The Digital Authoritarian: On the Evolution and Spread of Toxic Leadership
Employing a critical approach typical of humanities-based research, this article investigates the changing nature of toxic leadership in our digital world. Drawing on the perspective of media ecology, which asserts that the prevailing communication technologies at a given moment create the social co...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | World |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/4/4/46 |
| _version_ | 1797379030365765632 |
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| author | Brian L. Ott Carrisa S. Hoelscher |
| author_facet | Brian L. Ott Carrisa S. Hoelscher |
| author_sort | Brian L. Ott |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Employing a critical approach typical of humanities-based research, this article investigates the changing nature of toxic leadership in our digital world. Drawing on the perspective of media ecology, which asserts that the prevailing communication technologies at a given moment create the social conditions that, in turn, condition us, the authors illustrate how the digital logics of publicity, intransigence, impertinence, and impulsivity remake the contours of leadership. Based on a critical case study of Elon Musk’s public management of Twitter, which has subsequently been rebranded as “X”, it is argued that the four digital logics transform toxic leadership into digital authoritarianism, an unabashed form of authoritarian rule. A concluding section of the essay explores the implications of this evolution for traditional categories of leadership; the importance of attending to communication technologies in leadership research; and the individual, institutional, and social harms of digital authoritarianism. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:16:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a4f209cda660469d9ac2eaeffaa0ddb3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-4060 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:16:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | World |
| spelling | doaj.art-a4f209cda660469d9ac2eaeffaa0ddb32023-12-22T14:50:16ZengMDPI AGWorld2673-40602023-11-014472674410.3390/world4040046The Digital Authoritarian: On the Evolution and Spread of Toxic LeadershipBrian L. Ott0Carrisa S. Hoelscher1Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65897, USADepartment of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65897, USAEmploying a critical approach typical of humanities-based research, this article investigates the changing nature of toxic leadership in our digital world. Drawing on the perspective of media ecology, which asserts that the prevailing communication technologies at a given moment create the social conditions that, in turn, condition us, the authors illustrate how the digital logics of publicity, intransigence, impertinence, and impulsivity remake the contours of leadership. Based on a critical case study of Elon Musk’s public management of Twitter, which has subsequently been rebranded as “X”, it is argued that the four digital logics transform toxic leadership into digital authoritarianism, an unabashed form of authoritarian rule. A concluding section of the essay explores the implications of this evolution for traditional categories of leadership; the importance of attending to communication technologies in leadership research; and the individual, institutional, and social harms of digital authoritarianism.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/4/4/46digital societypublic managementtoxic leadershipauthoritarianismdigital logicsmedia ecology |
| spellingShingle | Brian L. Ott Carrisa S. Hoelscher The Digital Authoritarian: On the Evolution and Spread of Toxic Leadership World digital society public management toxic leadership authoritarianism digital logics media ecology |
| title | The Digital Authoritarian: On the Evolution and Spread of Toxic Leadership |
| title_full | The Digital Authoritarian: On the Evolution and Spread of Toxic Leadership |
| title_fullStr | The Digital Authoritarian: On the Evolution and Spread of Toxic Leadership |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Digital Authoritarian: On the Evolution and Spread of Toxic Leadership |
| title_short | The Digital Authoritarian: On the Evolution and Spread of Toxic Leadership |
| title_sort | digital authoritarian on the evolution and spread of toxic leadership |
| topic | digital society public management toxic leadership authoritarianism digital logics media ecology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/4/4/46 |
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