Beyond the board: a thematic analysis of political actions from 4chan’s /pol/ board

Kosta Bovan () and Matej Mikašinović-Komšo
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Kosta Bovan: University of Zagreb
Matej Mikašinović-Komšo: University of Zagreb

Palgrave Communications, 2024, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract This article aims to understand the organisational practices of digital political actions on 4chan’s /pol/ (Politically Incorrect) board, as well as the underlying worldview within which those actions were nested. By using a qualitative thematic analysis of 21 threads, several themes were identified regarding preferred goals, methods, content, dissemination strategies, and worldview of intentional, orchestrated political actions with supposed real-world effects. Results show that the observed political actions were bottom-up, non-hierarchical, and collective actions, through which collective identity was established despite the almost complete anonymity of the /pol/ board. Additionally, the political actions were marked by the negative perception of Western liberal democracy, extremely negative attitudes toward the Left, minorities, and progressive liberals, antisemitism, and racism - values closely related to the far-right. Although the goals of /pol/ political actions differ, the dominant broader goal is to “redpill the normies” - indoctrinate the general population into denouncing liberal democratic ideology and accepting the far-right worldview.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-03033-1

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