Issue published: 30 April 2018

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Understanding campaign “axiotechniques”: Their nature and practical usage in Ukrainian elections

Yevhen Kutsenko, p. 7–33

Abstract: This article seeks to shed more light on Ukraine’s parliamentary elections by considering campaign tools that were derived from values in the electorate andused in elections between 2006 and 2012. The influence of political values on the electoral process was pointed out by American political scientists in the mid-20th century. My research demonstrates, however, that the political choices of Ukrainians in the 2006–2012 elections gave rise to campaign techniques that were not based on “classic” political values like freedom, human rights and democracy. Instead, their source was national identity‑related values including the importance of a common history, culture and language along with religious and geopolitical preferences. These values differed between the western and central regions of Ukraine on the one hand and the southern and eastern parts of the state on the other. This regional polarisation did not seem very dangerous, however, until the emergence of election campaigns based on political ideology. As ideology gradually lost its mobilising potential, there was a need for an effective new system of political influence. Manipulative techniques were deployed to incite artificial clashes between citizens with different political identities. This article analyses specific uses of these techniques and uncovers links between their application and the destruction of the electoral space in Ukraine as well as the division of the country’s real political arena.

Keywords: campaign axiotechniques, political manipulation, elections, voters

The Czech Singers Critical of Islam and Refugees on Facebookin the Age of the “Migration Crisis” (2015–2017)

Přemysl Rosůlek, p. 35–62

Abstract: The article analyses through qualitative textual analysis and manual coding Czech singers known for their critical attitudes to the “migration crisis” as presented ontheir Facebook walls (2015–2017). This major focus on the singer’s Facebook posts was reinforced by the analysis based on the two theoretical concepts – celebritisation of politics and post‑truth politics. In sum, analyses across theoretical approaches found that a majority of singers – although not all of them – have been judging the problem through the lenses of a black‑and‑white “Clash of Civilizational” approach. Only a few singers run for political office and political agenda‑setting linked to the “migration crisis” was not frequented as expected. Many of the investigated singers expressed support or political endorsement to xenophobic and anti‑islamic political parties. Although the “Russian footage” could be denied, the style and characters of communication via Facebook revealed that in many aspects the singers’ strategy is in consonance with current Kremlin propaganda.

Keywords: singers, migration crisis, refugees, Islam, Facebook, celebritization of politics, post‑truth era

DISCUSSION

Vasiliki Kalimeri: The Kallikrates vs the Kapodistrias Reforms in Greece: A Story of Moderate Success

Tamás Szemlér: Challenges to European Integration: Missions and Instruments

Jed Lea-Henry: A Poggean Reform Agenda for Improving Political Will in Response to Mass Atrocities

REVIEWS

Ladislav Cabada: How the Czechoslovak legions in Siberia helped createan independent state

Radim Štícha: Report about the powerful man