The Role of Emotions in the Dissemination of Populism and fake News Phenomena

Based on the assumption that human emotions have an influence on their decisions and attitudes, this paper explores the relationship between emotions and the challenges democracy faces in the 21st century. Focusing on fake news and populism, the paper explores the role of emotions in these phenomena. Some of the emotional patterns analyzed in this paper are the appearance of fear, insecurity, and anger, which are manifested through the creation of “enemies” and “antagonists” embodied by immigrants, political elites, and mainstream media. In the end, by reviewing significant research on this topic, a fundamental distinction is revealed in the interpretation of the mentioned phenomena, considering whether people approach them from an emotionally challenged or reason-driven position. Therefore, a systematical overview of work on this topic can make a significant contribution to the further understanding of these phenomena.