Communication field academic work on authoritarianism

Adiprasetio, Justito. “The Chronic Impact of the Cold War and Authoritarian Regime on Communication Research.” Review of Communication 25, no. 3 (2025).

• AI Summary: This article examines the long-term influence of authoritarian regimes on the field of communication research. It likely explores how state control shaped the methodologies, focus areas, and theoretical frameworks within communication studies, highlighting the enduring legacy of these political systems.

 

Adorno, Theodor W., Else Frenkel-Brunswik, Daniel Levinson, and R. Nevitt Sanford. The Authoritarian Personality. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1950.

• AI Summary: A landmark interdisciplinary study that defines the “authoritarian personality” through the F-scale. It links child-rearing practices and rigid moral codes to fascist tendencies. Foundational for understanding psychological predispositions to authoritarian discourse.

 

Ali, Khudejah, and Khawaja Zain-ul-abdin. 2021. “Post-Truth Propaganda: Heuristic Processing of Political Fake News on Facebook during the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election.” Journal of Applied Communication Research, January 2. world. https://nca.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00909882.2020.1847311.

• AI Summary: “The authors studied how fake political news on Facebook influenced people during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. They looked at 18 of the most shared fake news stories and found that these stories used emotional language and simple messages—similar to propaganda. Instead of thinking deeply about whether the stories were true, many people just reacted quickly using mental shortcuts (called heuristic processing). This made it easier for fake news to spread and be believed. The authors also created a model to explain how people come to believe fake news without much critical thinking. The study shows that fake news can be powerful when it uses emotional tricks and people aren’t thinking carefully.”

 

Al-Zaman, Md. Sayeed, and Mridha Md. Shiblee Noman. “Rise of Digital Authoritarianism? Exploring Global Motivations Behind Governmental Social Media Censorship.” Javnost – The Public 31, no. 4 (2024).

• AI Summary: This article investigates the potential rise of digital authoritarianism by exploring the global motivations behind governmental social media censorship. It likely analyzes how states use control over digital platforms to suppress dissent, manage information, and maintain power, thereby extending authoritarian practices into the online realm.

 

Aoki, Eric, and Kyle M. Jonas. “Collective Memory and Sacred Space in Post-Genocide Rwanda: Reconciliation and Rehumanization Processes in Mureithi’s ICYIZERE.” Journal of International and Intercultural Communication 9, no. 3 (2016): 240-258. https://doi.org/10.1080/17513057.2016.1195007

• AI Summary: “In this article, Aoki and Jonas analyze Patrick Mureithi’s 2009 documentary, ICYIZERE: Hope, which captures a reconciliation workshop conducted by Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities (HROC) in post-genocide Rwanda. The authors argue that the workshop depicted in the film creates a “sacred/secular space” where participants engage in a transformative process of rehumanization. This space is produced through negotiations of dialectical tensions between past and present, as well as individual and collective memory. The documentary showcases how participants reinterpret the “Other” through empathetic human interaction and identity-widening processes, facilitating a collective healing journey. The authors employ identity-widening theory to analyze how these interactions help expand participants’ identities to include broader, more inclusive understandings, moving beyond the divisive “us versus them” mentality.”

 

Barrera, Carlos, and Fernando Ruiz. “Newspapers’ Struggle for Survival in Authoritarian Regimes: The Examples of Madrid (Spain) and La Opinión (Argentina).” Javnost – The Public 7, no. 4 (2000).

• AI Summary: This article examines the challenges faced by newspapers in authoritarian regimes through case studies of Madrid (Spain) and La Opinión (Argentina). It likely details the strategies employed by newspapers to navigate censorship, repression, and economic pressures while attempting to maintain journalistic integrity and inform the public under state control.

 

Bauer, A J, Srirupa Roy, and Verónica Gago. 2025. “Toward Comparative Analysis of Right-Authoritarian Politics: Argentina, India, and the US.” Communication, Culture and Critique 18 (1): 9–14. https://doi.org/10.1093/ccc/tcae051.

• AI Summary: “The authors compare how right-wing authoritarian politics are taking shape in Argentina, India, and the United States. Through interviews with regional specialists, the piece argues against simple media explanations and instead highlights each country’s unique historical and political context. Overall, the article suggests that although these countries share an authoritarian turn, each case is driven by different social forces, histories, and media environments. A comparative analysis helps us understand how right-authoritarian politics evolve differently depending on where they unfold.”

 

Bernard-Donals, M. (n.d.). How Free is Academic Freedom? On Divisiveness, Publics, and Rhetorical Violence. Rhetoric Society Quarterly, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/02773945.2025.2496643

• AI Summary: “Michael Bernard-Donals’ article, “How Free is Academic Freedom? On Divisiveness, Publics, and Rhetorical Violence”, published in Rhetoric Society Quarterly in May 2025, critically examines the contemporary challenges to academic freedom in the United States. Bernard-Donals argues that recent legislative actions, often framed as protecting free speech, have paradoxically eroded academic freedom by imposing restrictions on what can be taught and discussed within academic institutions. He identifies two primary forms of harm: external pressures from legislation and internal constraints imposed by institutional policies. These actions, he suggests, constitute forms of rhetorical violence that limit the scope of academic inquiry and discourse

 

Bhat, Prashanth, and Kalyani Chadha. “Anti-Media Populism: Expressions of Media Distrust by Right-Wing Media in India.” Journal of International and Intercultural Communication 13, no. 2 (2020): 166-182. https://doi.org/10.1080/17513057.2020.1739320

• AI Summary: “Bhat and Chadha analyze content from OpIndia, a prominent right-wing news website in India, to understand how it contributes to anti-media populism. The article outlines several strategies employed by OpIndia to delegitimize mainstream media. The study positions these tactics within the broader context of global anti-media populism, drawing parallels with similar movements in Western democracies. It also highlights the challenges faced by journalists in India, including self-censorship and threats, as a result of this hostile media environment.”

 

Boler, Megan. Feeling Power: Emotions and Education. New York: Routledge, 1999.

• AI Summary: Boler explores the politics of emotion in educational settings, arguing that emotions like fear, shame, and loyalty are regulated by institutions. Her framework helps explain how authoritarian regimes emotionally govern subjects.

 

Boromisza-Habashi, David. “How are political concepts ‘essentially’contested?.” Language & communication 30, no. 4 (2010): 276-284.

• AI Summary: “Some political terms are by nature contested—defining them involves evaluating values and power. Boromisza‑Habashi demonstrates this by showing how “hate speech” becomes a battlefield of meaning in public discourse. Understanding such concepts requires acknowledging the diversity of perspectives rather than assuming one correct usage.”

 

Boromisza-Habashi, David. Speaking hatefully: Culture, communication, and political action in Hungary. Penn State Press, 2013.

• AI Summary: “By analyzing public debate over hate speech as a cultural phenomenon, the book reveals how language can shape political identity and moral judgments. It shows that terms like hate speech are often contested in ways that reflect broader historical tensions and power dynamics—not just abstract definitions.”

 

Briant, Emma L., and Marc Owen Jones. 2025. “A Century of Propaganda Studies: From Pen and Sword to Surveillant Smartphone.” Critical Studies in Media Communication, January 1. world. https://nca.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15295036.2025.2464184.

• AI Summary: “The authors look at how propaganda has changed over the last 100 years. At first, propaganda came from newspapers, speeches, and posters—used during wars and by governments. Over time, it moved into radio, TV, and now the internet. Today, propaganda is more advanced. It uses smartphones, social media, and surveillance to target people. Political groups and companies can now spread messages more easily and secretly, using data and algorithms. The authors say we need to update how we study propaganda, because it’s still very powerful—just harder to see. They want scholars to pay attention to modern tools and the way propaganda supports political control and disinformation in today’s world.”

 

Bulut, Ergin, and Başak Can. 2024. “The Persistence of Race, Violence, and State in a Post-Truth World.” Communication and Race, January 2. world. https://nca.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/28346955.2024.2308885.

• AI Summary: “The authors talk about how race and violence affect the way governments control information and spread false stories. They focus on Turkey, showing how the government hides or downplays violence against Kurdish people. They explain that “post-truth” problems (like fake news) are not just about new technology, but also about old problems with racism and power. Some people’s stories are ignored because of their race. The main idea is that race and state power are still very important when it comes to controlling what people believe.”

 

Bsumek, Peter K., Jennifer Peeples, and Jen Schneider. “Democratic Melodrama and Authoritarian Melodrama.” Quarterly Journal of Speech 110, no. 1 (2024).

• AI Summary: This article distinguishes between “democratic melodrama” and “authoritarian melodrama,” analyzing how these narrative forms shape public discourse and political legitimation. It likely explores how authoritarian regimes utilize dramatic narratives to simplify complex issues, demonize opponents, and elicit emotional responses that reinforce their power and suppress critical thought.

 

Carnahan, Dustin, Suhwoo Ahn, and Monique Mitchell Turner. 2023. “The Madness of Misperceptions: Evaluating the Ways Anger Contributes to Misinformed Beliefs.” Journal of Communication 73 (1): 60–72. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqac041.

