Political Campaigns Research Articles

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN INCREASING RURAL GENERATION Z PARTICIPATION IN THE 2024 ELECTIONS : A STUDY IN SUNGAI ANA VILLAGE, SINTANG DISTRICT

This research investigates the role of social media in increasing the political participation of Generation Z in rural areas, especially Sungai Ana Village, Sintang District during the 2024 General Election. Using a mixed methods approach, this research combines a literature review, survey, in-depth interviews, social media content analysis, and observation participatory to collect comprehensive data. These findings reveal that social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp are very important for increasing political awareness among Generation Z users in Sungai Ana Village, Sintang District. About 91% of respondents rely on social media as their main source of political information, and admit that these platforms help them better understand political issues and candidates. These findings highlight the need for increased media literacy and critical thinking skills to combat the spread of fake news. The study concludes with recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of improving internet infrastructure in rural areas, promoting educational campaigns on media literacy, and fostering collaboration between governments, educational institutions, and social media platforms to develop effective political education initiatives. By overcoming these challenges and harnessing the potential of social media, Generation Z's political engagement in rural areas, especially in Sungai Ana Village, can be significantly increased, resulting in more active and informed participation in the democratic process

Digital political campaigning: contemporary challenges and regulation

ABSTRACT How can multiple organizational, social, and political actors effectively address the contemporary challenges of digital political campaigning? We proceed by reviewing the increased theoretical and empirical importance of digital political campaigning. We discuss the new research advances in the field and acknowledge the necessity for interdisciplinary research given the rapidly evolving techniques and the imminent positive and negative risks of digital campaigning. We present a multi-level actor approach for dealing with the risks of digital political campaigning. We outline the contribution of this issue and identify relevant gaps for future research.

The Impact of Social Media on Political Mobilization in Nigeria: A Case Study of the Obidient Movement

This study demonstrates how the social media can be used for political mobilization, using the obidient movement as a case study. The emergence of the Obidient Movement in Nigeria has been intimately associated with the way in which the development of social media platforms has revolutionised political communication. This article looks at how social media affects political mobilisation in Nigeria, with a particular emphasis on the remarkable role that technology-driven communication played in the Obidient Movement’s success. The conventional boundaries of political campaigning have been rewritten with the rise of social media, giving non-traditional influencers, grassroots activism, and digital activism a greater chance to shape political discourse and election outcomes. The study employed the Uses and Gratification theory, to deduce how citizens were mobilized via social media to join the obidient movement. To achieve this, the study relied on qualitative research method that examines and synthesizes extant literature on political mobilization and the particular relevant literature on social media and political mobilization. The outcome of the study shows that despite the proliferation of fake news and misinformation on social media, it served as a tool for political mobilization for the obidient movement, as obidients used social media to form alliances, crowdfund, mobilse political support and interact with a wider audience. By exploring the pivotal role of social media in the recent Nigerian election, this article illuminates the transformative potential of these platforms in reshaping political mobilization and generating support for previously underrepresented political forces in the nation.

Digital Democracy in India: How Social Media Shapes Political Narratives?

Social media has significantly impacted the landscape of Indian electoral politics, transforming the dynamics of political campaigning and voter engagement. The adoption of platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram in Indian political campaigns represents a fundamental shift in how political messages are crafted and disseminated. The 2014, 2019, and 2024 general elections highlight the strategic role of these platforms in shaping electoral outcomes. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has employed social media not only as a tool for broadcasting campaign messages but also for creating interactive, data-driven strategies that personalize voter engagement. This paper examines the multifaceted impact of social media on Indian politics, including its influence on voter behaviour, campaign strategies, and public opinion. It explores both the empowering aspects of digital engagement and the challenges, such as misinformation, echo chambers, and algorithmic biases. The aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how social media has redefined political communication and its implications for democratic processes in India.

Relationship between Media Coverage and Public Opinion during Political Campaigns in South Africa

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between media coverage and public opinion during political campaigns in South Africa. Materials and Methods: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study indicated that media coverage significantly influences public opinion by shaping perceptions, framing issues, and highlighting particular aspects of candidates and policies. During political campaigns, the media serves as a primary source of information for the electorate, often determining the salience of issues and the prominence of candidates. Extensive and favorable media coverage can enhance a candidate's visibility and credibility, potentially swaying undecided voters and reinforcing the views of supporters. Conversely, negative coverage can damage a candidate's public image and diminish their support base. The framing of news stories, the selection of topics, and the tone of coverage play critical roles in this process. For instance, media emphasis on certain campaign issues can lead to a phenomenon known as agenda-setting, where the public perceives these issues as more important. Additionally, the portrayal of candidates through specific narratives can influence voter perceptions, contributing to the formation of public opinion. The interplay between media coverage and public opinion underscores the media's power in shaping political landscapes and affecting electoral outcomes. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Agenda-setting theory, framing theory and spiral of silence theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the relationship between media coverage and public opinion during political campaigns in South Africa. From a practical standpoint, political campaigns must adopt strategic media engagement to shape public opinion effectively. In terms of policy, there is a pressing need for regulations that promote accountability and transparency in media coverage during political campaigns.

