The inaugural VOX-Pol Work in Progress Seminar Series takes place this November. The objective of the series is to provide a space for researchers within the VOX-Pol Network to share projects and papers which they currently working on but are not finished. The aim is for peers to provide members with constructive feedback and discussion of the subject matter, methodology, conclusions, etc.
If you are a VOX-Pol Member and you would like to attend, please email workshop@dcu.ie so that the draft in question can be shared with you. All participants are expected to have read the draft before attending the seminar.
The seminars will be organised on zoom and typically last 60 minutes with 5 minutes dedicated to the author introducing the piece and the remaining time dedicated to open discussion.
The inaugural seminar will concern the work of Nick Robinson on ‘Everyday Extremism’
This chapter introduces the concept of everyday extremism: namely, the regular encountering of extremist attitudes – such as racism, sexism, conspiracy theories, and militarism – within mainstream digital spaces like social media, news platforms, and gaming such that they become normalised and widely accepted (see Hyzen & Van den Bulck, 2021). Everyday extremism significantly impacts public discourse, contributing to social polarisation and civic disengagement and driving many to online behaviour populated within echo chambers and marked by self-censorship, so silencing diverse voices. The chapter distinguishes everyday extremism from related ideas like mainstreaming and borderline content, emphasising its growing influence and implications. It is often disguised as ‘humorous banter’ yet has serious implications for mental health and online participation. Current policy responses, focused on banning individuals or removing specific content, are insufficient. Instead, the chapter calls for legal frameworks and industry practices centred on promoting safer, more inclusive online environments to counteract the ‘toxic citizenship’ which is flourishing online.
Each seminar will be run twice in order to provide for the global nature of the VOX-Pol Network. The times for the first seminar are as follows, links will be provided on request:
Seminar 1:
- GMT: Tuesday 4th November, 4pm
- EST: Tuesday 4th November, 11am
- AEDT: Wednesday 5th November, 3am
Seminar 2:
- GMT: Tuesday 11th November, 7am
- EST: Tuesday 11th November, 2am
- AEDT: Tuesday 11th November, 6pm
We are seeking speakers for future seminars. If you are a VOX-Pol Member and interested in participating in a seminar please email workshop@dcu.ie to discuss projects and papers at any state of completion.