Corpus-Assisted Socio-Cognitive Analysis of Power and Ideology in Pakistani Social Media Discourse

Abstract

The present research explores the dynamics of political hate speech on Pakistani social media using a socio-cognitive approach. It emphasizes interplay between societal power structures, ideology and discourse. It delves into how entrenched ideologies and power relations shape both i.e., production and consumption of hate speech. It highlights role of social media as a powerful amplifier within these processes. It also reveals that hate speech on platforms like Twitter not only mirrors existing societal and political cleavages but also intensifies them thus serving as both weapon wielded by the powerful to maintain dominance and tool for opposition groups to challenge the status quo. Analyzing user-generated content it identifies a pattern where hate speech fosters an environment conducive to spread of discriminatory ideologies.  These ideologies perpetuate social and political divisions. It also underlines the significant influence of digital literacy and contextual understanding of hate speech. It suggests that addressing this issue effectively requires more than just content moderation. Findings advocate for comprehensive strategies that include enhancing digital literacy and fostering inclusive political discourse. These strategies aim to mitigate the divisive impact of hate speech and promote a more inclusive and respectful political discourse in Pakistan. Socio-cognitive approach provides a nuanced understanding of how cognitive schemas and societal conditions interact to influence discourse production and reception. This perspective is crucial for policymakers, social media platforms and civil society as it highlights need for a collaborative effort to tackle underlying causes of political hate speech and safeguard democratic discourse in digital age.