• AI Summary: “The study looks at how anger influences people’s beliefs, especially when it comes to political misinformation. The authors found that when people feel angry, they are more likely to believe false information that supports their political views. Anger also makes people seek out information that confirms what they already think and ignore facts that challenge their opinions. While anger affects how people process information, it doesn’t change the role partisan media play in shaping their beliefs. Overall, the research shows that anger can make misinformation more powerful and harder to correct.”

 

Chan, Stephen C. K. “Resistance, Activism and Ordinary Life: An Editorial Introduction.” Cultural Studies 36, no. 2 (2022).

• AI Summary: This editorial introduction likely sets the stage for a discussion on resistance and activism within ordinary life, a theme often contrasted with or shaped by the presence of authoritarian forces. It provides a framework for understanding how individuals and communities respond to various forms of control and oppression.

 

Chan, Stephen C. K., and Wang Xiaoming. “New Wave of Totalitarianism/Authoritarianism in East Asia: An Editorial Introduction.” Cultural Studies 38, no. 1 (2024).

• AI Summary: This editorial introduction directly addresses a “new wave of totalitarianism/authoritarianism in East Asia.” It likely introduces a collection of articles that explore the contemporary manifestations, characteristics, and impacts of state control and repression across various countries in the region.

 

Cram, Emerson, Natalie Fixmer-Oraiz, and V Fixmer-Oraiz. “We Are Future Ancestors: On Authoritarian Politics and the Deepening of Our Radical Roots.” Quarterly Journal of Speech 110, no. 3 (2024).

• AI Summary: This article discusses “authoritarian politics” in the context of “deepening radical roots,” suggesting a response of building resistance and alternative futures. It likely explores how understanding the mechanisms of authoritarianism can inform strategies for sustained activism and the cultivation of transformative social movements.

 

Cisneros, Jesús D. “Contaminated Communities: The Metaphor of ‘Immigration’ in U.S. Media Representations.” Rhetoric & Public Affairs 11, no. 4 (2008): 569–601.

• AI Summary: Cisneros analyzes the dominant metaphors framing immigrants as disease or contamination, revealing how authoritarian and xenophobic discourses are normalized through media language.

 

Cloud, Dana L. “Materiality of Discourse as Oxymoron: A Challenge to Critical Rhetoric.” Western Journal of Communication 58, no. 1 (1994): 1–18.

• AI Summary: Cloud critiques purely symbolic views of rhetoric, emphasizing the material effects of discourse. This helps theorize how authoritarian rhetoric is not only persuasive but materially consequential.

 

Cloud, Dana L. Reality Bites: Rhetoric and the Circulation of Truth Claims in U.S. Political Culture. Columbus: The Ohio State University Press, 2018.

• AI Summary: The book dissects five rhetorical modes—narrative, myth, affect, embodiment, and spectacle—to show how truth circulates in political discourse. Cloud advocates for “rhetorical realism” to resist authoritarian manipulation of truth.

 

Condit, Celeste M. “Crafting Virtue: The Rhetorical Construction of Public Morality.” Quarterly Journal of Speech 73, no. 2 (1987): 151–165.

• AI Summary: Condit examines how public morality is rhetorically constructed. Her insights help illuminate how authoritarian regimes present themselves as moral saviors while vilifying opponents.

 

Costley White, Khadijah. 2020. “The Branding of Right-Wing Activism: The News Media and the Tea Party.” Journal of Communication 70 (2): E8–10. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqz044.

• AI Summary: “Khadijah Costley White examines how the news media helped shape the Tea Party movement into a political brand. She argues that rather than just reporting on the movement, the media actively promoted it, framing it as a grassroots uprising. This portrayal made the Tea Party seem like a fresh, authentic force in politics, even though it was closely tied to established conservative interests. By focusing on certain narratives and figures, the media gave the Tea Party legitimacy and influence, blurring the lines between journalism, activism, and political branding.”

 

Crilley, Rhys. 2019. “Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President—What We Don’t, Can’t, and Do Know.” Journal of Communication 69 (4): E10–12. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqz017.

• AI Summary: “Rhys Crilley’s 2019 review of Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President by Kathleen Hall Jamieson, published in the Journal of Communication, critically assesses Jamieson’s examination of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Crilley acknowledges Jamieson’s comprehensive analysis, which combines media studies, political communication, and data analytics to argue that Russian actors likely influenced the election outcome. However, Crilley highlights Jamieson’s caution in attributing electoral success solely to Russian interference, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of the election’s outcome. He notes that while Jamieson provides compelling evidence of Russian activities, she refrains from making definitive claims about their impact on voter behavior, acknowledging the complexity of isolating their influence amidst other contributing factors.”

 

Cryer, D. A. (2020). The Good Man Shooting Well: Authoritarian Submission and Aggression in the “Gun-Citizen.” Rhetoric Society Quarterly, 50(4), 254–267. https://doi.org/10.1080/02773945.2020.1748219

• AI Summary: “Daniel A. Cryer’s article, “The Good Man Shooting Well: Authoritarian Submission and Aggression in the ‘Gun-Citizen’” (2020), published in Rhetoric Society Quarterly (Vol. 50, Issue 4, pp. 254–267), critically examines the ideological underpinnings of concealed carry culture in the United States. Cryer argues that the figure of the “gun-citizen” embodies a dual commitment: submission to the firearm as an object and an aggressive posture toward perceived societal threats. This dynamic, he contends, reflects an authoritarian ethos that constrains both physical and mental freedom, challenging the notion that carrying a weapon equates to personal liberty.”

 

Cunningham, Maura Elizabeth, and Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom. “Authoritarianism: There’s an app for that.” Chinese Journal of Communication 5, no. 1 (2012): 43-48.

• AI Summary: “The authors discuss how authoritarian governments, particularly in China, use smartphone apps to promote their ideologies and control information. These apps serve as tools for surveillance, censorship, and public engagement, allowing the state to monitor citizens, suppress dissent, and shape public opinion. The article highlights the dual role of technology: while it can empower individuals, it can also be harnessed by authoritarian regimes to maintain control.”

 

Daniel, James Rushing. “Rewriting the Plan of the World: Peter Thiel’s Messianic Rhetoric and the End of Progressive Neoliberalism.” Quarterly Journal of Speech 111, no. 2 (2025): 272-295. https://doi.org/10.1080/00335630.2024.2340046

• AI Summary: “James Rushing Daniel’s 2024 article, “Rewriting the Plan of the World: Peter Thiel’s Messianic Rhetoric and the End of Progressive Neoliberalism”, published in the Quarterly Journal of Speech, critically examines how Peter Thiel, a prominent tech entrepreneur, employs messianic rhetoric to advocate for a radical reimagining of capitalism. Daniel argues that Thiel’s discourse seeks to dismantle the prevailing neoliberal order, which he characterizes as “progressive neoliberalism,” and replace it with a more exclusionary and aggressive form of capitalism. Drawing on Giorgio Agamben’s interpretation of Saint Paul’s theology, Daniel contends that Thiel adopts a Pauline stance to envision a “plērōma” (fullness) of capitalism—preserving the profit motive while discarding the progressive elements associated with neoliberalism. This analysis positions Thiel as a central figure in a broader far-right movement aiming to reshape global capitalism by blending theological language with economic ideology. By framing Thiel’s rhetoric within the context of contemporary neoliberal discourse, Daniel highlights the adaptability of neoliberalism as a rhetorical logic capable of incorporating arguments from across the political spectrum. The article underscores the significance of billionaire entrepreneurs as influential rhetors in shaping the ideological landscape of 21st-century capitalism.”

 

de Carvalho, Raiana, and Raquel Moreira. “Centering Latin America: Gender Politics, Attacks on Higher Education, and Lessons of Resistance from Brazil.” Communication Education 74, no. 2 (2025): 202-210. https://doi.org/10.1080/03634523.2025.2489477

• AI Summary: “In this essay, de Carvalho and Moreira examine the intersection of gender politics and higher education in Brazil, focusing on the challenges posed by far-right political movements. They highlight how these movements have targeted academic institutions, particularly those promoting gender studies and feminist scholarship. The authors emphasize the resilience and strategies of resistance employed by academics and activists in response to these attacks. By centering Latin American perspectives, the essay offers insights into the global implications of political interference in education and the importance of safeguarding academic freedom.” de la Torre, Carlos. “Populism and Nationalism in Latin America.” Javnost – The Public 24, no. 4 (2017). AI Summary: This article examines the intertwined phenomena of populism and nationalism in Latin America, which often share characteristics with or pave the way for authoritarian rule. It likely analyzes how populist leaders leverage nationalist sentiments to gain and maintain power, often by undermining democratic institutions and centralizing authority. de Souza, Rebecca, and Hussain, Syed Ali. “‘Howdy Modi!’: Mediatization, Hindutva, and Long Distance Ethnonationalism.” Journal of International and Intercultural Communication 16, no. 2 (2023): 138-161. https://doi.org/10.1080/17513057.2021.1987505 AI Summary: “Rebecca de Souza and Syed Ali Hussain’s 2023 article, “Howdy Modi!”: Mediatization, Hindutva, and Long Distance Ethnonationalism, published in the Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, analyzes the media coverage of the 2019 “Howdy Modi!” rally in Houston, Texas. The study examines how this heavily mediatized event advanced an ethnonationalist “American Hindutva” agenda. Through content and framing analysis of news articles from September 2019, the authors identify six key topics: spectacle, hype, and optics; Trump-Modi support; anti-Modi protests; negative coverage; anti-Islam/anti-Pakistan sentiments; and idealizing Modi. Frames such as “rock star Prime Minister” and “Modi as an embodiment of (Hindu) grace” were prevalent. The media coverage reinforced Hindu nationalism by drawing upon cultural pride and anti-Muslim sentiment, representing a new and “spreadable” venue for its proliferation.”