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.

Political marketing mix and the influence of social media promotion on voting decision through perceived value: a study of the 2020 South Tangerang city election

This research aims to examine the influence of Marketing Mix (4P) variables consisting of product, price, place, and promotion, perceived value, and vote decision. The approach used in this research is a quantitative approach. The sample used in this research is the community in South Tangerang City registered in the Permanent Voter List in the 2020 South Tangerang City Regional Election, totaling 175 respondents. Research data was obtained from the result of filling out a questionnaire and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling analysis techniques with the help of the Smart PLS program. The results of this research show that (i) Political Product affects the voting decision; the higher the political product possessed by the political candidate, the higher the voting decision, and vice versa; (ii) Political Price affects the voting decision; the higher the Political Price, the higher the voting decision, and vice versa; (iii) Political Place does not have a significant effect on voting decision, which means that people in South Tangerang City prefer promotion through social media; (iv) Political Promotion affects the Voting Decision; the higher the Political Promotion, the higher the Voting Decision, and vice versa; (v) Political Promotion affects perceived value; the higher the political promotion, the higher the perceived value in the community, and vice versa; (vi) Perceived Value affects the Voting Decision; the higher the Perceived Value, the higher the Voting Decision, and vice versa; (vii) Perceived Value positively mediates the relationship between Political Promotion and Voting Decision. The promotion variable has the highest value and the strongest influence on voting decision. In general, the conclusion drawn from this research is that the implementation of Marketing Mix (4P) is important in influencing the voting decision of the community in South Tangerang City. Political candidates can pay attention to these aspects to strengthen their advantage in future political contests.

Network Flow of Campaign Discourses and News Frames: The Changing Fortunes of Twitter/X as a Conduit for Frame-Building

ABSTRACT Periodic changes continue to impact the fortunes of Twitter as a political communication and news-sharing platform, particularly among diverse individual and institutional African users. Yet few studies provide empirical insights into Twitter’s changing role in campaign communication and its influence on news frame-building across the region, mainly in Nigeria. This study bridges the gap by analysing n = 763 tweets to determine how the political campaign discourse strategies in the tweeting activities of two prominent candidates influenced the news frame-building practices of mainstream newspapers during the four months of Nigeria’s 2019 presidential campaign. Findings affirm that the Twittersphere served as a playground where candidates deployed diverse discourse frames correlating with political agendas to show their intent to integrate Twitter into their campaign communication strategies. Moreover, the candidates’ tweets contribute to the journalistic frame-building process, although the newspapers tend to focus more on frame-setting than frame-sending due to the dynamic nature of journalistic content production across individual news outlets.

Political Campaign of the Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan (PDI-P) during the New Order and Reform Era

Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan (PDI-P) is a political party in Indonesia that has gone through an era of change, from the New Order era to the Reform Era. PDI-P has experienced ups and downs in General Election results since the party was founded. PDI-P's continued success to date cannot be separated from the political campaign strategy they implemented. This research discusses the political campaign strategies carried out by the PDI-P using various methods. This research uses a qualitative approach by analyzing various articles discussing the PDI-P political campaign. The results of this research are that the PDI-P experienced a change in campaign strategy between the New Order and the Reformation. PDI-P, which initially had limited means and difficult situations during the New Order era, was able to find various campaign methods since the Reformation era which then led them to success since 2014.

CORRUPTION AND POLITICAL PARTY PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC; FOCUS ON PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY

One of the perennial challenges facing the Nigerian polity is corruption and the political space was not left out in this regard. Despite the fact that political parties are the bedrock of democratic settings as they perform the functions of political recruitment, socialization, articulation as well as strengthening the competition in the political space, lack of ideology, corrupt practices and intra-party contradictions have hindered them from meeting their expectations. This paper interrogated the effects of corruption on political party performance in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic with much focus on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and to proffer solutions on how the menace could be curbed to enhance the internal democracy and potential of the PDP to capture the state power. The paper adopted qualitative research method through the use of secondary data such as journals, textbooks and periodicals and also utilized the clientelism model as a framework of analysis. The study reveals that corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of all democratic institutions in the state including the political parties as the electoral processes have been monetized beyond reasonable doubt. The study, therefore, recommended among others that the democratic institutions in the state such as political parties and the electoral commission be strengthened so as to promote good governance, values ethics and national prosperity. Again, there should be focus on meritocracy in selecting the leadership of political parties and party candidates rather than emphasis on nepotism and relying on patron-client agreements where the patrons decide who and how leaders are elected. This will go along to establish a just, fair and an egalitarian society.

