Reaching, Engaging and Bonding with Voters on Social Media: The Case of 2014/2015 Croatian Presidential Elections Cover Image

Reaching, Engaging and Bonding with Voters on Social Media: The Case of 2014/2015 Croatian Presidential Elections
Reaching, Engaging and Bonding with Voters on Social Media: The Case of 2014/2015 Croatian Presidential Elections

Author(s): Dubravka Sinčić Ćorić, Ružica Brečić, Maja Šimunjak
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Media studies, Communication studies, Electoral systems
Published by: Fakultet političkih znanosti u Zagrebu
Keywords: social media; political campaign; presidential elections; democratisation of politics;

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the ways in which presidential candidates utilise social media as a tool in their election campaigns in order to democratise politics and political representation. The study is based on a content analysis of statements published on the official Facebook and Twitter pages of candidates in the 2014/2015 Croatian presidential elections. The results show that candidates did not use social media to reach, engage and form stronger bonds with potential voters. By failing to do so, they have missed an opportunity to bring disenchanted voters back into the political arena and potentially increase the legitimacy of the democratic processes.

  • Issue Year: 8/2017
  • Issue No: 16
  • Page Range: 61-77
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: English