 

Durrani, Mariam. “The ‘Good’ Dictator: The Semiotics of ‘Desirable’ Authoritarianism.” International Journal of Communication 18 (2024).

• AI Summary: This article explores the semiotics of “desirable’ authoritarianism,” focusing on the construction of the “‘Good’ Dictator.” It likely analyzes how communication strategies and symbolic representations are used to legitimize and even romanticize authoritarian rule, making it appear beneficial or necessary to the public.

 

Dutta, Mohan J. 2025. “Digital Platforms, Hindutva, and Disinformation: Communicative Strategies and the Leicester Violence.” Communication Monographs, January 2. world. https://nca.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03637751.2024.2339799.

• AI Summary: “Mohan J. Dutta examines how digital platforms like Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram were used to spread Hindutva ideology and Islamophobic hate during the intercommunal violence in Leicester, UK, in September 2022. Through a digital ethnography of Hindutva-related media and platforms such as OpIndia and NewsX, Dutta shows how these digital spaces connected the Indian diaspora with India, amplifying narratives of Hindus being under threat. This online activity interacted with real-world violence, demonstrating how digital hate can fuel and escalate physical conflict. The study highlights the global reach of Hindutva and its role in spreading disinformation and hate across borders.”

 

Ellul, Jacques. Propaganda: The Formation of Men’s Attitudes. New York: Vintage Books, 1973. (Translated from French original, 1962).

• AI Summary: A foundational work on the mechanics of propaganda, covering its classifications and psychological effects on the masses. This book remains essential for analyzing both rational and emotional strategies in authoritarian communication.

 

Engels, Jeremy. The Politics of Resentment: A Genealogy. University Park, PA: Penn State Press, 2015.

• AI Summary: “Jeremy Engels’s 2015 book, The Politics of Resentment: A Genealogy, explores how political elites in the United States have harnessed the emotion of resentment to divide citizens and maintain power. Engels traces the evolution of this strategy from ancient Athens through the American Revolution and into the 20th century, focusing on key moments such as Richard Nixon’s “silent majority” rhetoric and Sarah Palin’s speeches. He argues that resentment is not inherently negative; when directed at systemic injustices, it can drive democratic engagement. However, contemporary political figures often redirect public resentment toward marginalized groups, thereby undermining collective action and reinforcing existing power structures . Engels calls for a rhetorical criticism that challenges this manipulation and encourages citizens to confront the structural issues fueling their discontent.”

 

Engels, J. (2010). The politics of resentment and the tyranny of the minority: Rethinking victimage for resentful times. Rhetoric Society Quarterly, 40(4), 303–325. https://doi.org/10.1080/02773941003785652

• AI Summary: “Jeremy Engels’ article “The Politics of Resentment and the Tyranny of the Minority: Rethinking Victimage for Resentful Times” (2010) offers a critical examination of how political rhetoric, particularly in presidential discourse, utilizes the victimage ritual to manipulate public sentiment. Engels builds upon Kenneth Burke and Robert L. Ivie’s concept of victimage—a rhetorical strategy aimed at alleviating guilt through the identification of a scapegoat—by integrating Friedrich Nietzsche’s theory from On the Genealogy of Morals. He argues that, contrary to its traditional curative role, victimage in contemporary rhetoric often serves to perpetuate feelings of resentment and guilt, thereby sustaining a cycle of division and conflict.”

 

Erden, Özgür Olgun. “Politicising Death in the Covid-19 Outbreak: AKP, Necropolitics and Right-Authoritarianism in Turkey.” Javnost-The Public 30, no. 1 (2023): 82-95.

• AI Summary: “This article examines how the ruling AKP government in Turkey employed necropolitics—the politics of death—to manage the COVID-19 crisis. Erden argues that the government’s handling of the pandemic reinforced right-wing authoritarian control by politicizing death, controlling narratives around mortality, and using public health as a tool to consolidate power.”

 

Fountain, T. K. (2024). Rhetoric and the Cultural Politics of Donald Trump. Rhetoric Society Quarterly, 54(1), 91–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/02773945.2023.2295772

• AI Summary: “T. K. Fountain’s article, “Rhetoric and the Cultural Politics of Donald Trump”, published in Rhetoric Society Quarterly (Vol. 54, Issue 1, 2024), critically examines the intersection of Donald Trump’s rhetorical strategies and the cultural politics that underpin his political identity. Fountain argues that Trump’s rhetoric is not merely a tool for political communication but a central component of a broader cultural project that seeks to redefine American identity and values. The article delves into how Trump’s rhetorical style—characterized by populist appeals, nationalist sentiments, and a confrontational tone—resonates with certain cultural narratives and anxieties prevalent among his supporters. Fountain explores how these rhetorical strategies contribute to the construction of a political identity that is both divisive and unifying, depending on one’s position within the cultural landscape.”

 

Fuchs, Christian. Digital Fascism: Media, Communication and Society, Volume Four. New York: Routledge, 2022.

• AI Summary: Examines how digital platforms and neoliberal attention economies create fertile ground for neo-fascist movements, mapping the technical affordances and ideological circulations that sustain online authoritarianism.

 

Geschiere, Peter, and Francis B. Nyamnjoh. “Capitalism and autochthony: the seesaw of mobility and belonging.” Public culture 12, no. 2 (2000): 423-452.

• AI Summary: “Peter Geschiere and Francis B. Nyamnjoh’s article, Capitalism and Autochthony: The Seesaw of Mobility and Belonging, published in Public Culture (Vol. 12, Issue 2, 2000), examines the paradoxical relationship between globalization and the intensification of local identities in Africa. The authors argue that while democratization and liberalization promote mobility and openness, they simultaneously trigger a resurgence of autochthony—the idea that true belonging is rooted in ancestral land and lineage. This concept often manifests in exclusionary practices, where individuals or groups are deemed “outsiders” based on their origins, even if they have lived in a region for generations. The paper explores how these dynamics contribute to the politics of belonging and the challenges of citizenship in postcolonial African societies.”

 

Girox, Henry A. “Cultural Politics and Public Intellectuals in the Age of Emerging Fascism.” Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies 21, no. 1 (2024): 6-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/14791420.2024.2304272

• AI Summary: “In this article, Henry A. Giroux examines the rise of a contemporary form of fascism characterized by extreme nativism and hostility toward racial integration, which he argues is central to U.S. politics. He contends that this “upgraded” fascism is propagated through mass media, increasingly controlled by a wealthy elite, and is legitimized by political leaders. Giroux emphasizes the critical role of public intellectuals in resisting this authoritarian shift by promoting democratic values, critical pedagogy, and civic engagement. He advocates for a renewed commitment to education as a means to challenge the growing fascist threat and to uphold democratic principles.”

 

Ghazal Aswad, Noor. “The U.S. American Left and Reverse Moral Exceptionalism: When Do Villains Become Heroes?.” Quarterly Journal of Speech 109, no. 4 (2023): 354-375. https://doi.org/10.1080/00335630.2023.2250580

• AI Summary: “In her 2023 article, “The U.S. American Left and Reverse Moral Exceptionalism: When Do Villains Become Heroes?”, published in the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Noor Ghazal Aswad introduces the concept of “reverse moral exceptionalism” to critique how U.S. progressive discourses often center the United States as the sole agent of global harm, inadvertently marginalizing the voices of those directly affected by imperial actions. Aswad uses the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani as a case study. While many in the U.S. left viewed Soleimani’s death as a dangerous escalation, people in Iran, Iraq, and Syria celebrated it, seeing it as a moment of justice against a figure responsible for significant repression in their countries. This disparity highlighted a disconnect between U.S. leftist perspectives and the lived experiences of those in the Middle East. Aswad argues that reverse moral exceptionalism—an ideology that critiques U.S. imperialism but still centers U.S. narratives—obscures the agency and voices of those in revolutionary struggles abroad. This approach, she contends, inadvertently perpetuates a form of colonialism by failing to recognize the complexities of global resistance movements. Aswad’s analysis calls for a more nuanced understanding of international solidarity, one that listens to and amplifies the voices of those directly affected by imperial actions, rather than imposing external narratives that may not align with their realities.”