National ideologies and community awareness in propaganda slogans: A critical discourse analysis in the context of Vietnam

Slogans have long been an essential instrument of mobilization and propaganda in Vietnamese politics, and propaganda slogans have historically been regarded as significant instruments that can be utilized effectively to spread information in virtually every country on earth. Furthermore, it is supposed that these slogans can mirror various facets of society. Utilized by institutions and organizations as a form of discourse, propaganda slogans are nearly encountered by the general public and are intended to promote political campaigns or objectives. In view of critical discourse analysis, the objectives of the present study are to delineate, examine, and identify the sense of national ideologies and community consciousness that are intrinsic to the slogans' language. The study employed the mixed method of document and descriptive analysis. The sample included 900 Vietnamese slogans randomly collected from social networking sites on the internet; from guidelines and propaganda work directions of several ministries, sociopolitical organizations, and associations; and from the process of observing, recording, and photographing slogans on streets, offices, schools or other public places in many different localities. The findings of the study indicated that propaganda slogans can be regarded as both a discourse and a social entity. The language employed in propaganda slogans is regarded not only as a reflection of societal norms and values but also as a social convention encompassing various linguistic aspects, such as the use of vocabulary, grammar and speech acts. Furthermore, propaganda slogans serve as conduits through which various facets of society can be observed, as they are interconnected with the institutional framework and the systems of human perspectives and values.

La cerimònia dels Jocs Florals i la «glorificació» dels poetes catalans morts: del Parc de la Ciutadella al «Parc del Renaixement»

In 1908, the poet and publisher Francesc Matheu proposed the permanent public “glorification” of a group of Catalan poets he considered symbols of Catalonia’s 19th-century literary renaissance, through the installation of a series of monumental busts in Barcelona’s Ciutadella Park, continuing thereby the initiative to erect there a monument to Bonaventura Carles Aribau in 1884. The proposal resulted in the unveiling of six busts between 1908 and 1913 with the aim to transform a space that had been a symbol of the military repression of the city into a site of memory for the movement known as Renaixença resorting to the symbolic capital of the Jocs Florals as a pacifying and “civilising” device. This article aims to analyse the controversies triggered by Matheu’s proposal and the forcefulness with which it was questioned by the different political and cultural actors in the context of the Solidaritat Catalana movement, the political campaign that would culminate in the constitution of the Mancomunitat de Catalunya in 1914, and the construction of the “ideal Barcelona” as the capital of the imagined “Catalunya-Ciutat”.

Going negative when spoiled for choice? Destabilizing and boomerang effects of negative political messaging in multiparty systems with multimember districts

ABSTRACT Classical electoral behaviour theories have associated possible benefits of negative campaigning with two-party plurality systems due to their zero-sum nature. Nevertheless, negative campaigning is a widely used electoral strategy outside of these contexts, despite scant evidence of its benefits for political parties and candidates who employ it. Our research question is simple – is negative campaign messaging effective for attackers in multiparty systems with multimember districts? Or does it create a ‘boomerang effect’ in this context, for which the producer of the message faces a backlash? Multiparty systems with multimember districts should, according to the literature, be scenarios where the effects of negative campaigning are most complex if not unpredictable. This paper uses Facebook political messages to inform a survey experiment design that tests the effects of negative political messaging on voters. We employ this survey in Ireland, which uses the single transferable vote, an electoral system which magnifies outcome uncertainty for attackers. Our results suggest that negative messaging in this context produces both the intended effect and a boomerang effect for the sponsor of the message. These countervailing results suggest a net null effect for the efficacy of negative messaging.

Persuasion and gender: experimental evidence from two political campaigns

AbstractWe investigate differential responses by gender to competitive persuasion in political campaigns. We implemented a survey and a field experiment during two mayoral elections in Italy. Eligible voters were exposed to a positive or negative campaign by an opponent. The survey experiment used on-line videos and slogans. The field experiment used door-to-door canvassing. In both experiments, gender differences emerge. Females vote more for the opponent and less for the incumbent when exposed to positive—as opposed to negative—campaigning. Males do the opposite. These differences cannot be explained by gender identification, ideology, or other voters’ observable attributes.

