Election Campaign Research Articles

Exploring the Polarization of American Elites Based on the Analyses of Candidates’ Statements During the 2020 Presidential Election

ABSTRACT The article consists of three parts. The first contains a theoretical analysis of the phenomenon of US political polarization and discusses the main approaches to its explanation, primarily through the prism of the influence of political elites. The authors note a logical contradiction in the existing concepts, which postulate the existence of an “asymmetry” in the influence of elites on polarization in the United States, arguing that the contribution of the Republicans is more destructive than the contribution of representatives of the Democratic Party. The authors find the growth of political polarization, regardless of party preferences (while noting the importance of elite behavior as one of the central factors of political polarization). The second part examines the phenomenon of affective (or emotional polarization), based on the socio-psychological rejection of representatives of an alien political camp. Based on the results of a network analysis of a two-modal network consisting of pre-election messages and topics selected by the authors themselves, the author notes that all candidates, without exception, are prone to emotional affect as part of their election campaign. The third part is devoted to the study of positional (or ideological) polarization, in which the author, on the basis of Latent Dirichlet Allocation analysis, divides the corpus of campaign messages of candidates into separate topics and, through a comparative analysis, finds a significant distance from “bipartisan” topics (i.e. from the political center) among all candidates.

Lаnguаgе аnd Pоlitiсаl Imаgе: Аnаlуsis оf thе Fасеbооk Prоfilеs оf Pеtаr Vоlgin аnd Nikоlа Minсhеv during the Election Campaign for Members of the National Assembly and Members of the European Parliament of the Republic of Bulgaria in June 2024.

Thе аrtiсlе will еxаminе thе rоlе оf lаnguаgе in shаping thе pоlitiсаl imаgе оf twо prоminеnt figurеs during thе 2024 еlесtiоn саmpаign. Thе fосus is оn thеir Fасеbооk pоsts, аnаlуzing thе linguistiс strаtеgiеs usеd аnd thеir impасt оn thе саndidаtеs’ pоlitiсаl imаgе. Thе studу will highlight thе impоrtаnсе оf sосiаl mеdiа аs а plаtfоrm fоr pоlitiсаl соmmuniсаtiоn аnd suppоrtеrs’ mоbilizаtiоn, аs wеll аs thе nееd tо аdаpt lаnguаgе tо thе spесifiс саpаbilitiеs оf еасh plаtfоrm fоr еffесtivе vоtеr еngаgеmеnt. Thе аrtiсlе will аlsо еmphаsizе thе signifiсаnсе оf using lаnguаgе аs а kеу tооl fоr pеrsuаsiоn аnd influеnсing publiс pеrсеptiоn.

Ferociously Cute

Indonesia’s 2024 presidential election campaign was shaped by an alliance struck between outgoing incumbent Joko (Jokowi) Widodo and a former rival, Prabowo Subianto, who chose Jokowi’s son as his running mate. The seeming affirmation of dynastic power drew criticism, as did Prabowo’s former associations with the authoritarian New Order regime and its human rights abuses. But Prabowo remade his image with his promises of free school lunches and a new “cute” persona while pledging continuity with his popular predecessor’s administration, demonstrating the ambiguities of Indonesian democracy a quarter-century after the end of the New Order era.

The future is (ever) promising: Elected representatives’ promises in routine parliamentary discourse

This study investigates how elected representatives make promises to the electorate as part of their routine, everyday parliamentary discourse. Departing from the dominant focus on pre-election pledges in existing scholarship, we examine how representatives’ practices of making promises vary systematically over time (before/after elections/mid-term), by government role (government/opposition), party membership (catch-all/identity-based parties), and addressed electorate (inclusive/exclusive). Drawing upon research in speech acts, political discourse, and corpus pragmatics, we employ manual and computational text analysis on session transcripts from the Israeli parliament to identify variations in representatives’ use of direct or indirect action promises ( N = 709), expressing different orientations of commitment. Documenting that promises continue to be prevalent after elections (especially among coalition members), we argue that the practices of making promises fulfill a critical role in representation that extends far beyond the election campaign, maintaining continuous accountability throughout the electoral cycle.