 

Ghazal Aswad, Noor. “Cultivating Radical Care and Otherwise Possibilities at the End of the World.” Quarterly Journal of Speech 110, no. 2 (2024): 313-319. https://doi.org/10.1080/00335630.2024.2323672

• AI Summary: “In her 2024 essay, “Cultivating Radical Care and Otherwise Possibilities at the End of the World,” published in the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Noor Ghazal Aswad examines how radical subjects—individuals engaged in embodied resistance against oppressive systems—navigate and reimagine the world amid crises such as environmental degradation, patriarchy, and geopolitical conflict. Through these frameworks, Aswad advocates for a reimagining of how we might foster radical care and solidarities with those in pursuit of hope, justice, and liberation.

 

Graiouid, Said. “Critical International Communication and the Public Sphere: Theoretical Engagments with Tahakkum and Other-Interculturality.” Journal of International and Intercultural Communication 17, no. 4 (2024): 365-387. https://doi.org/10.1080/17513057.2024.2389799

• AI Summary: “Graiouid argues that tahakkum (Arabic: التَّحَكُّمِ), meaning “domination,” hinders the functioning of the public sphere by reflecting the authoritarian state’s failure to foster plural deliberation and good governance. He illustrates this through two critical cases: the decline of Islamist influence and the Hirak movement against water privatization in a southeastern Moroccan oasis town. These cases demonstrate how power dynamics and state control impede open public discourse. In response, Graiouid proposes other-interculturality as an alternative epistemological and ethical framework. This approach emphasizes intercultural communication that interrogates embedded layers of power and domination, champions collective solidarity, and celebrates diversity without occluding difference. It seeks to create a more inclusive and equitable public sphere by recognizing and addressing systemic inequalities. The article contributes to the field of critical intercultural communication by integrating indigenous perspectives and challenging dominant paradigms that often overlook power structures and cultural nuances.”

 

Greene, Ryan, and Karrin Vasby Anderson. “President Wonder Woman and Congresswoman Batgirl: The Authoritarian Überfrau and Democratic Resilience in Superheroine Comics.” Quarterly Journal of Speech.

• AI Summary: This article explores how “President Wonder Woman and Congresswoman Batgirl” represent an “authoritarian Überfrau” in superheroine comics, examining the tension between their powerful leadership and democratic principles. It questions whether such portrayals, even in a heroic context, inadvertently reflect or reinforce elements of authoritarian governance and how democratic resilience is tested by such figures.

 

Gunaratne, Shelton A. “Asian Philosophies and Authoritarian Press Practice: A Remarkable Contradiction.” Javnost – The Public 12, no. 2 (2005).

• AI Summary: This article highlights a “remarkable contradiction” between “Asian philosophies” and “authoritarian press practice.” It likely explores how certain philosophical traditions in Asia, despite sometimes being invoked to justify state control, fundamentally clash with the restrictive nature of an authoritarian press, which suppresses freedom of expression and critical inquiry.

 

Gunn, Joshua (2008) Father Trouble: Staging Sovereignty in Spielberg’s War of the Worlds , Critical Studies in Media Communication, 25:1, 1-27, DOI:10.1080/15295030701849332

• AI Summary: This article argues that the film subtly promotes an ideology of paternal sovereignty in a post-9/11 context, where a strong father figure mirrors an authoritarian sovereign. The article suggests that by creating a sense of dire emergency, the movie makes audiences long for a powerful leader, effectively teaching them to “love a dictator” by conflating paternal authority with the dangerous concept of a state of exception.

 

Gunn, Joshua. Political Perversion: Rhetorical Aberration in the Time of Trumpeteering. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2020.

• AI Summary: In “Political Perversion: Rhetorical Aberration in the Time of Trumpeteering,” Joshua Gunn analyzes how Donald Trump’s rhetoric embodies a “structural perversion” in American political discourse, contributing to an authoritarian mood. He argues that Trump’s use of “authoritarian commonplaces” and his ability to act as a rhetorical “intoxicant” resonated with a public susceptible to such appeals, effectively installing a form of perverse leadership. The book explores how this phenomenon, while not always explicitly fascist, reflects a dangerous systemic embrace of aberrant figures and a susceptibility to their influence.

 

Halpern, Pablo. “Media Dependency and Political Perceptions in an Authoritarian Political System.” Journal of Communication 44, no. 4 (December 1994): 39-52.

• AI Summary: This article investigates media dependency and political perceptions within an authoritarian political system. It likely examines how citizens in such systems rely heavily on state-controlled media for information and how this dependency shapes their political views, potentially leading to a conformity of opinion or a skewed understanding of reality.

 

Hallsby, Atilla. Sovereign, Settler, Leaker, Lie: Forms of the Secret in US Political Rhetoric. Ohio State University Press, 2026.

• AI Summary: This book investigates how secrecy operates as a rhetorical device across different dimensions of US political discourse. By examining the intersecting roles of sovereignty, settler colonialism, whistleblowing, and deception, the book offers a critical framework for understanding how secrets are weaponized to sustain or challenge authoritarian tendencies in American governance. This interdisciplinary approach sheds new light on the power dynamics and ethical stakes embedded in the language of statecraft and dissent.

 

Haskins, Ekaterina V. and James P. Zappen. “Totalitarian Visual Monologue: Reading Soviet Posters with Bakhtin.” Rhetoric Society Quarterly 40.4 (2010): 326-359.

• AI Summary: “Haskins and Zappen analyze Soviet propaganda posters using Mikhail Bakhtin’s ideas about “monologic” and “dialogic” communication. They argue that these posters often used a one-way, authoritative style to promote state messages. However, they also suggest that some posters had the potential to be more interactive or “dialogic,” allowing for multiple voices or interpretations. By applying Bakhtin’s concepts, the authors explore how these visual messages could suppress dissenting voices and promote a singular state narrative. They also discuss how parody, satire, and polemic in the posters could reflect or challenge the dominant discourse. The study highlights the complex ways in which visual rhetoric can both enforce and, at times, resist totalitarian control.”

 

Herman, Edward S., and Noam Chomsky. Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media. New York: Pantheon Books, 1988.

• AI Summary: The authors introduce the “propaganda model,” showing how media under capitalism serves elite interests. Though not focused on dictatorships, it’s widely used to analyze authoritarian information control.

 

Heryanto, Ariel. “Where Communism Never Dies: Violence, Trauma and Narration in the Last Cold War Capitalist Authoritarian State.” International Journal of Cultural Studies.

• AI Summary: This article explores “violence, trauma and narration” in what is described as the “Last Cold War Capitalist Authoritarian State,” focusing on how the legacies of communism persist within such a regime. It likely examines the mechanisms of control and suppression, and how historical trauma is processed or suppressed within a state characterized by both capitalist development and authoritarian governance.

 

Hintz, Arne, and Stefania Milan. “Authoritarian Practices in the Digital Age|’Through a Glass, Darkly’: Everyday Acts of Authoritarianism in the Liberal West.” International Journal of Communication 12 (2018): 21.

• AI Summary: This article focuses on “authoritarian practices in the digital age,” particularly examining “everyday acts of authoritarianism in the Liberal West.” It likely argues that even in ostensibly democratic societies, digital technologies enable subtle forms of control, surveillance, and manipulation that echo historical authoritarian methods, blurring the lines between open and closed societies.

 

Ivie, Robert L. “Recovering the Democratic Value of Public Discourse.” Javnost – The Public 31, no. 2 (2024).

• AI Summary: This article focuses on “recovering the democratic value of public discourse,” a topic often made urgent by the erosion of open communication under authoritarian or illiberal tendencies. It implies a critique of conditions where public discourse is stifled or manipulated, common in authoritarian contexts.

 

Kehbuma Langmia (ed.) Black Communication Theory, Vol. 2

• AI Summary: “Black Communication Theory Volume 2, edited by Kehbuma Langmia, is a scholarly work that expands upon the foundational concepts introduced in the first volume of Black Communication Theory. Published in 2024 by Springer Nature Switzerland, this volume delves into both digital and non-digital modes of communication within Black communities across Africa and the African Diaspora. It aims to enrich the Black communication sphere by incorporating diverse contexts related to gender, race, ethnicity, and class. The contributors, who are active scholars engaged in pedagogy within the university system, present Afrocentric communication theories that challenge Western-centric paradigms and offer new perspectives on communication practices.”

 

Kermani, Hossein. 2025. “The Art of Delirium: Social Media Suppression in Authoritarian Regimes.” Communication Theory, April 16, qtaf006. https://doi.org/10.1093/ct/qtaf006.

• AI Summary: “Kermani examines how authoritarian governments, particularly Iran, suppress dissent on social media platforms like Twitter. He focuses on the #MahsaAmini movement, analyzing how the Iranian regime uses both traditional and new tactics to disrupt online activism. These tactics include spreading both true and false information to overwhelm users, creating what Hannah Arendt calls a “non-thinking situation.” Kermani conducted a digital ethnography of Persian Twitter from April 2022 to February 2024, combining it with Social Media Critical Discourse Studies. His findings reveal that the regime employs fabricated stories and deploys undercover agents to suppress the movement. This study contributes to understanding how authoritarian regimes use social media to control and manipulate public discourse.”

