Romanian political discourse: from arguments to algorithmic legitimacy
Romanian political discourse: from arguments to algorithmic legitimacy

Summary/Abstract: This study investigates the profound metamorphosis of political discourse in Romania, tracing its shift from traditional institutional oratory to a communicative model governed by platform logics and algorithmic visibility. Using a mixed-method design, the research bridges the gap between citizens’ expectations and actual digital political performance. Data was gathered via an exploratory diagnostic survey (N=446), a longitudinal content analysis of 100 political speeches (2014–2025), and 15 years of engaged participant observation within state institutions. Findings reveal a stark discrepancy: while citizens prioritize honesty, clarity, and evidence-based argumentation, current political practices privilege emotional appeals and populist framing optimized for virality. This tension reached a systemic crisis in 2024, when Romania became the first nation to witness the annulment of a presidential election due to coordinated TikTok manipulation.The study concludes that the transition toward “algorithmic legitimacy”-where authority is derived from engagement metrics rather than substantive deliberation- presents a fundamental challenge to democratic resilience in post-communist contexts.

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