Emociones y liderazgos políticos en las elecciones al Parlamento de Andalucía de 2022 en X

Social networks have become in recent years as essential elements in order to building political discourses, especially in electoral periods. Political parties develop specific strategies to communicating with their constituents through these platforms, based on leadership and the use of emotions. This research aims to analyze the communication strategies deployed by political leaders on Twitter during the Andalusian Parliament election campaign in 2022, and for this purpose, a quantitative and qualitative content analysis methodology is applied to a sample of 690 tweets in the personal accounts of the candidates of the six parties with parliamentary representation. An advance of the results points to a communicative planning previously designed, that builds a discourse based on thematic lines, strategies, approaches and, especially, feelings according to the ideological, programmatic and mobilizing axis established by each political formation.

Hybridity and Paradox: The Cultural Bridge of Gen Z (A Critical Multimodal Discourse Analysis on the X Account @Aniesbubble)

Social media, such as Twitter, enable immediate and delayed interaction with a wide audience. Online personas of political figures, such as the X account @aniesbubble, are in the spotlight in the 2024 election campaign, especially in attracting the attention of potential young voters in Indonesia. This research aims to ana-lyze the critical multimodal discourse on X @aniesbubble account in the context of the 2024 election political campaign. The main focus is to understand how multimodal ele-ments are used to shape opinions and interactions with audiences, as well as the implica-tions of using this strategy in cultural and political contexts. This research uses a qualita-tive method with a multimodal critical discourse analysis approach. The main data was taken from the X @aniesbubble account in the time period before the general election until the determination of the election winner. The analysis was conducted based on Norman Fairclough's theory, which includes three levels of analysis: text, discursive practice and social praxis. Additional data was obtained from relevant books, news articles, and journal articles. The research found that the @aniesbubble X account succeeded in creating an authentic and attractive political persona for the younger generation through the use of glocalization and cultural hybridity strategies. The account also demonstrates the dynamic interaction between global and local influences, and is able to convert social capital into economic capital through the active participation of fans. The findings suggest that social media plays an important role in shaping political and cultural narratives.

An ethnography of voting in the Punjab elections 2022 as social practice: Liminal spaces of symbolic change

ABSTRACT The paper attempts to look at the factors leading to the victory of the Aam Aadmi Party which have not been taken up by the traditional political analysis. Making an ethnography of the Punjab assembly elections 2022 in the Malwa belt of Punjab, it chronicles the social and cultural impact of the farmer’s movement, particularly its far-reaching impact on changing the mood of the electorate. The paper also focuses on the novel digital election campaign which resulted in new election outcomes from the past trends and a massive victory for the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab.

United for what and for whom? An analysis of White Christian nationalism in a 2023 school board election campaign

Public school board elections have become cultural battlegrounds as groups with opposing views on education, politics, religion, and social and cultural issues vie to shape public education, their communities, and the nation. To date, little research has examined White Christian nationalism as a political force shaping these elections. This paper analyzes the November 2023 State College Area School District (SCASD) school board election in a polarized Pennsylvania town, focusing on the five “United for SCASD” candidates. Using public data (e.g., Facebook, websites, radio interviews, emails from candidates to board and administrators), the paper examines how these candidates’ rhetoric – largely drawing on Civil Rights-era minoritarian framing – mobilized key White Christian nationalist tropes such as persectuion and voicelessness. The findings explore how candidates characterized desirable versus undesirable types of unity and diversity. For instance, they advocated for focusing on students’ “common humanity” and teaching American exceptionalism as unifying strategies, argued for “parents’ rights” to opt children out of objectionable material, and asserted the need for “viewpoint diversity” on the board. However, they opposed the board’s alleged ideological uniformity and “divisive” initiatives and curricula focusing on systemic inequities, especially concerning race/racism and gender. The data show some evidence of White Christian nationalist tropes, particularly beliefs in American exceptionalism, the trope of persecution and voicelessness, the assertion of a common cultural template for US public schools, and us-them binaries, in this case, between liberal board members and their constituents versus the U4SCASD slate and more "conservative," often rural, families.