 

Kerr, Jaclyn. “Authoritarian Practices in the Digital Age| Information, Security, and Authoritarian Stability: Internet Policy Diffusion and Coordination in the Former Soviet Region.” International Journal of Communication 12 (2018).

• AI Summary: This article examines “authoritarian practices in the digital age,” specifically focusing on “information, security, and authoritarian stability” through Internet policy in the former Soviet region. It likely analyzes how authoritarian regimes in this area leverage internet controls to maintain political stability and suppress dissent, detailing the diffusion and coordination of such policies.

 

Khrebtan-Hörhager, Julia, and Evgeniya Pyatovskaya. “Russian Women, Ukraine War, and (Neglected) Writing on the Wall: From the (Im)possibility of World Traveling to Failing Feminist Alliances. Journal of International and Intercultural Communication 17, no. 1 (2024): 9-38. https://doi.org/10.1080/17513057.2023.2265992

• AI Summary: “The article examines the role of Russian feminist and resistance groups during the Russia-Ukraine war. The authors highlight organizations such as Pussy Riot, the Feminist Antiwar Resistance (FAR), and its branch Les Pleureuses as significant agents of social change and cultural opposition. They argue that these groups have been instrumental in challenging the authoritarian and patriarchal structures within Russia, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict. The paper introduces the concept of “Second World Feminism,” positioning Russian feminism as a cultural product that offers a unique perspective within the broader framework of transnational feminism. The authors analyze how these feminist collectives have resisted militarism and authoritarianism, and they advocate for the inclusion of Russian feminist perspectives in global feminist alliances. Through their analysis, Khrebtan-Hörhager and Pyatovskaya emphasize the importance of recognizing the contributions of Russian feminist movements to peace and resistance efforts, challenging the narrative that confines women to roles of passive victims in times of war.”

 

Klebba, Lea-Johanna, and Stephan Winter. 2025. “The Influence of Threat and Right-Wing Authoritarianism on the Selection of Online (Dis)Information—a Conceptual Replication and Extension of Lavine et al. (2005).” Human Communication Research 51 (1): 52–56. https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqae016.

• AI Summary: “In their 2025 study, “The Influence of Threat and Right-Wing Authoritarianism on the Selection of Online (Dis)Information,” Lea-Johanna Klebba and Stephan Winter revisit Lavine et al.’s 2005 research on how perceived threats and right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) influence individuals’ preferences for attitude-consistent information. Conducting an online experiment with 1,118 participants, they investigated selective exposure to verified news and disinformation. Contrary to expectations, their findings revealed that the interaction between various threats and RWA did not increase selective exposure to attitude-consistent (dis)information. This challenges the original hypothesis and suggests the need for a reevaluation of the underlying theoretical framework. Klebba and Winter’s research contributes to understanding how ideological predispositions and perceptions of threat shape individuals’ information-seeking behaviors, particularly in the context of online disinformation. Their study underscores the complexity of cognitive and motivational factors influencing media consumption and highlights the necessity for updated models to explain contemporary patterns of information selection.”

 

Kuypers, Jim A., Marilyn J. Young, and Michael K. Launer. “Composite Narrative, Authoritarian Discourse, and the Soviet Response to the Destruction of Iran Air Flight 655.” Quarterly Journal of Speech 87, no. 3 (2001).

• AI Summary: This article analyzes the “composite narrative” and “authoritarian discourse” employed by the Soviet Union in response to the destruction of Iran Air Flight 655. It likely explores how the Soviet regime constructed a particular version of events to control public perception, avoid accountability, and reinforce its authority through manipulative communication strategies.

 

Lauréal, Marine. “Authoritarian Populism and the Media: Rhetoric, Power, and Control.” Journal of Communication Inquiry 44, no. 2 (2020): 147–66.

• AI Summary: This article analyzes how authoritarian populist leaders manipulate media rhetoric to consolidate power and control public discourse, focusing on narrative construction and media framing techniques.

 

Lauréal, Marine. “The Emotional Work of Authoritarian Regimes: Fear and Loyalty in Political Communication.” Communication, Culture & Critique 13, no. 1 (2021): 112–29.

• AI Summary: Lauréal explores how authoritarian regimes employ emotional appeals, particularly fear and loyalty, as tools of governance and persuasion in their political communication strategies.

 

Lauréal, Marine. Media and Authoritarianism in the Digital Age. New York: Routledge, 2023.

• AI Summary: This book provides a comprehensive study of how authoritarian governments utilize digital platforms to spread propaganda, censor opposition, and reshape public opinion, blending traditional media control with new media strategies.

 

Lauréal, Marine. “Disinformation and Authoritarian Power: The Role of Fake News in Sustaining Autocratic Regimes.” International Journal of Press/Politics 27, no. 3 (2022): 321–40.

• AI Summary: Investigates the strategic use of disinformation by authoritarian states to undermine democratic norms and maintain regime legitimacy, with case studies from Eastern Europe and Asia.

 

Leeuw, Sjifra E de, Rachid Azrout, Roderik S B Rekker, and Joost H P Van Spanje. 2020. “After All This Time? The Impact of Media and Authoritarian History on Political News Coverage in Twelve Western Countries.” Journal of Communication 70 (5): 744–67. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqaa029.

• AI Summary: “In their 2020 study, “After All This Time? The Impact of Media and Authoritarian History on Political News Coverage in Twelve Western Countries,” Sjifra E. de Leeuw, Rachid Azrout, Roderik S. B. Rekker, and Joost H. P. van Spanje examine how a nation’s historical experience with authoritarianism influences its contemporary political news coverage. The researchers propose a novel framework that suggests that countries with a history of authoritarianism tend to have media systems that are more critical of political elites and more supportive of democratic values. This contrasts with the dominant media systems framework, which emphasizes the role of media systems in shaping political communication. By analyzing data from twelve Western countries, the study finds that historical experiences with authoritarianism have a significant impact on the nature of political news coverage, with countries that have such histories displaying more critical and democratic-oriented media landscapes.”

 

Levina, Marina. “Under Lenin’s watchful eye: Growing up in the former Soviet Union.” Surveillance & Society 15, no. 3/4 (2017): 529-534.

• AI Summary: “In her 2017 autoethnographic essay, “Under Lenin’s Watchful Eye: Growing Up in the Former Soviet Union,” Marina Levina reflects on her experiences as a child in the late 1970s and 1980s Soviet Union. Drawing from personal narratives, she examines how the authoritarian regime’s surveillance apparatus permeated everyday life. Levina observes that while the state’s economic control was weakening, public institutions like media and education continued to propagate Soviet ideology. This ideology was not enforced solely through top-down surveillance but was internalized by citizens, leading to a form of self-surveillance rooted in belief and faith in authoritarian institutions. Levina argues that this internalized surveillance produced individuals torn between faith in the ideals and the reality of everyday life, highlighting the complex interplay between ideology, surveillance, and subjectivity in authoritarian regimes.”

 

Levina, Marina. “Doing critical cultural studies in the age of totalitarian thought.” Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies 22, no. 1 (2025): 1-12.

• AI Summary: “In her 2025 editorial, “Doing Critical Cultural Studies in the Age of Totalitarian Thought,” Marina Levina reflects on the evolving role of critical cultural studies amidst the resurgence of authoritarian ideologies. Drawing from her experiences as a refugee from the former Soviet Union, Levina emphasizes the importance of critical scholarship in challenging oppressive systems and advocating for democratic values. She discusses the necessity for scholars to engage with contemporary issues such as surveillance, censorship, and the erosion of democratic norms, urging a commitment to intellectual rigor and social responsibility in the face of rising authoritarianism. Levina’s editorial serves as a call to action for scholars to reaffirm their dedication to critical inquiry and to actively participate in resisting totalitarian tendencies through their research and teaching.”

 

Levina, M. (2022). Epidemiology as methodology: COVID-19, Ukraine, and the problem of whiteness. Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies, 19(2), 112-118.

• AI Summary: “In her 2022 article “Epidemiology as Methodology: COVID-19, Ukraine, and the Problem of Whiteness”, Marina Levina introduces a novel analytical framework that applies epidemiological concepts to critical cultural studies. She examines the intersections of public health, race, and colonialism by analyzing global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Levina introduces the term “epidemiology of whiteness” to illustrate how whiteness functions as an unexamined privilege that directly impacts population health. By exploring these interconnections, she critiques how health disparities are often racialized and how colonial histories continue to shape contemporary health outcomes. This approach challenges traditional methodologies and offers a more nuanced understanding of global health issues.”

 

Li, Lei, and Francis L.F. Lee. “The Dual Impact of Social Media Under Networked Authoritarianism: Social Media Use, Civic Attitudes, and System Support in China.” International Journal of Communication 10 (2016): 5428-5448.

