Themes

My dissertation could be at the intersection of some or all of the topics below:

Physics

The Law of the Lever and the importance of the fulcrum’s position in relation to the ‘geometrical’ centre of an ideological/argument axis

Argument constructed based on this article:

https://www.math.nyu.edu/~crorres/Archimedes/Lever/LeverLaw.html 

“Why is it that small forces can move great weights by means of a lever?”

For the fulcrum acts as a centre. There are three elements in the lever, the fulcrum, that is the cord or centre, and the two weights, the one which causes the movement, and the one that is moved: now the ratio of the weight moved to the weight moving it is the inverse ratio of the distances from the centre. Now the greater the distance from the fulcrum, the more easily it will move. The reason has been given before that the point further from the centre describes the greater circle, so that by the use of the same force, when the motive force is farther from the lever, it will cause a greater movement. Let AB be the bar, G be the weight, and D the moving force, E the fulcrum; and let H be the point to which the moving force travels and K the point to which G the weight moved travels.

Using this principle of physics as a starting point for a new political communications theory, is it possible to demonstrate that ‘smaller’ (in actual size/number of supporters/low resources) political/ideologically driven forces can shift the balance of power or the balance in perception of an argument and extend their influence in their favour just by influencing/moving the fulcrum from its ‘central’ position?

Is this related to the way in which fringe, relatively powerless historical political forces have been able to gain considerable political power compared to their initial support just by shifting public perception from a ‘central’ position to a position which gave them more ‘leverage power’?

 

Hölder, Mach, and the Law of the Lever: A Case of Well-founded Non-controversy

Politics

• Larger parties at the centre of the political spectrum are more likely to be representative of their voters than smaller, more extreme parties.
• Left, Right and Beyond: the Pragmatics of Political Mapping (LEQSPaper24.pdf)
• What to Know About the Origins of ‘Left’ and ‘Right’ in Politics, From the French Revolution to the 2020 Presidential Race

Storytelling

• How can a societal force influence the fulcrum’s position to gain more leverage power in an argument through storytelling?
• What is the importance of the geometrical representation of a storyline?

Algorithms

• What role are algorithms playing is the balance of power through the amplification of stories?
• Are major social media algorithms acting as fulcrums? What is their position on the spectrum’s axis?

Propaganda

Communication