Fundamentals of Public Communication Campaigns

CHAPTER 15 Public Communication Campaigns of Islamophobia and Antisemitism

Islamophobia and antisemitism have pervaded societies for centuries, with antisemitism having roots even before the Common Era. This chapter examines the dividing lines that populist campaigns have created against Muslims and Jews in two specific countries: India and Hungary, respectively. Public communication campaigns rooted in populism frame certain groups as posing a major threat to democracy because of their religions, traditions, and/or collective identities. Hence, populist leaders believe that they should change people’s attitudes and behaviors by making them aware of such “threats.” One corollary is that prejudicial attitudes towards certain groups―especially when amped during crisis situations―can inflame social disorder, stereotyping, agitation, mutual blame, anxiety, and, more importantly, violence and death―all of which, in turn, cause psychological stress and trauma (besides social rejection). Social justice and welfare may also be hampered because of these characteristics.¹

Populism is paramount to such prejudicial attitudes and the substance of many far-right parties.² Populism considers society as distributed between two homogeneous and incompatible groups: “the pure people” and “the corrupt élite.” This philosophy advances that policies should express the general will of the people.³ It is, thus, opposed to pluralism and elitism.⁴ In contrast to the latter, populism views the people ...