Paper short abstract:

In our paper, we will present the fields of communication in mediated cultural war between globalists and localists. We use the approach of social network analysis applied to big data. Our theoretical approach is based on the ritual model of communication.

Paper long abstract:

The political situation after the Cold War and the change in communication technology seemed to make national identity old-fashioned in. Some identified themselves as global citizens. Political leaders, also at the EU level, supported the intermingling of the global and the local. The technological revolution has contributed to the differentiation of the fields of communication of these groups - globalists and localists.

The theoretical-methodological framework of our research stems from the idea that identities can be studied from the perspective of community-produced communication, especially the strengthening of communicative group symbolism. Therefore, we theoretically utilize the ritual model of communication (see Couldry 2012, Sumiala 2011, Carey 2009).

Due to the large amount of source material, we use the approach of social network analysis applied to big data. We collect digital source material from RSS feeds and databases provided by media companies through APIs (Application Programming Interface) that allow access to them in the Python programming language.

Our hypothesis is, that the cultural war of identities in communication technology reinforces communicative group symbolism. We use the media as a window through which the narrative construction of different identities between groups can be seen. Cultural war is fought especially on social media platforms. The information produced by the study will help to elucidate how this type of communication creates divisions that are dangerous for democracy and lead to polarization. Admittedly, as in previous digital media culture research, we take advantage of a comparative perspective between globalists and localists debates.