French, P (2024) Moral Panic of Islamist Extremism: Elite-Engineered fear harming the Hierarchy of Credibility. Doctoral thesis, Liverpool John Moores University.

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Abstract

Moral panics can lead to substantial changes in a society, but their framework should be re-evaluated in light of the effects of modern communication technology. This study focused on the moral panic surrounding Islamist extremism, including its impact on the Hierarchy of Credibility, the dominance of Western elites in shaping public opinion, and the role of new communication technologies such as the Internet and social media. The study also examined the influence of disinformation on social trustworthiness and the function of elite figures in framing social issues, contributing to mass fear and negative portrayals. The research aimed to enhance academic understanding of moral panic theory by examining the impact of technological advancements on moral panic framework and the roles of social actors, with the goal of modernizing the field. It is crucial for researchers to consider the influence of new communication technologies and address the lack of extensive research on moral panic in the context of terrorism and conspiracy theories. The study used a non-experimental, interpretative case study design, collecting news headlines from Lexis Library, Google search engine, and Facebook, and analysing approximately 2,477 of them thematically. Additionally, approximately 2,500 Facebook comments from 13 selected news articles published in 2016 were collected to examine discourse and frames presented by elite social figures. The research uncovered multiple themes, both quantitative and qualitative, with quantitative data showing that news coverage of terrorism surpassed that of other potentially more hazardous events. This coverage reached its peak in 2017, following a series of Islamist-inspired terrorist attacks in the UK. The study's results indicate that Western elites must be mindful of how sensitive issues are distorted and how this impacts their reputational legitimacy and the trustworthiness of the information they disseminate. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the significance of considering conspiracy theories and the role disinformation plays in shaping public opinion. The analysis of Facebook comments revealed a broad range of concerns, including widespread fear, a deep mistrust of government and news media, and support for extreme solutions. The implications of this study emphasize the relevance of moral panic theory in contemporary society. The research findings illustrate the applicability of moral panic to Islamist terrorism and how elite-driven panics can affect the public's beliefs, resulting in the proliferation of conspiracy theories and the erosion of traditional power structures.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	law
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BJ Ethics T Technology > T Technology (General)
Divisions:	Law
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	22 Aug 2024 09:44
Last Modified:	22 Aug 2024 09:45
DOI or ID number:	10.24377/LJMU.t.00023934
Supervisors:	Panara, C and Burke, L
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/23934

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