• AI Summary: This article examines the “dual impact of social media under networked authoritarianism,” specifically in China. It likely explores how social media can simultaneously be a tool for civic engagement and a mechanism for the authoritarian state to monitor and control its citizens, influencing civic attitudes and system support.

 

Liu, Jiacheng. “Disposable Counterpublics: Women, Queers, and Uyghurs in the White Paper Movement.” International Journal of Cultural Studies.

• AI Summary: This article discusses “disposable counterpublics” in the context of the White Paper Movement, focusing on marginalized groups like women, queers, and Uyghurs. While not exclusively about authoritarianism, it examines how these groups attempt to form dissenting public spheres in environments that often suppress such expression, a common challenge under authoritarian rule.

 

Michaelsen, Marcus. “Authoritarian practices in the digital age| transforming threats to power: The International Politics of Authoritarian Internet Control in Iran.” International Journal of Communication 12 (2018): 21.

• AI Summary: This article focuses on “authoritarian practices in the digital age,” specifically examining “authoritarian Internet control in Iran.” It likely analyzes how the Iranian regime leverages internet policy to transform perceived threats into mechanisms for consolidating power, detailing the international political implications of such digital control.

 

Moon, Ruth. Authoritarian Journalism: Controlling the News in Post-Conflict Rwanda. New York: Oxford University Press, 2024.

• AI Summary: Analyzes Rwanda’s tightly managed media environment after 1994, showing how authoritarian state-led journalistic practices are used both to rewrite conflict narratives and maintain political control.

 

Morgan, Michael, and James Shanahan. 2017. “Television and the Cultivation of Authoritarianism: A Return Visit from an Unexpected Friend.” Journal of Communication 67 (3): 424–44. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcom.12297.

• AI Summary: “n their 2017 study “Television and the Cultivation of Authoritarianism: A Return Visit from an Unexpected Friend,” Michael Morgan and James Shanahan revisit cultivation theory to explore how television viewing influences authoritarian values and political behavior. Their research, published in the Journal of Communication, demonstrates that heavy television viewers are more likely to endorse authoritarian values. Furthermore, these values mediate the relationship between television viewing and support for authoritarian political figures, such as Donald Trump during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The study suggests that television content, which often portrays authoritarian themes, can cultivate these values in viewers over time. This work contributes to understanding how media consumption shapes political attitudes and behaviors.”

 

Mortensen, Mette, and Nete Nørgaard Kristensen. “At the boundaries of authority and authoritarianism in the welfare state: News coverage of alt. health influencers during the Covid-19 pandemic.” Javnost-The Public 30, no. 1 (2023): 35-50.

• AI Summary: “In their 2023 article “At the Boundaries of Authority and Authoritarianism in the Welfare State: News Coverage of Alt. Health Influencers During the Covid-19 Pandemic”, Mette Mortensen and Nete Nørgaard Kristensen examine how alternative health influencers were portrayed in Nordic media during the pandemic. They found that these influencers often challenged established health authorities and media, accusing them of authoritarianism. Ironically, the influencers themselves sometimes promoted authoritarian ideas by questioning democratic governance and scientific knowledge. The study highlights the complex dynamics between authority and authoritarianism, even in high-trust societies like the Nordic welfare states.”

 

Munoriyarwa, Allen, and Sarah Chiumbu. “Diving into Data: Pitfalls and Promises of Data Journalism in Semi-Authoritarian Contexts.” Communicatio 49, no. 1 (2023).

• AI Summary: This article explores the “pitfalls and promises of data journalism in semi-authoritarian contexts.” It likely examines the unique challenges and opportunities for journalists in environments where state control is significant but not absolute, detailing how data journalism can both empower critical reporting and be co-opted or constrained by authoritarian forces.

 

Neville-Shepard, Ryan. 2025. “Trump and the Truthers: Populist Demophobia and the Sandy Hook Conspiracy Theory.” Critical Studies in Media Communication, June 21. world. https://nca.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15295036.2025.2517016.

• AI Summary: “In his 2025 article “Trump and the Truthers: Populist Demophobia and the Sandy Hook Conspiracy Theory”, Ryan Neville-Shepard examines the alignment between populist conservatism and conspiracy theorists, particularly those who question the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. He introduces the concept of “populist demophobia,” describing a form of populism that paradoxically distances itself from the very people it purports to represent. Neville-Shepard argues that this alliance with conspiracy theorists undermines democratic norms and fosters a climate of distrust and division. The study highlights the complex interplay between political rhetoric and the propagation of misinformation, emphasizing the need for critical engagement with such narratives.”

 

Ott, Brian L., and Greg Dickinson. The Twitter Presidency: Donald J. Trump and the Politics of White Rage. New York: Routledge, 2019.

• AI Summary: A rhetorical analysis of Trump’s Twitter use as a populist-authoritarian tool rooted in white grievance. The book provides a framework for analyzing digital authoritarian discourse.

 

Ott, Brian L. 2017. “The Age of Twitter: Donald J. Trump and the Politics of Debasement.” Critical Studies in Media Communication, January 1. world. https://nca.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15295036.2016.1266686.

• AI Summary: “Brian L. Ott’s 2017 article, “The Age of Twitter: Donald J. Trump and the Politics of Debasement,” published in Critical Studies in Media Communication, critically examines how Twitter has transformed public discourse, particularly through the lens of Donald Trump’s use of the platform. Ott argues that Twitter’s design—favoring brevity, immediacy, and emotional expression—has led to a form of communication that is simplistic, impulsive, and often uncivil. He contends that these characteristics have eroded the quality of public discourse, contributing to a “post-truth” environment where emotional appeal often outweighs factual accuracy. Through a case study of Trump’s Twitter activity, Ott illustrates how the platform amplifies populist rhetoric and undermines traditional journalistic standards, fostering a political climate characterized by debasement and division.”

 

Ott, Brian L., and Greg Dickinson. “Trump, Trumpism, and the Rhetorical Possibility of the American Authoritarian Tradition.” Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies 16, no. 1 (2019): 15–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/14791420.2019.1569731.

• AI Summary: This article connects Trump’s rhetorical style to a broader American authoritarian tradition, analyzing anti-intellectualism, nativism, and emotional appeals that disrupt democratic norms.

 

Parks, Lisa, and Rahul Mukherjee. “From Platform Jumping to Self-Censorship: Internet Freedom, Social Media, and Circumvention Practices in Zambia.” Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies 14, no. 3 (2017): 221-237. https://doi.org/10.1080/14791420.2017.1290262

• AI Summary: “In this article, Parks and Mukherjee examine the evolving landscape of internet freedom in Zambia, focusing on the strategies employed by urban users to navigate and resist state-imposed digital censorship. Through qualitative interviews with 42 active ICT and social media users in Lusaka, the authors identify four primary circumvention practices: Platform Jumping: Users switch between different social media platforms to evade detection and suppression of their content; Anonymity: Employing pseudonyms and anonymous accounts to protect personal identity while engaging in online discourse; Self-Censorship: Deliberately withholding or modifying content to avoid potential repercussions from authorities; and Negotiation of Legal Challenges: Engaging with legal frameworks to contest or mitigate the impacts of censorship. The study emphasizes that these practices are not merely technical solutions but are deeply embedded in the socio-political context of Zambia. Rather than viewing circumvention as a set of techniques imported from the global north, the authors argue that it is a set of cultural practices that emerge within particular sociohistorical conditions and platforms of communication. This perspective highlights the agency of Zambian users in shaping their digital experiences and resisting authoritarian control over online spaces.”

 

Park, Jayoung. “Male Youth’s Self-Narrative and the Discourse of Meritocracy in South Korea.” Cultural Studies 38, no. 1 (2024).

• AI Summary: This article examines “male youth’s self-narrative and the discourse of meritocracy in South Korea.” While not directly about authoritarianism, such societal discourses can contribute to conditions that make populations susceptible to rigid social control or hierarchical structures often present in authoritarian states.

 

Pearce, Katy E., and Sarah Kendzior. 2012. “Networked Authoritarianism and Social Media in Azerbaijan.” Journal of Communication 62 (2): 283–98. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2012.01633.x.

• AI Summary: “In their 2012 article “Networked Authoritarianism and Social Media in Azerbaijan”, Katy E. Pearce and Sarah Kendzior explore how the Azerbaijani government utilizes digital platforms to suppress political activism. Their mixed-methods study, published in the Journal of Communication, examines the state’s strategies to dissuade internet users from engaging in political protest. The authors introduce the concept of “networked authoritarianism,” a form of internet control prevalent in former Soviet states, where manipulation of digitally mediated social networks is employed more than outright censorship. Through content analysis of Azerbaijani media over three years, a two-year structural equation model analyzing the relationship between internet use and attitudes toward protest, and interviews with Azerbaijani online activists, they find that the government has effectively discouraged frequent internet users from supporting protests and average internet users from using social media for political purposes.”

