In recent years, the collaboration between certain media moguls and far-right populist political figures has become increasingly evident. Examples include the support of French far-right firebrand Eric Zemmour by billionaire media mogul Vincent Bollore, the rise of Georgia Meloni in Italy facilitated by the media empire of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and the symbiotic relationship between Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News. Large media empires have provided populist movements with a platform to disseminate and legitimise both their discourse and their leaders.
In addition to traditional media, large digital platforms have been complicit in the spread of disinformation, often to the benefit of far-right populists. Although figures like Eric Zemmour did not achieve electoral success, the continued rise of Marine Le Pen in France demonstrates the enduring appeal of far-right populism. This growing influence presents challenges to democracies, from the spread of viral misinformation to the populist tendency to undermine national institutions and their legitimacy.
This session will examine the trends of populism in relation to media and explore how media, both traditional and digital, have played a pivotal role in facilitating the rise of populist leaders across the globe.