CONTRASTING THE USE OF VARYING METHODS OF CHARACTER ATTACKS IN NATIONAL POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS: A CASE STUDY OF THE USE OF IMAGES IN THE PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF GEORGIA, MOLDOVA, AND UKRAINE 2018 – 2019

Abstract

The Georgian Presidential Elections of October 28, 2018, the Moldovan Parliamentary Elections of February 24, 2019 and the Ukrainian Presidential Elections of March 31, 2019 shared similar traits in the campaign tactics that were used. As with other campaigns in the post-Soviet region, parties from all sides of the political spectrum participated in the use of various forms of character attacks as an attempt to dissuade voters from voting for their opponents. These attacks were applied via all of the traditional means of attack: Speeches, social media, public advertisements and innuendo. The relative effectiveness of these attacks remains to be quantified; however, research indicates that some elements of attack remain consistently present across all three countries’ elections.