GEOPOLITICAL CHALLENGES OF POST-ELECTION TURKEY: THE ISSUE OF REFUGEES FROM SYRIA

Due to its geostrategic position, Turkey has taken in a large number of Syrian refugees since 2011. As a result, the country currently has the largest number of refugees in the world, which has had significant repercussions for domestic and foreign policies, as well as the socio- economic situation. Turkey's 2023 election campaign focused on the Syrian refugee crisis, with Erdogan and the opposition presenting their approaches to solving the problem. The outcome of the elections had a far-reaching impact on millions of Syrian refugees, drawing enormous attention from both the Turkish public and the international community as a whole. This media- based qualitative study examines the implications of Turkey's policy on Syrian refugees, particularly in the context of the May 2023 elections. The study analyzes the current status of refugees in Turkey and the attitude of the Syrian government towards them. It examines the changing positions of Turkey's new government and provides a comprehensive understanding of the region's complex political dynamics and current challenges. Erdogan's re-election appears to have ended his willingness to negotiate with Damascus, suggesting he remains skeptical that Damascus will be able to solve its key problems, particularly its ability to stem PKK attacks from northeastern Syria if Turkey withdraws its troops. However, as the 2024 municipal elections approach, it is clear that Erdogan's Syria policy will once again be in the spotlight. The stakes will be high for all political actors, and the outcome of the election could have a major impact on the future direction of Turkish foreign policy. The study concludes that one of the key factors influencing Turkey's anti-refugee attitude is the host society's concern about the current impact of refugees on the country's economic, social, and cultural structure. The results of this study also show that, in addition to internal factors, other factors can strongly influence the future direction of Turkish policy toward Syrian refugees. In particular, the inadequate solution to the refugee problem at the global level, the unstable influence of the EU, but also other international aspects, including the interests of Russia, are emphasized.

OS IMPACTOS DAS FAKE NEWS POTENCIALIZADO PELA INTELIGÊNCIA ARTIFICIAL NOS RESULTADOS DE CAMPANHAS ELEITORAIS

Considering that innovation technology brings benefits, but also negative impacts on society and human relations, a bibliographic study was carried out with the objective of investigating the influence of the use of artificial intelligence algorithms to disseminate Fake News on public opinion, as well as the their decision-making in the process of choosing candidates for majority positions, which may compromise the integrity of the electoral process. A bibliographic review was carried out on the object of study, based on the systematic reading of scientific articles published and selected through the Google Scholar and SCIELO databases. Furthermore, practical cases were studied in which AI was used to propagate false information in electoral contexts and possible changes in election results, exemplifying the ethical challenges faced in the application of artificial intelligence in electoral contexts, disinformation and political communication. The analysis of the results shows that the case study of recent elections indicates that the use of fake news enhanced by artificial intelligence can induce voters to make mistakes and compromise their freedom of choice in elections, directly influencing ethics and those responsible for the election. use of technological tools in society and in human relations regarding their decision-making power and choice of candidates. Therefore, there is an urgent need for government measures, regulation of social networks and digital platforms to guarantee fairer and more transparent electoral campaigns, preserving democratic integrity.

Election campaign finance bans and corruption: effectiveness across parliamentary and presidential democracies

Election campaign finance bans and corruption: effectiveness across parliamentary and presidential democracies

Before and after. Italian MPs and political communication

ABSTRACT The crisis of political representation has several explanations, including the collapse of trust in political institutions and the weakening of the role of the party as an intermediary between voters and elected representatives. This is counterbalanced by a strategy of individual representation pursued by politicians. This article aims to examine representation in Italy through a highly innovative approach, that of the strategic communication of the elected during the electoral campaign and in office: not only the parliamentary work of the elected, but also the overall analysis of the electoral campaign and constituency communication. The study identifies changes in representation, including functional and thematic autonomy from the party, personalization of activities, promotion of independent communication tools, and party-independent agendas. It also highlights the backstage structuring of a new relationship between voters and elected representatives in politics. A study conducted on 150 Italian parliamentarians in Chamber of Deputies (17th Legislature, 2013–18) revealed varying logics of representation based on their political affiliation, career paths, and individual characteristics.

