Political discourse has become one of the most significant arenas through which democratic politics is contested and transformed. Across established and emerging democracies, political actors increasingly employ populist rhetoric, digital communication, identity narratives, and strategic framing to influence public opinion, mobilize supporters, and redefine democratic legitimacy. Simultaneously, technological change, algorithmic communication, and social media have reshaped the production, dissemination, and reception of political messages, creating new opportunities for political participation while intensifying polarization, misinformation, and democratic backsliding.
This panel invites comparative and interdisciplinary scholarship examining how political discourse influences governance, electoral politics, public opinion, policy processes, and democratic resilience across diverse political contexts. Contributions may employ qualitative, quantitative, computational, or mixed methods and may focus on single-country studies or comparative analyses across regions. The panel welcomes papers addressing themes including, but not limited to:
Populism and political rhetoric
Political discourse analysis
Democratic backsliding and resilience
Media framing and agenda setting
Digital political communication
AI and political messaging
Election campaigns and political narratives
Identity politics and nationalism
Memory politics and historical narratives
Political polarization
Comparative political communication across regions
By bringing together scholars from comparative politics, political communication, international relations, media studies, and area studies, the panel seeks to advance theoretical and methodological debates on the evolving relationship between discourse, political power, and democratic governance.
