Summary of the Article on “The Big Lie”
The article discusses the rise of disinformation and election fraud rhetoric, particularly exemplified by Zohran Mamdani’s recent election as mayor of New York City. Since his victory, a wave of Islamophobic posts and false narratives about election fraud have surged across social media, amplified by various political figures.
Research indicates over 1.15 million Islamophobic posts targeted Mamdani, with false claims ranging from noncitizen voting to fabricated threats from ISIS. Prominent figures, including Steve Bannon, questioned Mamdani’s legitimacy before he even took office, utilizing tactics of delegitimization that echo previous political contests around the world.
This pattern, documented in a 2022 piece, has evolved from reactive to proactive misinformation strategies that undermine democratic outcomes. The Big Lie, an unfounded belief in widespread voter fraud, is now globally contagious, affecting democratic processes in countries like Brazil, Israel, Germany, and Peru. Politicians, employing similar rhetoric to deny election results, damage trust in democratic institutions and normalize perpetual contestability of electoral outcomes.
The piece serves as both an examination of the ongoing disinformation campaign against Mamdani and a reminder of the systemic forces shaping these trends globally, highlighting how the machinery of doubt is used to question the legitimacy of elected officials.
