DUMONDE

Research Index

Dive into our work. Filter by status, search by topic, or browse the full index.

Foundational Research

Thesis — Approved by Academic Committee. Primary research underpinning DuMonde's work.

Research Work

Digital Nationalism and the Fragmentation of European Identity

This master's thesis examines the intersection of digital technologies and nationalist movements within the European Union, developing a novel framework for 'Preventive Psychosocial Diplomacy' as a complementary approach to existing institutional responses.

Read Full ThesisExplore the series

Understanding Digital Nationalism — Essay Series

1The Tribal Brain: Why We Belong2Us vs. Them: The Construction of Invisible Borders3Moral Emotions: Pride, Disgust and the Sacred in Politics4The Algorithm of Polarisation: How Platforms Amplify Division5Cambridge Analytica: Anatomy of a Manipulation6The New Propaganda: Bots, Trolls and Information Warfare7Toward a New Diplomacy: Emotional Resilience as Public Policy

Working Papers

Standalone academic papers derived from research. Under revision / intended for journal submission.

Working Paper
Working PaperAdvanced

Preventive Psychosocial Diplomacy: A Framework for the EU

The European Union has developed the world's most advanced regulatory framework for platform governance, yet nationalist movements continue to outperform institutional responses on the emotional dimension of political communication.

EU policypreventive diplomacypsychosocial resilienceemotional polarisationdemocratic resilience
40 min
Working Paper
Working PaperAdvanced

The Psychological Architecture of Digital Nationalism

This article synthesises converging evidence from evolutionary psychology, social identity theory, moral psychology, and digital platform research to explain why nationalist movements consistently outperform institutional responses in the emotional domain of European politics.

digital nationalismpolitical psychologymoral emotionsalgorithmic amplificationtribal cognition
35 min
Working Paper
Working PaperIntermediate

Polarization Diagnosis Method

This working paper introduces a systematic approach to measuring and diagnosing polarization in public discourse. Moving beyond binary left-right scales, the method captures affective, cognitive, and structural dimensions of polarization through a multi-layered diagnostic protocol. The approach is designed for researchers, media analysts, and civic organizations seeking to understand polarization not merely as a political phenomenon but as a discursive and emotional one.

polarizationdiagnosismethodologypublic-discourse

Essays — Public Thinking

Research-informed essays for a general audience. Part of the series "Understanding Digital Nationalism".

1Essay
Working PaperIntroductory

The Tribal Brain: Why We Belong

Why does an anthem raise goosebumps? Why does social exclusion hurt like a physical blow? This essay explores the evolutionary roots of human tribalism — from oxytocin to Benedict Anderson's imagined communities — and why those mechanisms make us vulnerable to digital manipulation.

tribalismneuroscienceevolutionary-psychologygroup-identityoxytocin
17 min
2Essay
Working PaperIntroductory

Us vs. Them: The Construction of Invisible Borders

Henri Tajfel survived the Holocaust and devoted his life to understanding how ordinary people come to discriminate. His experiments revealed that an arbitrary categorisation suffices to trigger favouritism. This essay explores Social Identity Theory and its implications for contemporary nationalism.

social-identitytajfelprejudiceidentity-fusioneurope
17 min
3Essay
Working PaperIntroductory

Moral Emotions: Pride, Disgust and the Sacred in Politics

Jonathan Haidt discovered that moral judgements function as visceral reactions, not logical conclusions. This essay explores how moral emotions — especially disgust and outrage — shape our political positions and why nationalist movements exploit them so effectively.

moral-emotionshaidtpolitical-disgustmoral-foundationssacralisation
18 min
4Essay
Working PaperIntroductory

The Algorithm of Polarisation: How Platforms Amplify Division

In 2021, Frances Haugen revealed that Facebook's algorithm optimised for division. This essay analyses how recommendation algorithms amplify divisive content, why false news travels faster, and YouTube's rabbit holes.

algorithmspolarisationfacebookyoutubedisinformationhaugen
19 min
5Essay
Working PaperIntroductory

Cambridge Analytica: Anatomy of a Manipulation

The Cambridge Analytica story is one of how personal data from 87 million Facebook users was used to micro-target political propaganda. This essay examines the mechanisms, the real impact, and the lessons for digital democracy.

cambridge-analyticamanipulationpersonal-datamicro-targetingbrexittrump
18 min
6Essay
Working PaperIntroductory

The New Propaganda: Bots, Trolls and Information Warfare

From Russia's Internet Research Agency to global troll farms, computational propaganda has industrialised the manipulation of public opinion. This essay analyses how these systems operate, their impact on democracies, and why the solution is not merely technological.

computational-propagandabotstrollsrussiadisinformationinformation-warfare
19 min
7Essay
Working PaperIntroductory

Toward a New Diplomacy: Emotional Resilience as Public Policy

If the problems we have explored have psychological roots, the solutions must have them too. This final essay proposes a framework for 'Preventive Psychosocial Diplomacy' and three concrete institutional mechanisms for building collective emotional resilience.

psychosocial-diplomacyresiliencepublic-policyeuropean-unionframework
20 min

Research Notes

Summary of established research findings. Non-peer-reviewed research communication.

Research Note
Working PaperIntroductory

5 Key Findings about Digital Nationalism

If you only have five minutes to understand why politics has become so tribal in the digital age, here are the five most important findings from recent research.

summarykey-findingstribalismalgorithmsdisinformation
4 min
Research Note
Working PaperIntroductory

The Algorithm of Outrage

Digital platforms were not designed to polarise. But their algorithms, optimised to capture your attention, have learnt that nothing retains it better than outrage.

algorithmsoutrageplatformsengagementpolarisation
5 min
Research Note
Working PaperIntroductory

The Paradox of Connection

We have never had more tools to communicate. And we have never felt more divided. The paradox of digital connection reveals that more communication does not equal more understanding.

digital-connectionparadoxcommunicationunderstandingsocial-media
5 min
Research Note
Working PaperIntroductory

Can the EU Compete for Emotions?

Europeists appeal to reason: peace, prosperity, mobility. Nationalists appeal to the heart: pride, belonging, defence of the sacred. On the terrain where politics is truly played, Europe competes with paper weapons against adversaries armed with fire.

european-unionemotionseuropean-identitynationalismbelonging
5 min

Policy Briefs

Evidence-based policy translation. Grounded in peer-reviewed research.

Policy Brief
Working PaperIntermediate

Closing the Emotional Gap: Preventive Psychosocial Diplomacy for the EU

EU counter-disinformation measures address information supply but not psychological demand. This brief proposes complementing existing tools with preventive psychosocial institutions.

EU policypreventive diplomacypsychosocial resiliencepolicy brief
12 min

Independent Papers

Standalone research publications exploring governance, polarization, and institutional design.

Paper
Working PaperAdvanced

Emotional Governance Framework

This paper presents a comprehensive framework for understanding how emotions shape public policy and institutional decision-making. Drawing on affective science, political psychology, and institutional theory, we propose a model that maps the pathways through which collective emotional states influence legislative priorities, regulatory design, and public administration. The framework offers both diagnostic and prescriptive tools for practitioners seeking to build emotionally intelligent governance systems.

emotional-governancepublic-policyinstitutional-design

Participate in Our Research

Join a growing community of researchers, practitioners, and engaged citizens working toward a more conscious understanding of public discourse.

Get Involved