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Tweeting Beyond Tahrir

Ideological Diversity and Political Intolerance in Egyptian Twitter Networks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 March 2021

Alexandra A. Siegel Open the ORCID record for Alexandra A. Siegel [Opens in a new window] ,
Jonathan Nagler ,
Richard Bonneau  and
Joshua A. Tucker
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Abstract

Do online social networks affect political tolerance in the highly polarized climate of postcoup Egypt? Taking advantage of the real-time networked structure of Twitter data, the authors find that not only is greater network diversity associated with lower levels of intolerance, but also that longer exposure to a diverse network is linked to less expression of intolerance over time. The authors find that this relationship persists in both elite and non-elite diverse networks. Exploring the mechanisms by which network diversity might affect tolerance, the authors offer suggestive evidence that social norms in online networks may shape individuals’ propensity to publicly express intolerant attitudes. The findings contribute to the political tolerance literature and enrich the ongoing debate over the relationship between online echo chambers and political attitudes and behavior by providing new insights from a repressive authoritarian context.

Keywords

Egyptpolitical tolerancesocial networksTwitter
Type
Research Article
Information
World Politics , Volume 73 , Issue 2 , April 2021 , pp. 243 - 274
Copyright
Copyright © Trustees of Princeton University 2021

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