Unveiling the Power of Discourse: Negative Campaigning and Authoritarian Regime Legitimacy

• In Event: Elections, Voting and Campaigning

Abstract

In the contemporary world, the survival of authoritarian governments demands far more intricate strategies than mere reliance on repression. Notably, legitimacy assumes a pivotal role in ensuring the endurance of these regimes. However, despite the extensive research on the concept of legitimacy in authoritarian regimes, a noticeable gap exists in the empirical examination of "discursive power" – a significant instrument in fortifying legitimacy. In this article, we embark on an empirical analysis of how discursive power operates to confer legitimacy upon the incumbent regime, focusing on a close examination of the 2023 elections in competitive authoritarian Turkey. Our investigation probes the mechanisms through which discursive power contributes to legitimacy and, consequently, fosters the continuity of the regime. In particular, we scrutinize how the government effectively employs its discursive power to reach the electorate through using negative campaigning. The contention is that a pivotal factor underpinning the victory of the ruling party, AKP, in the 2023 elections was its strategic use of discursive power, harnessed skillfully through the medium of negative campaigning – a strategy renowned for its potent mobilizing potential. This article endeavors to enhance our understanding of the intricate dynamics within authoritarian regimes. By shedding light on strategies that extend beyond coercion, it unveils the mechanisms that enable the longevity of such regimes. Furthermore, it provides a compelling illustration of how negative campaigning stands as a potent and transformative instrument exercised by discursive power.

Authors

• Sebnem Yardimci-Geyikci, University of Bonn

• Hakan Yavuzyilmaz, Sabanci University