DeMoLiSH follows a mixed-methods research design drawing on both quantitative and qualitative data. It approaches xenophobia as a two-dimensional violent practice providing insights into online and offline xenophobic attacks against targets comprising the most diverse nationalities of the migrant population living in Greece (Albanians and Pakistanis), the most significant religious and ethnic minorities frequently targeted (Muslims and Jews), and both statuses of foreign population (migrants and refugees). Using automated content analysis techniques, DeMoLiSH’s researchers collect and process textual data from Twitter and media sources to capture and monitor the Twitter verbal attacks (VA analysis - Objective 1) and the reported xenophobic attacks (Event analysis - Objective 2) against these targets from 2015 to 2022. Looking for the link between xenophobic violent attacks and online hate speech on social media (Objective 3), they will examine potential mechanisms that can show if and how this link occurred. After locating the areas where the xenophobic attacks emerged and around which hate speech is being produced, DeMoLiSH visualizes the spatial dimension of xenophobic attacks.
