Political Communication

Political communication is generally defined as a “purposeful communication about politics.” The main actors involved in this process are politicians and political organizations, non-political voters, citizens and society, and the media. In turn, political organizations are categorized into parties, public organizations, pressure groups, terrorist organizations, and governments. This communication flow can either be practiced by political actors to achieve their objectives, to political actors by non-politicians, or about political actors and their activities. Political communication is not necessarily only verbal or written, it could also be visual as exemplified by dress code and body language.

Increasingly, the media is attaining an influential position in the political communication process. Citizens often experience politics through the media, rather than having an up-close approach. Thus, it is only justifiable how the media contributes to the functioning of societies drafted by the liberal democracy theory. According to the liberal democracy theory, democratic societies prosper on constitutionality or a set of governing procedures, participation of the people, and the ability for citizens to exercise freedom of rational choice. The role of the media in sustaining these societies is to inform the citizens of what is happening, educate them on events’ significance, provide a platform to express public opinions, act as a ‘watchdog’ to governments and political institutions, and help advocate diverse political viewpoints.