FROM DIGITAL RESENTMENT TO RADICALIZATION:GAMERGATE AS A GATEWAY TO THE ALT-RIGHT

Authors : Mert Can Atar

Pages : 35-51

Doi:10.20875/makusobed.1679380

View : 145 | Download : 414

Publication Date : 2025-11-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study analyzes the role of the GamerGate controversy in the digital evolution of alt-right discourse. Originating from gaming culture, the movement evolved into a radical subculture driven by opposition to woke values and political correctness. The alt-right framed these progressive discourses as elitist, exclusionary, and authoritarian, portraying themselves as culturally displaced. GamerGate facilitated digital radicalization by mobilizing disaffected white, male, and heteronormative users and weaponizing cultural grievances. A qualitative, theoretically grounded, and conceptually informed approach is adopted. The findings show that GamerGate impacted not only gaming culture but also the broader digital public sphere and political communication strategies. Tactics such as trolling, doxxing, and harassment became normalized, contributing to the rise of far-right’s digital mobilization. Ultimately, GamerGate should be viewed as a critical precursor to platform-driven ideological polarization, marking an early stage in the formation of today’s digitally mediated political landscape.
Keywords : GamerGate, alt-right, aşırı sağ, dijital radikalleşme, woke söylem.

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