Activation Effect

The Activation Effect provides an understanding of how immigration-related attitudes are formed, shaped, and influenced by various societal and political forces. By framing the research in the context of rising populism and the evolving role of social media, Anne Nielsen draws attention to how democratic processes can be impacted by shifts in public opinion and political narratives surrounding immigration. She explores the broader implications of immigration discourse on democratic stability, outlines how public attitudes can become polarized and discusses the role that social media plays in amplifying or mitigating these divisions. Through an in-depth analysis of the ways in which immigration has been politicized, The Activation Effect is a critical investigation into the tension between democratic ideals and the strategies used by political actors to influence public sentiment.

Dr Anne Nielsen is a scholar of political communication and political psychology whose research examines how media environments shape attitudes towards immigration. Her work focuses on the activation of underlying values through political discourse, with particular attention to the role of social media in amplifying, muting, or polarising public attitudes. She combines large-scale empirical analysis with insights from social psychology to study the relationship between communication, values, and democratic debate. She received her PhD from the European University Institute, where her doctoral research examined the impact of social media on attitudes towards immigration.