Echo Chambers of Conflict - (De Gruyter Contemporary Social Sciences) by Jonathan Matusitz & Jonah Lynne (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

This volume offers a detailed description of how media propaganda shapes public perception in conflict zones, drawing on key communication theories like framing and agenda-setting. It analyzes disinformation campaigns by Hamas and Israel, showing how psychological warfare plays out on social media platforms. The book delves into polarization and radicalization, emphasizing social media's role in exacerbating these processes, and exploring how individuals, especially youths, are radicalized online through gradual stages of desensitization. This discussion is expanded through an analysis of digital activism and the role of social media in facilitating global protest movements.

Review Quotes

"At a time of increasing political polarization, we must consider how our digital lives affect our ideological positions. With this book, Matusitz and Lynne expertly consider this very phenomenon in one of the central global conflicts of our time - ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas. This book is an essential read for those who want to understand online echo chambers and how they can act as a roadblock to lasting peace."
Kurt Braddock, School of Communication, American University, Washington, DC, USA

"Echo Chambers of Conflict is a timely and essential contribution to our understanding of how social media shapes - and often distorts - public discourse in times of conflict and war. With commendable clarity and depth, the authors trace the historical, ideological, and communicative dimensions of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, foregrounding the critical role of online platforms in shaping polarized and often misinformed discourse. This book stands out for its innovative fusion of communication theory, conflict analysis, and empirical data. By foregrounding the lived experiences of Gen Z and applying frameworks such as framing theory, agenda-setting theory, and Social Movement Theory, the book offers both theoretical sophistication and practical relevance."
Gabriel Weimann, Professor of Communication, Reichman University, Herzlia, Israel

About the Author

Jonathan Matusitz has been a professor in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media at the University of Central Florida since 2006. His research focuses on global communication, the role of communication in terrorism, symbolism in terrorism, and the internationalization of culture and new media. He has already published 10 academic books as a single or first author: Terrorism & Communication: A Critical Introduction (2013); Symbolism in Terrorism: Motivation, Communication, and Behavior (2015); Online Jihadist Magazines to Promote the Caliphate: Communicative Perspectives (2019); Global Jihad in Muslim and non-Muslim Contexts (2020); Female Terrorism in America: Past and Current Perspectives (2020); Communication in Global Jihad (2021); Fundamentals of Public Communication Campaigns (2022); From Child Terrorism to Peace Activism (2022); Jihad in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Digital Media (2024); and Communication in the Metaverse (2024).

Jonah Lynne is a student researcher at the University of Central Florida. A highly accomplished Honors student, his research focuses on social media campaigns, campaigns against hate, campaigns against antisemitism, and approaches to enhance anti-terrorist narratives. The research methods that he employs consist of qualitative interviewing, theoretical analysis, and case studies. In addition, Jonah holds several positions as officer in educational activist think-thanks.