The Enemy from the Inside:‎ Measurement and Analysis of ‎Delegitimization Discourse in the ‎Political Sphere ‎

This paper investigates the manifestations and dynamics of delegitimization ‎discourse within the political sphere. Focusing on the Israeli political context, ‎the study employs a novel computational algorithm to identify and measure ‎political delegitimization from over two million Hebrew mass-media articles ‎and politicians’ social media posts. The findings reveal the presence of ‎political delegitimization discourse across the entire political spectrum, with ‎increased occurrences preceding elections and events related to Netanyahu’s ‎trial events. The study highlights the involvement of party leaders in such ‎discourse and identifies the act of joining coalitions as a significant factor ‎influencing its decline. The paper contributes to literature by expanding our ‎understanding of delegitimization discourse within the political sphere, ‎providing a methodological framework for its empirical investigation, and ‎raising important questions about its implications. The paper concludes with ‎suggestions for further research and emphasizes the fundamental danger that ‎delegitimization discourse poses to democratic debate.‎