Tweet like Trump: Political branding and Twitter usage among congressional candidates in 2020 and 2022

AbstractObjectiveWe examine how congressional candidates use social media such as Twitter (X) to promote a political brand and connect with voters during campaigns.MethodsUsing a mixed‐method, interdisciplinary approach, we first conduct a brand analysis using 22 candidates from 11 open‐seat races in 2020. We develop and test several hypotheses using our races from 2020 and the subsequent contests in these districts in 2022, as well as the universe of tweets from all congressional candidates from the 2020 and 2022 general election campaigns (n = 789,411).ResultsWe find the three prominent themes present in our brand analysis—the adoption of gender roles, the mimicking of Trump, and expressions of populism—persist when we examine the Twitter posts from congressional candidates in 2020 and 2022. Male and female candidates behave differently on Twitter as do Republicans and Democrats. Most Republican candidates, regardless of gender, mimic the Trump brand rife with populist themes.ConclusionWe integrate research from political science and communication studies to gain a better understanding of how congressional candidates present their political brand to voters. We raise new questions scholars from the social sciences must consider while studying these phenomena in a fast‐evolving political and social media landscape.

Lula, the people’s guy: populism, liberal democracy and voting in Brazil

Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork with Workers’ Party supporters in Northeast Brazil, and analysis of electoral campaign materials, I show that left-wing populist discourse can activate aspects of a traditional and apparently illiberal political culture that are compatible with liberal democracy, particularly the principles and ideals of representation, accountability and redistribution of economic growth. By political culture, I refer to the intersection between, on the one hand, cultural aspects such as religion, power relations rooted in history and life trajectories dictated by political and economic constraints, and, on the other hand, political discourses, leaders and policies. Moreover, I show that Workers’ Party voters are not irrational actors, as some scholars of populism argue, but vote for politicians and parties that radically transformed their lives. Using Northeast Brazil as a case study, the paper contributes to debates about the relationship between populism and liberal democracy, showing how the two are not incompatible.

Social media politics: Analysis of political elite image construction in multiple country elections

This article examines how political leaders use social media to shape their image during elections. Social media and digital platforms have changed political communication, allowing politicians to craft their image carefully. Social media has changed politics, yet misinformation and public opinion manipulation are concerns. Politicians' online avatars may misrepresent their goals and policies, overshadowing public policy discussions. This study uses a comprehensive analysis of the literature from the Scopus database to analyze how political elites shape their social media image during elections in different nations. This research examines how political leaders use social media to shape their public persona during election campaigns in several countries. The results will reveal political elites' social media image-building strategies during elections, including personalized methods, visual cues' impact on engagement, and preferred platforms for visual communication. This extensive study of the long-term consequences of visual communication tactics shows that politicians’ use of social media to convey stories has a lasting impact on public perception and engagement in politics.

Party identification as a mediating variable in the perception of governmental legitimacy in Israel during the coronavirus epidemic

AbstractObjectiveThe policy implemented in Israel with the purpose of eradicating the COVID‐19 pandemic restricted Israeli citizens’ individual freedom. During this period, Israel was suffering from government instability that led to recurring election campaigns within a short period. In addition, the prime minister was under legal investigation for suspicions of government corruption. This study examines the legitimization of government by the Israeli public during the COVID‐19 pandemic.MethodsThe research findings are based on a representative attitude survey conducted by a survey company among Israeli citizens (men and women older than 18), including 604 respondents from the Jewish population and others and another 135 respondents from the Arab sector, that is, a total of 739 respondents, where the sampling error was 4.4 percent.ResultsThe findings indicate that right‐wing voters tended to support governmental legitimization at a higher rate compared to voters from opposing blocs. Correspondingly, they tended to oppose claims attacking governmental legitimization at a lower rate in comparison to coalition party voters.ConclusionThe conclusion indicates that the party identification of the respondents is a mediating variable in their perception of governmental legitimacy vis‐à‐vis each of the three variables examined, thereby strengthening the perceptual screening.

