VICTIM-PERPETRATOR REVERSAL:
The powerful verbalise their ‘fear’ of a dangerous ‘other’, provoking resentment in those demonised, then use their privileged media access to describe how ‘fearful’ they feel as a result, thus encouraging & legitimising the same emotions in others.
The powerful verbalise their ‘fear’ of a dangerous ‘other’, provoking resentment in those demonised, then use their privileged media access to describe how ‘fearful’ they feel as a result, thus encouraging & legitimising the same emotions in others.
Boris Johnson's 'letter boxes’ & 'bank robbers' comments were classic ‘dogwhistles’: racist & provocative language designed to encourage others to express their disapproval & prejudice, & feel legitimised by his description of the item of clothing as ‘oppressive & ridiculous’.
In 2001, asylum seekers were targeted by Tony Blair to try & neutralise the appeal of the far-right BNP, but the political climate shifted to the right as New @UKLabour sought to maintain popularity, in the process bringing marginal & bigoted opinions into the mainstream.
"Acts of labelling in the political domain, far from being self-evident, or a law of the natural world, constitute a form of continuing political ‘work’ on the part of the élites of power; they are often the opening salvo in the whole process of political control" (Hall 1974).
Job done.
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