Analyzing Election Campaign Narratives

Election Campaign Narratives are stories that politicians use to explain why people should vote for them. These stories help voters understand who they are and why they are the best choice. Here is a list of five very important and often used narrative types:

1. Hero Stories 🦸

A hero story is when a politician presents themselves as the "hero" who will save the day. They tell stories about the good things they've done or how they will help solve a big problem, like improving schools or making neighborhoods safer.

2. Crisis Narratives 📉

A crisis narrative is used when the candidate talks about a big problem, or crisis, that needs to be solved right away. They explain how the crisis is affecting people and how they are the best person to fix it. It could be about a serious issue like bad roads or unsafe communities.

3. Issue Ownership 👩‍🎓

In an issue ownership narrative, the candidate focuses on a specific problem or issue they are really good at solving. For example, one candidate might focus on improving education, while another might be known for protecting the environment. They "own" that issue because they are seen as the best at handling it.

4. Negative Campaigning 🤬

Negative campaigning is when a candidate talks about their opponent in a bad way. They might say their opponent did something wrong or isn't fit for the job.

5. Image Restoration Strategies 😇

Image restoration strategies are used when a candidate has made a mistake or done something people didn’t like. The candidate tells a story to explain what happened and how they’ve learned from their mistakes. They try to fix their image so people will trust them again.