2025/03/12 by Tetsuro Kobayashi, Yuan Zhou, Lungta Seki +1 · 3 voices · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Social Media and Politics #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Media Influence and Politics
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/13510347.2025.2475472
This study examines the persuasive effects of illiberal narratives on citizens in democratic countries in the context of increasing influence operations by authoritarian states, focusing on Japan as a case study. We compare the impact of illiberal narratives originating from China and Russia with that of mainstream narratives prevalent in democracies. Study 1 shows that whereas both narratives shift public opinion, illiberal narratives exert a stronger influence. Authoritarian tendencies, conspiracy beliefs, and political sophistication do not moderate these effects. By simulating two-sided exposure, Study 2 finds that despite narratives tending to cancel each other out, the effect of illiberal narratives persists, especially when introduced after mainstream narratives. These findings highlight a potential vulnerability in democratic societies such as Japan, where mainstream narratives may not adequately counteract illiberal influences.