The strategic use of ethnic and religious identity in Nigerian elections by the two dominant political parties

ABSTRACT This article examines the use of religion and ethnicity during elections in Nigeria. Nigeria’s diverse ethno-religious landscape has profoundly shaped its political dynamics, and political parties often leverage these identities to gain electoral advantage. During elections, Nigerians tend to align with political parties based on the party’s religious ideology. Self-serving politicians and political parties have turned to religion as a campaign tool. This is a qualitative study using the narrative method. Data was gathered from semi-structured interviews with 11 purposively selected informants and from relevant academic literature. Documentary analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study were presented thematically, thus: a) the resurgence of political religion; b) the rise of religious populists; c) the emergence of militarizated non-state actors; d) the targets of Christian religious voters; e) the targets of ethnic groups from southern Nigeria; f) the target of state apparatus; g) bad leadership; and h) the institutionalisation of authoritarianism. During election campaigns, Nigerians vote for candidates with particular religious or ethnic identities due to the fear of losing their lives or properties.

Verbal and Nonverbal Communication of Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates During the Third and Fourth Debates of the 2024 Election: A Semiotic Analysis by Charles Sanders Peirce

As presidential and vice-presidential candidates seek to capture public attention and understanding, they often employ innovative and creative methods. Both verbal and nonverbal messaging play a crucial role in this process. Therefore, understanding the verbal and nonverbal communication of a potential national leader is essential to prevent future misunderstandings. This study aims to analyze the political verbal and nonverbal communication of presidential (capres) and vice-presidential (cawapres) candidates during the third and fourth debates of the 2024 election using Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotic analysis. The primary focus of this research is to understand how the concepts of Sign, Object, and Interpretant are used by the candidates to convey their political messages during the debates. The methodology employed is qualitative, utilizing a semiotic analysis approach, which allows the researcher to elucidate the meanings behind the signs and symbols used in political communication. The study finds that the use of certain symbols significantly influences voter perceptions of the candidates. Additionally, the research highlights that signs play a critical role in the effectiveness of political communication, where gestures, facial expressions, and body language enhance the candidates' appeal and credibility in the eyes of the voters. These findings are expected to contribute to the development of more effective political communication strategies in future election campaigns.

Walking the line of the double bind: A cross-country comparison on women and men politicians’ self-presentations on social media

Abstract Political leaders play a crucial role in shaping societal perceptions and citizens’ expectations of gender roles. Through their self-presentation on social media, political leaders have the power to either reinforce or challenge existing gender stereotypes, thereby influencing how citizens perceive and interpret gender norms. However, research on how women and men politicians present themselves on social media is scarce. This comparative study contributes to remedying this research gap by content analysing the official Facebook and Instagram pages of 18 political leaders during the 2021 national election campaigns in Germany and Norway. In contrast to earlier research on gendered presentations of politicians in the news, we did not find strong evidence of gendered self-presentations in either country, neither in terms of personalisation nor in terms of gender issue ownership. This could be because gender roles in Germany and Norway have become more fluid, or because the successful politicians we have analysed have been successful due to their ability to “walk the double bind” of needing to conform to both masculine and feminine gender expectations. Our study calls for more comparative research into this field, including studies of lower profile politicians and politicians in countries with lower degrees of gender equality.

Stylistic analysis of election campaign visuals in the secure and intensely competitive constituencies of the 2021 Sarawak State Election

This study analysed election campaign visuals in the secure and intensely competitive constituencies of Kuching and Kota Samarahan during the 2021 Sarawak State Election. Using Crystal and Davy’s (1969) framework of stylistic analysis and Benoit’s (2017) functional theory of political campaign communication, 20 posters and 12 banners were analysed to examine their graphetic, typographical and textual features. Findings show that graphetically, the campaign visuals in secure constituencies often used images to acclaim past achievements while those in intensely competitive constituencies reflected the electorate’s dissatisfaction to attack. Typographically, the campaign visuals in the secure constituencies only used capitalisation whereas those in intensely competitive constituencies used capital letters, questions marks, and exclamation marks. Analysis of textual choices reveals the presence of explicit messages in phrasal form in the election posters and banners in both the secure and intensely competitive constituencies.