Dr. Pal is an Assistant Professor at the School of Information at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. His research focuses on the use of technology in the Global South, including accessible technology for people with disabilities and social media use by politicians.

This talk outlines the role of social media in populist electoral campaigns, and highlights the case of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, whose 2014 general election victory was aided by a very effective social media presence. This talk examines strategies of political attack, innuendo, and personal insult in online
political speech.

This is the third in a six-lecture series. The subject is Populism: The Common People in Modern Politics. The next lecture series will start January 11, 2018. The title is Architecture: Shaping Buildings; Shaping Us