Populism and Digital Public Spaces

This chapter explores the relationship between new digital public spaces and the rise of populism, emphasizing the evolving dynamics of affectivity and public participation. Populism is a complex and contested concept, especially in the digital age, where distinctions between “public space” and “public sphere” blur due to the coexistence of virtual and physical practices. The notion of the “public” has evolved through history, from ancient sites like the Greek Agora to modern democracies and Habermas’ concept of the public sphere. The chapter highlights that contemporary “New Populism” is intricately connected with digital spaces, where populist leaders use platforms like social media and video-sharing sites to shape public opinion, mobilize supporters, and regulate participation. Notably, digital communication networks, including social media, messaging apps, and video-sharing platforms, serve as digital public spaces where individuals both perform and observe, albeit within predefined structural constraints. These structural changes in digital public spaces reflect the characteristics of the “new populist era” and its evolving trends, with implications for understanding contemporary politics. The chapter also considers YouTube as an example.