The role of media in electoral campaigns in the pandemic era: the case of Kuwait

Abstract

The Arab Gulf state of Kuwait holds the region’s only elections, a unique press, and is home to many displays of free speech. There are many discussions and debates about the capacity and durability of democracy in Kuwait and how it is intertwined with other social, economic and political factors. Yet a gap in the literature concerns the role of mass media and social media, and how the public invests in it and how it may influence voters. Little has been written on how media might influence electoral outcomes in general and electoral campaigns in particular. In this chapter, the author looks at the role of mass and social media in the December 2020 parliamentary election campaign. These elections were held under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic and had many restrictions that raised the importance of digital media. While many commentators believed that the restrictions would help independent candidates overcome graft such as vote buying and block tribal primaries the results of the election were very similar to previous elections. By looking at the micro-level dynamics in campaigning and media, the author develops more clear insights into the literature on elections and media.