“Everyday Nationalism Unleashed Online — Textual Evidence from South Korea During the 2022 World Cup Games ”
Date and Time: March 24, Monday, 2025, 12:30-14:30
Venue: A130 Seminar Room
Speaker:
Hyerin Seo, Michigan State University
Abstract:
This study examines everyday nationalism in the context of the 2022 World Cup within Korean online communities, exploring how individuals voluntarily produce and engage with nationalism in their daily interactions. Using structural text analysis of user comments, it finds that international sports events intensify nationalism by reinforcing distinctions between “my” nation and “other” nations. Rather than creating new divides, these events amplify longstanding national rivalries, particularly those rooted in historical conflicts. Nationalism expressed in this context fosters a sense of belonging and empathy toward one’s own nation while simultaneously reviving deep-seated hostility toward outgroups, most notably Japan. Remarkably, this antagonism persisted even in the absence of a direct Korea-Japan match, underscoring how national identity and ingrained intergroup perceptions shape expressions of everyday nationalism. These findings provide a refined lens to capture the complexities of contemporary nationalism, based on cross-border relations and regional political dynamics.
Short biography:
Hyerin Seo is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at Michigan State University, entering the job market this fall. Her research focuses on nationalism and political behavior, particularly in East Asia. Her dissertation examines how nationalism is reproduced in public discourse and its influence on political perceptions. Using natural language processing (NLP) techniques, she analyzes Korean and Japanese online texts to explore nationalistic sentiments in digital spaces. By understanding how nationalism is shaped by both domestic and international sources and, in turn, influences political actions, her research highlights the broader implications of nationalism in contemporary global politics.