Economic growth that favored urban areas created a social wedge that was exploited by a coordinated international operation. It's the same pattern, and even a lot of the same people in Brazil, the UK, Hungary, Turkey, and the US.
It is simple to manipulate angry people with nationalist propaganda. You appeal to a sense of aggrievement to create unity among a marginalized group, manufacture an enemy to exploit fear and anger, and associate adversaries with that enemy to override rational behavior. Then exploit the divisions that creates in your enemy.
Facebook is the greatest gift to authoritarians in the history of humanity. It may be that a few hundred people will control the world at this rate.
It is simple to manipulate angry people with nationalist propaganda. You appeal to a sense of aggrievement to create unity among a marginalized group, manufacture an enemy to exploit fear and anger, and associate adversaries with that enemy to override rational behavior. Then exploit the divisions that creates in your enemy.
Facebook is the greatest gift to authoritarians in the history of humanity. It may be that a few hundred people will control the world at this rate.