ECHOS OF DIVISION: THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITY, POPULIST RHETORIC, AND DISINFORMATION

Abstract

Socioeconomic inequality, populist rhetoric, and disinformation are increasingly viewed as interrelated. Each of the factors discussed in the study are, by themselves, separate forces that form the political and social context that ultimately push society to fragmentation. The study inquires, "Echoes of Division: The relationship between Socioeconomic Inequality, Populism Rhetoric, and Disinformation." The study explored how socio-economic inequality, populism rhetoric, and disinformation can create or facilitate a political situation that moves the public polarization. The study examined two aims (i) how socioeconomic inequality creates common vulnerability to the populist’s rhetoric, and (ii) where disinformation exacerbates the fissures that already exist. The research used two research questions, as a way of forming a framework on how citizens think about inequalities and how citizen’s attitudes and beliefs can change as a result of disinformation. Two hypotheses are tested based on the relationship between inequality with the appeal of populists, and disinformation with social divisions. Quantitative survey in this inquiry accomplish to obtain responses from varying socio-economic backgrounds that did so completely and uniformly, and who supplied data from quantitative survey instruments that are then compressed into tables and graphics displaying visible significant features, frequency and correlation which captured sentiment about modes of inequality, receptiveness to populism, and the role of disinformation in exacerbating and perpetuating inequalities and distrust of social relations. The findings highlighted that increasing inequality allows populism to permeate and become more perceived legitimate by citizens, but a social division of fear, suspicion and misinformation feeds the decline, and then the disinformation legitimized populism that serves to normalize cycles of division and polarity among segments of society. In a similarly self-reflexive examination, the inquiry constructed hopeful images of what may depower populism and disinformation: reducing socio-economic disparity, education/media literacy, and advancing social progressive policies for better social investment, quality journalism, and access to education. These images considered all together would strengthen societal conditions, reduce polarization, and ultimately support and promote a culture of inclusivity.