Nationalism on the Internet; Critical Theory and Ideology in the Age of Social Media and Fake News; First Edition

"In this timely book, critical theorist Christian Fuchs asks: What is nationalism and what is the role of social media in the communication of nationalist ideology? Advancing an applied Marxist theory of nationalism, Fuchs explores nationalist discourse in the world of contemporary digital capitalism that is shaped by social media, big data, fake news, targeted advertising, bots, algorithmic politics, and a high-speed online attention economy. Through two case studies of the German and Austrian 2017 federal elections, the book goes on to develop a critical theory of nationalism that is grounded in the works of Karl Marx, Rosa Luxemburg, and Eric J. Hobsbawm. Advanced students and scholars of Marxism, nationalism, media, and politics won't want to miss Fuchs' latest in-depth study of social media and politics that uncovers the causes, structures and consequences of nationalism in the age of social media and fake news"-- Provided by publisher In this timely book, critical theorist Christian Fuchs asks: What is nationalism and what is the role of social media in the communication of nationalist ideology? Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Table of Contents 8 List of Figures 10 List of Tables 12 Chapter One – Introduction: Nationalism Today 14 1.1 Nationalism Today 14 1.2 Studying Nationalism 19 1.3 This Book’s Structure 29 Notes 30 PART I – Foundations of a Marxist Theory of Nationalism 32 Chapter Two – Bourgeois Theories of Nationalism 34 2.1 Introduction 34 2.2 Ernest Gellner’s Nations and Nationalism 37 2.3 Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities 40 2.4 Conclusion 44 Note 44 Chapter Three – Marx’s Concept of Nationalism 46 3.1 Marx’s Concept of Nationalism 47 3.2 Edward Said’s Critique of Marx 53 3.3 Conclusion: Key Aspects of Nationalist Ideology 55 Chapter Four – Otto Bauer’s and Rosa Luxemburg’s Opposing Theories of the Nation and Nationalism 56 4.1 Introduction 56 4.2 Otto Bauer’s Concept of the Nation 57 4.3 The Political Impacts of Austro-Marxism andOtto Bauer’s Theory 68 4.4 Rosa Luxemburg’s Critical Theory of Nationalism 77 4.5 Conclusion 83 Notes 85 Chapter Five – Contemporary Marxist Theories of Nationalism 92 5.1 Anti-Colonial Nationalism and Internationalism 92 5.2 Eric J.Hobsbawm’s Approach: Characteristics of Nationalism 105 5.3 Theorising the Communication of the Nation 125 5.4 Conclusion 133 Notes 135 PART II – Nationalism on Social Media 136 Chapter Six – German Nationalism on Social Media in the 2017 Elections to the Bundestag 138 6.1 Background 138 6.2 Methodology 142 6.3 Analysis 147 6.4 Conclusion 172 Appendix 6.A Social Media Data Collection 180 Appendix 6.B German Originals of the Analysed Social Media Postings 182 Notes 188 Chapter Seven – Online Nationalism and Social Media Authoritarianism in the Context of the ÖVP/FPÖ Government in Austria 192 7.1 Introduction 192 7.2 The Austrian Political Context 196 7.3 Methodology 209 7.4 Analysis of Debate Excerpts 214 7.5 Social Media Analysis 223 7.6 Conclusion 243 Notes 248 Appendix 7.A German original of an excerpt from the main ORF election debate, 12 October 2017 255 Chapter Eight – Conclusion: Towards a Society of the Commons beyond Authoritarianism and Nationalism 258 8.1 Theorising Nationalism 258 8.2 The Communication of Nationalism in the Age of Social Media 260 8.3 Fake News 262 8.4 Authoritarian Capitalism, Authoritarian Movements, Authoritarian Communication8 278 8.5 From the Antagonism of the Empire and the Multitude Towards aSociety of the Commons 288 Notes 297 References 298 Index 316