Political Polarization in Australia: A Case Study of Brushfires in Australia

Zhiwen Zheng; Babita Bhatt

doi:10.1007/978-981-16-5268-4_5

Political Polarization in Australia: A Case Study of Brushfires in Australia

Zhiwen Zheng, Babita Bhatt

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

The frequency and severity of bushfires have increased in the past decades across the globe. Despite the socio-economic and ecological devastation brought by the bushfires, there is a lack of serious actions preventing the risk of bushfire. We argue that this lack of action results from the political polarisation around the causes and mitigation strategies around the bushfire. Using the case study of 2019–2020 Australian bushfire, we specifically demonstrate the role of social media eco-chambers in reinforcing political affiliations and perpetuating extreme positions. Based on our analysis, we provide practical and theoretical insights on social media-induced political polarisation around climate change.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Causes and Symptoms of Socio-Cultural Polarization: Role of Information and Communication Technologies
Editors	Israr Qureshi, Babita Bhatt, Samrat Gupta, Amit Anand Tiwari
Place of Publication	Singapore
Publisher	Springer Singapore
Pages	115-132
Edition	1
ISBN (Print)	9789811652684
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5268-4_5
Publication status	Published - 2022

Access to Document

10.1007/978-981-16-5268-4_5

Cite this

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title = "Political Polarization in Australia: A Case Study of Brushfires in Australia",

abstract = "The frequency and severity of bushfires have increased in the past decades across the globe. Despite the socio-economic and ecological devastation brought by the bushfires, there is a lack of serious actions preventing the risk of bushfire. We argue that this lack of action results from the political polarisation around the causes and mitigation strategies around the bushfire. Using the case study of 2019–2020 Australian bushfire, we specifically demonstrate the role of social media eco-chambers in reinforcing political affiliations and perpetuating extreme positions. Based on our analysis, we provide practical and theoretical insights on social media-induced political polarisation around climate change.",

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Zheng, Z & Bhatt, B 2022, Political Polarization in Australia: A Case Study of Brushfires in Australia. in Israr Qureshi, Babita Bhatt, Samrat Gupta, Amit Anand Tiwari (ed.), Causes and Symptoms of Socio-Cultural Polarization: Role of Information and Communication Technologies. 1 edn, Springer Singapore, Singapore, pp. 115-132. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5268-4_5

Political Polarization in Australia: A Case Study of Brushfires in Australia. / Zheng, Zhiwen; Bhatt, Babita.
Causes and Symptoms of Socio-Cultural Polarization: Role of Information and Communication Technologies. ed. / Israr Qureshi, Babita Bhatt, Samrat Gupta, Amit Anand Tiwari. 1. ed. Singapore: Springer Singapore, 2022. p. 115-132.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

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