 

Pyatovskaya, Evgeniya, and Julia Khrebran-Hörhager. “To Russia with(out) Love: Ukrainian War Refugees Migrating to the Land of the Aggressor.” Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies 22, no. 2 (2025): 220-240. https://doi.org/10.1080/14791420.2025.2503822

• AI Summary: “In this article, Pyatovskaya and Khrebtan-Hörhager examine the complex experiences of Ukrainian war refugees who have sought asylum in Russia, the country responsible for the ongoing conflict. The authors explore the paradoxical nature of this migration, highlighting the challenges refugees face in a nation that is both their aggressor and their host. Through qualitative analysis, the study delves into the refugees’ narratives, shedding light on their coping mechanisms, the psychological toll of displacement, and the social dynamics within Russian society. The article contributes to the broader discourse on forced migration, identity, and the geopolitical implications of asylum-seeking in conflict zones.”

 

Roberts-Miller, Patricia. Rhetoric and Demagoguery. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2019.

• AI Summary: “In Rhetoric and Demagoguery (2019), Patricia Roberts-Miller offers a comprehensive analysis of demagoguery, challenging traditional perceptions and providing a nuanced framework for understanding its role in public discourse. She defines demagoguery as a form of discourse that promises stability and certainty by framing public policy in terms of the degree and means by which out-groups should be punished or scapegoated, rather than whether they should be. This perspective shifts the focus from individual demagogues to the structural and rhetorical conditions that enable demagogic rhetoric to flourish. Roberts-Miller examines historical and contemporary instances of demagoguery, including the Holocaust, the justification of slavery, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Through these case studies, she illustrates how demagoguery operates not only through overt emotional appeals but also through more subtle, intellectualized forms of rhetoric that depoliticize political argument by reducing complex issues to questions of identity. A key contribution of Roberts-Miller’s work is her emphasis on the importance of deliberative democracy and the need for public discourse that encourages critical engagement and the consideration of multiple perspectives. She argues that by recognizing and understanding the mechanisms of demagoguery, individuals and societies can better resist its influence and promote more constructive and inclusive political dialogue. Overall, Rhetoric and Demagoguery provides valuable insights into the dynamics of public discourse and offers tools for identifying and countering demagogic rhetoric in various contexts.”

 

Roberts-Miller, P. (2009). Dissent As “Aid and Comfort to the Enemy”: The Rhetorical Power of Naïve Realism and Ingroup Identity. Rhetoric Society Quarterly, 39(2), 170–188. https://doi.org/10.1080/02773940902766763

• AI Summary: “Patricia Roberts-Miller’s article, “Dissent As ‘Aid and Comfort to the Enemy’: The Rhetorical Power of Naïve Realism and Ingroup Identity”, published in Rhetoric Society Quarterly (Vol. 39, Issue 2, 2009), delves into how public deliberation often transcends logical argumentation, focusing instead on group identity. Drawing from social psychology, Roberts-Miller explains that perceiving the world as a stable and easily understood realm of discrete groups—an outlook termed naïve realism—can render dissenters as threats to group cohesion. This perspective aligns dissent with betrayal, labeling it as “aid and comfort to the enemy,” thereby undermining democratic discourse.”

 

Rourke, Brian, and Andrew Wiget. “Pussy Riot, Putin and the Politics of Embodiment.” Cultural Studies 30, no. 2 (2016).

• AI Summary: This article explores “Pussy Riot, Putin and the Politics of Embodiment,” directly engaging with themes of authoritarian power and resistance in Russia. It likely analyzes how the performance art of Pussy Riot challenged Putin’s authority and the broader authoritarian control through acts of embodied protest and symbolic defiance.

 

Smith, Andrew R. 2008. “Dialogue in Agony: The Problem of Communication in Authoritarian Regimes.” Communication Theory 18 (1): 160–85. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2007.00318.x.

• AI Summary: “In his 2008 article “Dialogue in Agony: The Problem of Communication in Authoritarian Regimes”, Andrew R. Smith examines the complexities of communication within authoritarian contexts. Drawing on Jean-François Lyotard’s concept of the “differend,” Smith argues that genuine dialogue is often unattainable in such regimes due to systemic power imbalances and the suppression of dissenting voices. He contends that attempts at communication in these settings are fraught with tension and suffering, as individuals navigate the constraints imposed by authoritarian structures. Smith’s analysis highlights the challenges of fostering authentic communication in environments where freedom of expression is limited and the state’s authority dominates discourse. This work contributes to understanding the dynamics of communication under oppressive political systems and the obstacles to meaningful dialogue in such contexts.”

 

Sim, Soek-Fang. “Asian Values, Authoritarianism and Capitalism in Singapore.” Javnost – The Public 8, no. 2 (2001).

• AI Summary: This article examines the interplay of “Asian Values, Authoritarianism and Capitalism in Singapore.” It likely explores how the concept of “Asian values” has been used to justify an authoritarian political system alongside a capitalist economy, analyzing the unique blend of state control and economic liberalization in Singapore.

 

Steudeman, Michael, ed. Teaching Demagoguery and Democracy: Rhetorical Pedagogy in Polarized Times. Intermezzo (online publication), 2021.

• AI Summary: “Teaching Demagoguery and Democracy: Rhetorical Pedagogy in Polarized Times (2021), edited by Michael J. Steudeman, is a digital anthology published by Intermezzo that addresses the challenges educators face in teaching rhetoric amidst rising political polarization and demagoguery. The collection features contributions from scholars in rhetoric, communication, and English studies, offering pedagogical strategies to help students critically engage with and resist demagogic discourse.”

 

Toepfl, Florian. “Comparing Authoritarian Publics: The Benefits and Risks of Three Types of Publics for Autocrats.” Communication Theory 30, no. 2 (2020): 105–125. https://doi.org/10.1093/ct/qtz015

• AI Summary: Argues that autocrats cultivate “official,” “counter,” and “informal” publics—each with distinct communicative affordances—to manage legitimacy and preempt oppositional mobilization.

 

Sahoo, Sananda. “India’s Internet Shutdowns as Biopolitics: The Formation of Political Will and Opinion through Collective Action under Attack.” Critical Studies in Media Communication 40, no. 5 (2023): 291-305. https://doi.org/10.1080/15295036.2023.2265995

• AI Summary: “In this article, Sahoo examines India’s frequent use of internet shutdowns as a form of biopolitical control, analyzing how such measures suppress collective action and the formation of political will. The study highlights the state’s strategic use of digital disconnection to manage dissent and control public opinion, particularly in regions experiencing unrest. By disrupting communication channels, these shutdowns hinder the public’s ability to organize, share information, and engage in democratic processes. Sahoo argues that this practice not only infringes upon individual freedoms but also undermines the very foundation of democratic participation and collective agency.”

 

Serazio, Michael. “Encoding the Paranoid Style in American Politics: ‘Anti-Establishment’ Discourse and Power in Contemporary Spin.” Critical Studies in Media Communication 33, no. 2 (2016): 181-194. https://doi.org/10.1080/15295036.2016.1174338

• AI Summary: “In this article, Serazio analyzes how contemporary political discourse employs a “paranoid style”—a term coined by historian Richard Hofstadter in 1964 to describe a particular mode of political rhetoric characterized by suspicion, conspiracy theories, and a dichotomous worldview. Serazio examines how political figures and media outlets use this style to construct an “anti-establishment” narrative that positions elites as corrupt and the public as victims of manipulation. Through a combination of textual analysis and interviews with political consultants, he explores how this rhetoric serves to mobilize support by tapping into public fears and frustrations, thereby consolidating power and influencing public opinion.”

 

Vivian, Bradford. Campus Misinformation: The Real Threat to Free Speech in American Higher Education. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2022.

• AI Summary: “In Campus Misinformation: The Real Threat to Free Speech in American Higher Education (Oxford University Press, 2022), Bradford Vivian critically examines the narrative of a “free speech crisis” on college campuses, arguing that such claims are largely manufactured and misrepresent the realities of academic life. Vivian contends that the portrayal of universities as bastions of ideological conformity and censorship is exaggerated, often based on isolated incidents amplified by political and media actors. He highlights how these narratives have been weaponized to justify legislative actions that undermine academic freedom, such as restricting protest rights and banning certain educational materials.”

 

Wang, Chih-ming, and Zhai Gong. “‘The End of the Common World’: COVID Anxieties, Bordered Lives and Democratic Censorship in Taiwan.” Cultural Studies 38, no. 1 (2024).

• AI Summary: This article examines “COVID Anxieties, Bordered Lives and Democratic Censorship in Taiwan,” noting how even democracies can exhibit forms of censorship under crisis conditions, potentially mirroring or enabling authoritarian tendencies. It explores the tension between public health measures and civil liberties, which can be exacerbated in environments where state control is emphasized.

 

Weiser, Tatiana. “Speaking Without Listening: Imitating Dissensus in the Agonistic Public Debates in Russian Political Talk-Shows in the 2010s.” Javnost – The Public 27, no. 1 (2020).

• AI Summary: This article analyzes “agonistic public debates in Russian political talk-shows” in the 2010s, describing them as “speaking without listening” and “imitating dissensus,” characteristic of controlled media environments in authoritarian states. It likely explores how these shows create an illusion of public debate while ultimately serving to reinforce the state’s narrative and suppress genuine dissent.

