The ways in which political messages, narratives, and identities are constructed, circulated, and contested influence how citizens relate to politics and democratic institutions. This section examines processes of political communication and persuasion across different media environments and social contexts, including traditional media and digital platforms. It focuses on how political actors use framing, rhetoric, narratives, symbolism, and affect to shape public opinion and political behaviour; and addresses questions of democratic trust and legitimacy, including declining trust in institutions, media, and expertise, as well as the rise of conspiracy theories, misinformation, and anti-institutional politics.
