Politics of Hate and Social Media: Thematic Analysis of Political Hate Discourses on Facebook
This article documented the presence of politically motivated hate content in online political discourses and also explored major themes against political opponents in Pakistan. A total of 744 posts were collected from Facebook pages affiliated with two major political parties. The amount indicates the significant amount of politically motivated hate content presented in online political discourses. The data were thematically analyzed from which 3 major themes emerged. The data revealed that political discourses were filed with denigration of opposites through abusive and disgusted language followed by the dehumanization of opposites such as naming and comparing with different animals like dogs, pigs etc. It was also found that character assassination was done by framing opposites as morally and socially characterless, by accusing them as sexually corrupt, drug addictive, and as well homosexual etc. Lastly, the opposites were framed as "anti-state", "traitors" and "foreign agents who have become "threats" to national peace, cohesion and integrity of the state and as well to destabilize the country.
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Hate Speech, Media Framing, Thematic Analysis, Political Discourse, Social Media, Pakistani Politics
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(1) Muhammad Akbar
PhD Scholar, Institute of Media and Communication Studies, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Aasima Safdar
Assistant Professor, Institute of Media and Communication Studies, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
A Critical Constructivist Analysis of Global Media Framing of Hindutva Narratives and Their Impact on Indian Muslims
The current research analyzes how global media frames Hindutva ideology, the political tactics of the BJP, and their influence on Indian Muslims. Employing a Critical Constructivist framework that combines Fairclough's (1992) Three-Dimensional Model of Critical Discourse Analysis(CDA) with Wendt's(1992) Constructivist theory of International Relations, the study analyzes video coverage by BBC, Al Jazeera, and ABC News, 2024. Through text, discursive, and social-practice analysis, the research uncovers how global narratives produce Modi as both a democratic reformer and authoritarian nationalist, commonly equating Hindu cultural identity with state power. The analysis illustrates that international media are not mere observers but active agents in shaping India's global identity and perceptions of its democratic integrity. The critical analysis of language, representation, and ideology highlights how media discourse legitimizes or resists political majoritarianism. The implications focus on the global media's framing of domestic ideologies and call for more critical literacy to decode international news narratives.
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Hindutva, Narendra Modi, Indian Muslims, global media framing, Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), Constructivism, Secularism, Democracy, Religious Nationalism, Minority Rights
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(1) Ahmed Osama Tahir
PhD Scholar, Department of International Relations, Muslim Youth University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(2) Memona Mujahid
PhD Scholar, Department of English, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Analyzing the Media Framing of Polio Disease Eradication Campaigns in Pakistan
The current research undertaken investigates the framing strategies used by significant media outlets while reporting polio eradication campaigns in Pakistan. The research encompasses reporting of polio-related news between January and December 2022. This study assesses media narratives from four prominent outlets Dawn, Geo News, Express News, and ARY News. The study will apply the framing functions theory enunciated by Entman that divides a piece of news into definition, diagnosis, cause and effect, and recommendations. Study shows that Dawn notably is prioritizing problem definition and ARY showing a more balanced distribution across all four frames. Analysis suggests that emphasis must be laid on the role of media in shaping public debate around polio, especially within high-risk districts. The study contributes to the dialogue on health communication and highlights the necessity of strategic media engagement to support public health initiatives in Pakistan by informing these framing dynamics.
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Media Framing, Polio Eradication, Medi Campaigns, Persuasion, Disinformation, Propaganda
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(1) Saqib Mughal
PhD. Scholar, Department of Media Studies, Bahria University E-8 Campus Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(2) Farrukh Shahzad
Associate Professor, Department of Media Studies, Bahria University E-8 Campus Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(3) Qamar Abbas
Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies, Bahria University E-8 Campus Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan.