The digital space has increasingly become a platform for spreading extremist ideologies. This Master thesis will systematically review the literature on online strategies employed by fascist movements to promote their ideology. This includes tactics such as sock puppets, strategic misinformation campaigns, the mobilization of online activists, and the use of both bots and paid operatives. Recent cases, such as the sock puppet scandal on German Wikipedia and the true crime cases involving online harassment, will serve as illustrative examples. The goal is to identify patterns and frameworks that explain how the online world can be weaponized for ideological purposes.
 

Disclaimer

The Master's thesis is meant for you to show that you are able to work scientifically. Please keep that in mind. We expect you to apply scientific methods and to submit a scientifically sound result. Our role is to provide you with everything you need to succeed at that. We expect that you create a piece of work that is acceptable for a scientific conference, and we aim to submit it to one. A motivated student who works consistently on the thesis throughout the designated period can expect a very good grade. Details on the process and the format that we use to support you in succeeding with your thesis can be found here: https://cloud.uol.de/s/BHCRrqZ5NM4SfTg

Please submit your grade record, a CV, and three sentences explaining why you applied for this topic in any application. We will not respond to requests with incomplete application documents.

• Conduct a structured literature review on the online strategies employed by fascist groups to promote their ideology.
• Identify and categorize the tactics used, including sock puppets, misinformation campaigns, and coordinated harassment.
• Analyze recent case studies (e.g., German Wikipedia sock puppets, Sikh woman in London, Blake Lively case) to identify common patterns.
• Develop a framework to understand the strategies and their effectiveness across different platforms.
• Derive insights and recommendations for identifying and mitigating these strategies.

• Strong analytical skills to conduct a structured literature review and synthesize findings.
• Ability to develop frameworks that explain complex phenomena.
• Familiarity with academic databases and proficiency in academic writing.
• Commitment to high-quality work, including clear documentation and presentation of findings.