Symbolic violence: discourse and social representations  during the 2014 prezidential campaign Cover Image

Violența simbolică: discurs și reprezentări sociale în campania pentru alegerile prezidențiale din 2014
Symbolic violence: discourse and social representations during the 2014 prezidential campaign

Author(s): Mirabela Amarandei
Subject(s): Communication studies, Political behavior, Politics and communication, Studies in violence and power, Sociology of Politics
Published by: Editura Institutul European
Keywords: symbolic violence;political power;elections;political discourse;social representation;

Summary/Abstract: Societies work on relations of power and domination, the political practices and even groups involved in politics are generating violence. Romanian public space was gradually taken over by symbolic violence, an act of power between the political elites and the dominated classes. The symbolic violence expresses its fullest potential during the election campaigns. The speech and the political events during the presidential election campaign in 2014 were predominantly violent. Key actors rather used manipulative techniques instead of generating a real debate of ideas. This article presents the findings of a semantic analysis of the main candidates’ political discourse, highlighting the manifestations of symbolic violence. The analysis will focus on the social representations used by the candidates during the public discourses, meant to seduce voters.

  • Issue Year: IV/2016
  • Issue No: 11
  • Page Range: 159-169
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: Romanian