Kurt Sengul's Avatar

Kurt Sengul

@kurtsengul.bsky.social

Political communication and media scholar. Macquarie University postdoctoral research fellow. Researching: the far right, media, populism, fascism, and democracy 🌈 https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=WfjJQqYAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

2,059 Followers  |  1,962 Following  |  107 Posts  |  Joined: 14.08.2023  |  1.8923

Latest posts by kurtsengul.bsky.social on Bluesky

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It’s not often that I find myself recommending Oprah, but this is a powerful insight into how far-right movements benefit from being given mainstream media platforms, despite the best intentions of the journalist to β€œhold them to account”

16.11.2025 08:00 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Very interested Ben! Phenomenal stuff (literally just cited it in the paper I’m writing up).

13.11.2025 22:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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This was a nice surprise!

13.11.2025 05:39 β€” πŸ‘ 72    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks Ben, I’m stoked! I’m really looking forward to mentoring the up-and-comers John Dryzek and Selen 😝

28.10.2025 22:08 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Cheers John! It’s 3 years (I think). I really should know this πŸ˜‚

28.10.2025 08:00 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks Zara!

28.10.2025 07:59 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Feeling incredibly lucky and privileged to be part of a successful ARC Discovery Project application ❀️

β€˜Foreign conflicts, domestic divides: Advancing a deliberative response’

28.10.2025 07:55 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 2
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Sage Journals: Discover world-class research Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

How do non-party actors view far-right parties in Australia? @imogenrichards.bsky.social, Callum Jones, Jordan McSwiney & @kurtsengul.bsky.social explore perceptions & relationships within the far-right ecosystem beyond formal politics. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/NAkMOVU

@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social

26.10.2025 13:01 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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How do non-party actors view far-right parties in Australia? @imogenrichards.bsky.social, Callum Jones, Jordan McSwiney & @kurtsengul.bsky.social explore perceptions & relationships within the far-right ecosystem beyond formal politics. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/RIP41sg

@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social

16.09.2025 21:01 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Far-right figures want to see shift away from Australia's 'legacy' politicians Australia's far-right movement has been buoyed by a wave of recent protests against mass immigration, with some saying the rallies were the "biggest thing that's happened in conservative and nationali...

🚨 I spoke to The ABC for this story on the future of the far right in Australia…

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

13.09.2025 06:38 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@kurtsengul.bsky.social analyses how spaces are used by far-right online communities.
πŸ”·Drawing on #CriticalDiscoursAnalysis & #netography, the analysis the prominent role of spaces in electoral campaigns.
πŸ”·It also shows the need of adapted methods.
⬇️⬇️
bsky.app/profile/kurt...

11.09.2025 10:02 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I wrote this. Every journalist, social media producer and news influencer in Aus should read it & memorise @whiterosesociety.bsky.social principles of reporting.

Huge thank you to @kurtsengul.bsky.social for invaluable expertise, I was very tempted to publish all your answers verbatim. #auspol

05.09.2025 02:37 β€” πŸ‘ 225    πŸ” 78    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 5

Thanks mate, appreciate it! I thought it was one of the best treatments of this topic by @crystaljane.bsky.social

05.09.2025 09:28 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

πŸ’―%. This was a phenomenal write up! One of the best media pieces on this topic

05.09.2025 00:11 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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How to report on neo-Nazis without giving them what they want Media coverage of the anti-immigration marches was a 'propaganda triumph' for Australian neo-Nazis, who use media-baiting tactics to spread their message.

🚨I spoke to Crikey for this story on the need for better media reporting on the far right!

Long story short: stop giving neo-Nazis propaganda wins

www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/05/h...

04.09.2025 23:35 β€” πŸ‘ 51    πŸ” 20    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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How Australia’s anti-immigration rallies were amplified online by the global far right Prominent figures such as Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson are increasingly using social media to unite far-right groups and causes around the world.

🚨 New article in The Conversation from Callum Jones and myself.

We wanted to focus specifically on how the white nationalist rallies were supported and amplified online by far-right actors like Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson

theconversation.com/how-australi...

02.09.2025 07:52 β€” πŸ‘ 31    πŸ” 20    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 3
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How Australia’s anti-immigration rallies were amplified online by the global far right Prominent figures such as Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson are increasingly using social media to unite far-right groups and causes around the world.

🚨 New article in The Conversation from Callum Jones and myself.

