Citizens, politicians and democracy. Analysis of rhetorical-persuasive strategies in party political broadcasts in Catalonia (2008-2010) DOI: 10.2436/20.3008.01.83

Abstract

In the context of recent events involving citizens’ demands for greater participation in politics and to a latent demand for a revision of the democratic system in Spain, this paper invites reflection on the relationship between politicians and citizens in the sphere of persuasive communication. It focuses on the political discourse that addresses the public during periods of intense communication, the election campaigns, in particular that of party political broadcasts. Based on the analysis of specific persuasive rhetoric used in the party political broadcasts of recent elections in Catalonia (Spanish General Elections 2008, European Parliament Elections 2009, and Elections to the Parliament of Catalonia 2010), this paper questions the citizen-politician relationship that each party proposes, the image of both of these figures and the implicit definition of democracy that they uphold.

KEY WORDS:

citizenship, political parties, election campaign, party political broadcasts, persuasion, argumentative-rhetorical analysis.