New Perspectives on Negative Campaigning: Why Attack Politics Matters

Have you ever seen a politician fiercely attacking his opponent? Sure you have. Election campaigns without attacks on the rival candidate’s performance, policy propositions and traits simply do not exist. 

This unique volume examines negative campaigning in the US, Europe and beyond, touching upon three fundamental questions: What is negative campaigning and can we measure it? What causes negative campaigning? And what are its effects? 

'Mud-slinging in the US is widely blamed for polarising party politics and demobilising citizens, yet the use of this strategy elsewhere, and its full consequences, remain unclear. In this first-rate new volume, Nai and Walter present fresh evidence from international experts covering a wide range of countries and contexts to examine how negative campaigning is best measured, what explains the adoption of this communications strategy, and what effects flow from this practice. This fascinating and accessible book provides a milestone in comparative communications research, settling the US case in comparative perspective.'
Pippa Norris
John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

'Recommended to anyone interested in elections and campaigns.'
John G Geer
Vanderbilt University 

Keywords: Contentious Politics, Political Psychology, Broadcast, Campaign, Candidate, Negotiation, Communication, Corruption