Role of Social Media in Modern Populism

Abstract

Freedom of expression strengthens democracy, but on many occasions, in history freedom of expression, was used to crush the same democracy and populism and authoritarianism were born. In 21st century the role of social media in relation to freedom of expression is posing a serious threat to functional democracy in various countries. Populist leaders are using social media to spread false and misleading news in the context of politics under the guise of freedom of expression has given rise to populism and totalitarianism in many countries of the world. In this research paper, we have analysed the relationship between populism and social media with particular reference to the rise of populist leaders, Nazis from the Weimar Republic and AfD party in Germany, Victor Orban in Hungary, Erdogan in Turkey, Narendra Modi in India, Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, Jean Marie La Pen in France, Nigel Farage in Britain and Donald Trump in the United States of America.