 

Wernecke, Christopher J. 2024. “Priming ‘American Carnage:’ Reality Television and Donald J. Trump.” Critical Studies in Media Communication, August 7. world. https://nca.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15295036.2024.2392806.

• AI Summary: “In the 2024 article “Priming ‘American Carnage’: Reality Television and Donald J. Trump”, Christopher J. Wernecke examines how reality television, particularly The Apprentice, influenced Donald Trump’s political rhetoric and public persona. Wernecke argues that Trump’s television career served as a platform for constructing a narrative of national decline, which he later leveraged in his political campaigns. By analyzing the performative aspects of Trump’s television appearances, the study highlights how media representations can shape political discourse and public perception. “

 

Wang, Z. (2023). Transnational Rhetorical Circulation in the Splinternet Age. Rhetoric Society Quarterly, 53(5), 670–684. https://doi.org/10.1080/02773945.2023.2191215

• AI Summary: “Zhiwei Wang’s article, “Transnational Rhetorical Circulation in the Splinternet Age”, published in Rhetoric Society Quarterly (Vol. 53, Issue 5, 2023), explores the complexities of digital rhetoric in an era marked by the “splinternet”—a fragmented global internet where national borders and political agendas increasingly shape online communication. Wang examines how rhetorical messages and strategies are adapted, transformed, and circulated across different cultural and political contexts, highlighting the challenges and opportunities this fragmentation presents for global discourse. The article delves into the implications of these dynamics for public deliberation, identity formation, and the exercise of power in the digital age.

 

Weiser, Tatiana. “Speaking Without Listening: Imitating Dissensus in the Agonistic Public Debates in Russian Political Talk-Shows in the 2010s.” Javnost – The Public 27, no. 1 (2020).

• AI Summary: This article analyzes “agonistic public debates in Russian political talk-shows” in the 2010s, describing them as “speaking without listening” and “imitating dissensus,” characteristic of controlled media environments in authoritarian states. It likely explores how these shows create an illusion of public debate while ultimately serving to reinforce the state’s narrative and suppress genuine dissent.

 

Wentzel, Kayla, and Jennifer Lambe. “How Authoritarianism and Extraversion Relate to Censorship.” Communication and Democracy 59, no. 1 (2025): 245-265. https://doi.org/10.1080/27671127.2025.2472640

• AI Summary: “In this study, Wentzel and Lambe investigate how personality traits—specifically extraversion and authoritarianism—correlate with individuals’ willingness to support censorship across various forms of expression. Utilizing a nationally representative sample of 2,850 U.S. adults, the researchers employed a revised version of Lambe’s Willingness to Censor scale, which assesses support for government censorship in categories such as pornography, hate speech, political speech, and more. The findings reveal that individuals exhibiting higher levels of left-wing authoritarianism (LWA) are more inclined to endorse censorship across all categories of expression. Conversely, right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) shows a mixed relationship with censorship, being positively associated with support for censoring defamation, political speech, and pornography, but negatively associated with censoring abortion speech, hate speech, and privacy. Extraversion, a trait characterized by sociability and assertiveness, generally correlates negatively with support for censorship, suggesting that more extroverted individuals are less likely to favor restricting speech. However, when controlling for RWA, this negative association becomes more pronounced, indicating that extraverts may be particularly resistant to censorship when right-wing values are prevalent. The authors conclude that both LWA and RWA are linked to increased support for censorship, albeit in different ways, while extraversion tends to mitigate such support. These insights are timely, given the current media landscape’s shift towards dysregulation and uncensored content, and the contemporary alignment between Americans’ political and social identities. The study underscores the importance of considering individual personality traits in discussions about censorship and free speech.” Winston Mano and Viola Milton (eds.) Routledge Handbook of African Media and Communication Studies AI Summary: “The Routledge Handbook of African Media and Communication Studies, edited by Winston Mano and Viola Milton, offers a comprehensive exploration of media and communication within African contexts. Published in 2021, this volume brings together diverse scholarly perspectives to examine the dynamic interplay between media, culture, and communication across the African continent.”

 

Wu, Helena. “Distance and Proximity: The Spectatorship of Trauma and Film Viewing in Postmillennial Hong Kong.” Cultural Studies 38, no. 1 (2024).

• AI Summary: This article examines “the spectatorship of trauma and film viewing in Postmillennial Hong Kong.” While not solely about authoritarianism, the context of Hong Kong often involves discussions of political control and limitations on expression, suggesting an implicit engagement with the impact of shifting political landscapes on cultural production and reception.

 

Xu, Xiaoge. “The Politics of Pity Under Authoritarianism: How Government-Controlled Media Regulates Audiences’ Mediated Experiences of Distant Suffering.” International Journal of Communication 17 (2023).

• AI Summary: This article explores “the politics of pity under authoritarianism,” specifically how “government-controlled media regulates audiences’ mediated experiences of distant suffering.” It likely analyzes how authoritarian regimes strategically present or filter humanitarian crises to their citizens, managing emotional responses and reinforcing state narratives while avoiding any challenges to their authority.

 

Yang, Junxiao. “Communication Totalitarianism in Japan: ‘Decontextualisation’ and ‘Recontextualisation’ and the Digital Communication Environment.” Cultural Studies 38, no. 1 (2024).

• AI Summary: This article discusses “Communication Totalitarianism in Japan,” focusing on “Decontextualisation’ and ‘Recontextualisation’ and the Digital Communication Environment.” It likely examines how certain communication practices within Japan, particularly in the digital sphere, exhibit characteristics of totalitarian control, manipulating information and narratives to shape public understanding and maintain power.

 

Young, Michael. “Towards a Rhetorica Theory of Charisma: Corinthians, Cults, and Demagogic Criticism.” Quarterly Journal of Speech. https://doi.org/10.1080/00335630.2024.2427019

• AI Summary: “Michael Young’s 2024 article, “Towards a Rhetorical Theory of Charisma: Corinthians, Cults, and Demagogic Criticism”, published in the Quarterly Journal of Speech, offers a critical examination of the concept of charisma within rhetorical studies. Young proposes that charisma is not merely an inherent quality of a leader but is constructed through rhetorical practices that violate established norms. He draws upon the Apostle Paul’s letters to the Corinthians to illustrate how early Christian rhetoric employed unconventional strategies to establish authority and influence. This analysis extends to contemporary contexts, where similar rhetorical tactics are observed in cults and demagogic movements. By challenging traditional norms, these rhetorical practices create a sense of exceptionalism that can lead to the formation of charismatic authority. Young’s work contributes to a deeper understanding of how charisma functions rhetorically and its implications for both religious and political discourse.”

 

Zhang, Zhong. “Adaption to authoritarianism: a longitudinal analysis of Dialogue Earth’s nonprofit environmental news in China.” Chinese Journal of Communication (2024): 1-18.

• AI Summary: “Studies how nonprofit environmental media adapt to operate within China’s authoritarian media environment, negotiating censorship while trying to maintain influence.”

 

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Special Issues

 

Quarterly Journal of Speech, Vol. 110, Issue 4 (Special Issue: Abolition Rhetorics)

• AI Summary: “The Quarterly Journal of Speech Volume 110, Issue 4 (2024) features a special issue titled “Abolitionist Rhetorics,” edited by Omedi Ochieng and Amber Kelsie. This issue brings together a diverse array of scholars who explore the intersections of rhetoric, abolition, and social justice. The contributors examine how rhetorical practices can challenge oppressive systems and envision alternative futures rooted in justice and liberation.”

 

Rhetoric Society Quarterly, Vol. 52, No. 3 (Special Issue: Global Black Rhetorics)

• AI Summary: “The special issue on “Global Black Rhetorics” in Rhetoric Society Quarterly (Vol. 52, Issue 3, 2022) presents a collection of scholarly essays that explore African and Afro-diasporic rhetorical traditions. Edited by Ronisha Browdy and Esther Milu, the issue aims to establish a new framework for engaging with these rich rhetorical practices. The essays in this issue delve into various aspects of Black rhetoric, including the characteristics of African rhetoric as observed in Nigerian women’s discourse, the experiences of being Black in a globally dispersed diaspora, and the role of Black rhetoric in writing assessment and Afrocentric rubrics. Other contributions examine Caribbean women’s rhetorics, Black family rhetoric in anti-racist pedagogy, and historical figures like David Walker and John Chilembwe in the context of global Black collectivity.” Philosophy & Rhetoric, Vol. 56, Issue 1 (Special Issue: The time for Africana Philosophy) AI Summary: “The special issue titled “The Time of Africana Philosophy” in Philosophy & Rhetoric (Vol. 56, Issue 1, April 2023) brings together scholars to explore the intersections of Africana philosophy and rhetoric. Guest-edited by Omedi Ochieng, Louise du Toit, and Bryan Mukandi, this issue delves into how Africana philosophical traditions engage with rhetorical practices to address issues of identity, history, and knowledge production.”