We wanted to focus specifically on how the white nationalist rallies were supported and amplified online by far-right actors like Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson

theconversation.com/how-australi...

02.09.2025 07:52 β€” πŸ‘ 31    πŸ” 20    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 3
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I spoke to the ABC about the white nationalist March for Australia rallies taking place this weekend

But one unfortunate downside of researching the far right is being referred to as β€œa far-right researcher” in the media

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

28.08.2025 12:03 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0

Congrats all! Very keen to read

22.08.2025 09:17 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks Sofia! Can’t wait for your book to come out!

19.08.2025 11:13 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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🚨 We have a new article out in Political Studies

Will hopefully be of interest to scholars of the far-right, party politics, social movements, and anyone drawing breath really

Led by the excellent Imogen Richards, & Callum Jones & with Jordan McSwiney & me

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

18.08.2025 12:49 β€” πŸ‘ 37    πŸ” 11    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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🚨 We have a new article out in Political Studies

Will hopefully be of interest to scholars of the far-right, party politics, social movements, and anyone drawing breath really

Led by the excellent Imogen Richards, & Callum Jones & with Jordan McSwiney & me

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

18.08.2025 12:49 β€” πŸ‘ 37    πŸ” 11    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

πŸ˜‚

18.08.2025 09:41 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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(PDF) Harmful Visual Humour on Far-Right Social Media: Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Reactionary Memes PDF | On Jul 22, 2025, Kurt Sengul and others published Harmful Visual Humour on Far-Right Social Media: Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Reactionary Memes | Find, read and cite all the res...

🚨 We’ve added a pre-print of our forthcoming chapter β€˜Harmful Visual Humour on Far-Right Social Media: Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Reactionary Memes’

✍️ The chapter is forthcoming in the Routledge Companion to Social Media and Politics (2026)

www.researchgate.net/publication/...

13.08.2025 09:48 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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AI & memes: How the Trump administration engages in 'memetic warfare' Euronews Culture explores how the Trump administration has taken inspiration from online far-right communities and is using AI-generated memes to communicate on its achievements. And mock its enemies.

I spoke to @euronews.com this week about the Trump administration’s use of Generative AI

www.euronews.com/culture/2025...

09.08.2025 01:42 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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AI & memes: How the Trump administration engages in 'memetic warfare' Euronews Culture explores how the Trump administration has taken inspiration from online far-right communities and is using AI-generated memes to communicate on its achievements. And mock its enemies.

I spoke to @euronews.com this week about the Trump administration’s use of Generative AI

www.euronews.com/culture/2025...

09.08.2025 01:42 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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List some examples of research impact

Me: Uhh, I’m one of the citations on Laura Loomer’s Wikipedia page?

07.08.2025 10:21 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Mobilising LGBTIQA+ issues in Australian Liberal/National Party politics: from same-sex marriage to anti β€˜gender ideology’ There is a long history internationally of socially conservative politicians using negative policy discourse around LGBTQIA+ issues in attempts to mobilise electoral support and wedge political opp...

Blair Williams and I are co-editing a special issue of the Australian Journal of Political Science on LGBTQIA+ politics in Australia πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ πŸ³οΈβ€βš§οΈ

We’re thrilled to see the first paper of the issue now online by Emerita Professor Carol Johnson:

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

06.06.2025 10:20 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The war on woke: continuity and change in Australian anti-elitist discourses The β€˜War on Woke’ is the latest form of populist anti-elitist discourse in Australia. It includes a number of elements already analysed 20 years ago such as the role of the Murdoch print media in c...

Elon Musk is in the news again - and we know he's talked a lot about the 'woke mind virus'. But what does the 'war on woke' look like here in Australia? Check our Marian Sawer & @kurtsengul.bsky.social's new article on the topic in the Australian Journal of Political Science @auspsa.bsky.social

06.06.2025 02:00 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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The war on woke: continuity and change in Australian anti-elitist discourses The β€˜War on Woke’ is the latest form of populist anti-elitist discourse in Australia. It includes a number of elements already analysed 20 years ago such as the role of the Murdoch print media in c...

🚨 Happy to see my new paper with Prof Marian Sawer out in the Australian Journal of Political Science

The good news: it’s open access

The bad news: It’s about the β€œwar on woke”

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

21.05.2025 23:57 β€” πŸ‘ 41    πŸ” 21    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0

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