Political Awareness and Behaviour of Undi18 Cohort: Insights from a survey of Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

The UNDI18 Bill, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 and provided automatic voter registration, was passed in 2019 by the Malaysian Parliament to the applause of many stakeholders. However, concerns have been raised about the readiness of these 18-year-olds to vote, given their limited exposure to political discussions. To address this, this study aimed to (i) explore the political awareness of 18-year-old first-time voters in Malaysia, (ii) investigate their sources of political information, and (iii) examine the relationship between their Malay student background studying in a Malay-based university and their political party and candidate choices. We surveyed 5,586 undergraduate students from Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia, using a quantitative research design. Our findings revealed that science stream students were less politically aware than their social science counterparts, and that respondents from the Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies scored the highest. Additionally, social media was the primary source of political information for our respondents. We also found that Malay students studying at a Malay-based university showed strong support for the Malay political leaders which supports the perception that Universiti Teknologi MARA nurtures its undergraduates to be defenders of Malay supremacy. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the political awareness and behavior of 18-year-old Malaysians, which can inform efforts to engage and educate this demographic in future elections.

The Emotional Power of Partisan Media: A Computer Vision Analysis of the 2020 Democratic Party Presidential Primaries

ABSTRACT Building on theories of emotional contagion and affective priming, the study assesses the emotional impact of the U.S. partisan media’s coverage of six leading political candidates’ images during the 2020 New Hampshire Democratic Party presidential primary. Results show that the partisan media’s representations of the candidates’ facial expressions of emotions are associated with the voters’ feelings toward the politicians in their desired directions. Additionally, the partisan-media-primed emotions among the voters consistently align with their voting decisions. Methodologically, the study combines state-of-the-art computer vision techniques and survey research conducted with a representative sample of New Hampshire voters.

Electoral Role Models: Political Empowerment and Candidate Emergence

Electoral Role Models: Political Empowerment and Candidate Emergence

SIMULACRUM PEMANFAATAN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGANCE PADA KAMPANYE POLITIK PILPRES DAN WAPRES 2024 MELALUI VIDEO TIKTOK

Digital systems and networks (internet), which have increasingly developed recently, have triggered various technological innovations. One of the innovations that has received great attention from citizens of the world - indications are that there are various technological discoveries through applications on cellphones - is the presence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. In formats in the media realm - whether films, videos, photos, music or text - AI technology has been presented and used with its sophistication. Although the use of AI actually becomes a simulacrum in text messages - borrowing the concept of simulacrum from Jean Baudrillard - in a number of cinema films and social media. Specifically on social media, AI technology is being used by a number of political parties and success teams or spin doctors from each pair of presidential and vicepresidential candidates in 2024 in delivering their political campaigns. The content of political campaign messages published on social media regarding the election of presidential and vicepresidential candidates (presidential and vice presidential candidates) - including Facebook, YouTube, effective in the context of delivering communication messages. The range of communication or political campaign messages that are appropriate and effective - via cell phones or mobile phones and laptops - is able to reach and shape personal perceptions through cognitive, affective and conative structures or behavior towards potential voters. Although, this research only examines political campaigns using the concept of simulacrum theory and political communication (campaigns) on short videos tens of seconds long that utilize AI technology and are distributed on social media regarding the election of presidential and vice presidential candidates, especially TikTok - considering this social media has penetration and is the highest usage choice – regarding the election of presidential and vice presidential candidates for the period 2024 – 2029.

Flip the narrative

As the United States approaches the 2024 presidential election, its citizens are experiencing extreme political and religious schism. Separation of church and state is no longer the mantra of the US population. Instead, declarations of which political candidate is “anointed” by God fill the airwaves as well as social media networks. Individuals on both sides of the schism are convinced they know and hear the voice of God and are convinced their favored candidate is the one ordained by God to be the next president of the United States. The confusion created by this rhetoric is intensified by declarations from both sides that democracy is at risk. This article strives to answer the question, “What is really at stake?”

Language Politeness of Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates 2024-2029 Period in Campaign Impressions on TikTok Social Media

To attract public attention, presidential and vice-presidential candidates conduct campaign activities as a form of introduction and delivery of their work programs through 'sweet message and promise'. In delivering these messages, intentionally or unintentionally, sometimes the candidates use language that is less polite. This is interesting to study from the aspect of politeness. Therefore, the researchers were interested in examining the language politeness This research was conducted using descriptive research approach. The theory used was Leech's politeness principle. The research data were in the form of expressions containing the maxims of politeness sourced from TikTok social media campaign showed and obtained using documentation techniques with the instrument of documentation study guidelines. Then, the data were processed using the extra lingual pairing method. From the results of the study, it is concluded that the maxim of generosity is the most widely used maxim in the campaign for the election of the president and vice president of Indonesia for the 2024 elections. Through the use of this maxim, candidates try to humble themselves in the hope of gaining public sympathy so as to get a lot of votes and win the contestation. The contemporary context, the specific application of politeness theory to political campaigns on a modern social media platform became the novelty of this study. By pursuing these avenues, future researchers can deepen the understanding of political communication strategies and their effects on the electorate.