud & Figenschou, 2022). Disinformation, which often builds on the narrative of an asymmetric relationship between elites and public (Bennet & Livingston, 2018), further deepens distrust and fuels anti-system sentiments (Schwarzenegger, 2021). Considering this spiral of growing distrust, we investigate individuals susceptible to disinformation (e.g. Hameleers, 2022). Our study, based on six focus groups conducted in Czechia (2023), examines how individuals with low trust in government and mainstream media engage with false information and how it shapes their perceptions of the political and informational landscape. Findings show a widespread belief that political and media elites form a homogeneous group that overlooks public concerns, fueling alienation and apathy. However, this distrust does not merely lead to rejecting mainstream sources or consuming alternative ones; instead, individuals expand their media repertoires, seeking out a wider range of sources and relying on personal experience as a basis for evaluating information. Whereas elites are seen as unresponsive, interpersonal discussions are trusted. Participants describe a process of “puzzle-building,” piecing together fragmented information as an individual response to an untrustworthy system. This self-reliant approach reduces engagement with the system, leaving them critical, frustrated, and demotivated to participate, threatening a society that is both distrustful and inactive. |
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