Demonization

Demonization is a process through which people target individuals or groups as the embodiment of evil. This involves a sequence of denigration, dehumanization, and demonization, which results in generating hatred of the objectified target. One way to do this is to claim that the demonized scapegoat is plotting against the public good. This often involves demagogic appeals. With demagoguery, followers must see the movement leader as charismatic, or the performance is easily interpreted as buffoonery. Demagoguery has been used historically not only by populists to denounce corrupt elites, but also by government officials to justify political repression—in both instances based on fears of conspiracies by real and imaginary subversive elements.

• Main Page
• Links Page: Selected articles about the incident
• Berlet's posts on Talk to Action

Demonizing Rhetoric & Aggressive Action

• Highlighted Essay: The Political Economy of Character Assassination: Who Invests in and Profits from the Discourse of Hate? by Jonathan Michael Feldman
• More Articles on Demonizing Rhetoric & Aggressive Action

More Resources

Conspiracism

• Timeline of Conspiracy Theories
• How Conspiracy Theory Stories Overlap
• Scholarly Article on North American Union Conspiracy Theories

Related

• Tragedy in Tucson - 2011
• Berlet's posts on Talk to Action
• Demonizing Rhetoric & Aggressive Action
• Demonization
• The Tools of Fear
• Dualism
• Demagogues
• Apocalyptic Aggression
• Toxic to Democracy

Spotlight On