Bridging Gaps: Political Communication’s Role in Reducing Democratic Erosion

This section delves into the critical intersection of political communication and democratic stability, highlighting how political messaging can either counteract or accelerate democratic erosion. Democratic backsliding—exacerbated by growing populism, misinformation, and polarization—has emerged as a significant challenge in liberal democracies. This section, through a series of panels, examines how political actors, journalists, and citizens shape and respond to these threats through strategic communication. By emphasizing approaches that bolster democratic resilience, the section critically explores how various communication methods and emerging technologies influence democratic engagement, institutional trust, and public understanding. Key themes include the impact of communication choices on public perception, trust, and political efficacy. We invite contributions on political communication during crises, focusing on how effective crisis messaging can either calm public unrest or inadvertently deepen democratic erosion. Discussions will spotlight recent cases, such as health crises, natural disasters, and economic instability. Additionally, contributions that analyze the relationship between populist rhetoric, media strategies, and polarization are highly encouraged. This includes examining how populist leaders use simplified narratives to influence democratic engagement and intensify polarization. We also welcome research addressing the challenges posed by digital fragmentation and echo chambers, exploring strategies to engage diverse audiences in an era of increasingly customized political communication. Furthermore, papers examining how targeted political messaging can enhance civic engagement and reinforce democratic resilience are encouraged, particularly those that review communication models designed to foster an informed and active citizenry. Finally, this section invites insights on the role of AI in personalizing political messages, assessing its potential to either bridge or deepen informational divides within society.