US Elections: Wake-Up Call for Political Strategy

The 2024 US elections have exposed enduring weaknesses and critical oversights in the approaches taken by the left worldwide, traditional media, and political strategists. In an era where populism continues to rise, trust in institutions declines, and social media shapes public discourse, the election results underscore the urgent need for strategic recalibration. Not for democrats, but for the American democracy.
 

Author: Levente Nagy-Pál

Misreading populism: The Democrats’ approach needs depth, not dismissal

One major failing of the Democratic strategy is a superficial opposition to populist rhetoric. Too often, Democratic messaging feels like it’s crafted as a reflexive rebuttal to populist talking points rather than engaging in substantial dialogue. By focusing on opposing populist sentiments without addressing the underlying concerns, Democrats risk alienating voters who feel unheard. Rather than dismissing the problems of the “other side” as uninformed, a more practical approach would be to engage in meaningful debate and address why certain populist positions resonate. They can only propose alternative solutions that feel relevant and credible by understanding these sentiments.

Debate is the fundamental unit of democracy. When a culture of healthy debate is missing, democracy and societal progress stall. In his newly published book, Nexus, Yuval Noah Harari explains this by saying, “The death of democracy can come not only when people stop talking to each other but also when they don’t want to or can’t listen to others.” This happens primarily through debate. In Harari’s view, debate is the self-correcting mechanism necessary to maintain social peace, development, and democratic institutions.

Currently, there is no real debate in the modern societies. Not only in the US, but globally. Traditional media has lost its ability to foster debate, while social media is built on algorithms that make it incapable of generating meaningful debate within society. On the contrary, both types of media contribute to the division of modern societies.

Campaigning in a bubble: The comfort of echo chambers

The Democratic Party’s campaigns have primarily catered to their core base, emphasizing issues and narratives that resonate within their ideological sphere. While this approach can solidify support among existing voters, it lacks the persuasive power needed to attract independents or sway undecided voters. Campaigns that cater exclusively to their audience are at risk of fostering an echo chamber, reinforcing existing beliefs without expanding appeal. 

The Republicans ran a much more realistic campaign. Solutions to everyday problems are undoubtedly more appealing to voters than attachment to abstract ideals, even if those ideals include democracy.

To counteract this, the Democrats must shift their campaign strategy to address concerns and viewpoints from across the political spectrum, reaching out with policies that have broad, cross-partisan appeal.

The collapse of traditional media’s influence

Election night highlighted a disturbing trend: traditional media’s diminishing role as a trusted, effective source of information. With Americans increasingly skeptical of established media outlets, misinformation has filled the void, often propagated on social media or alternative news platforms with strong political biases. Partisan leanings and sensationalized reporting have eroded trust in legacy news sources, leaving room for political narratives that often lack factual grounding. 

Suppose traditional media hopes to regain its footing. In that case, it must adapt by focusing on transparency, impartiality, and a renewed commitment to quality journalism that seeks to inform rather than persuade.

Traditional media alone won’t be able to bring about change. Social media must also be reformed to ensure people receive more credible and accurate information from online platforms. The most important step, which is financially challenging for all current platforms, is to stop allowing the advertising of politically charged content. Allowing this has triggered a dangerous process, especially on Facebook and X. Those with more money (in authoritarian countries mostly governments, in the US tech gurus) could reach more people and people really become consumer goods. Elon Musk has taken full advantage of this opportunity on his own platform.

The ignored reality of declining trust in institutions

A general skepticism toward institutions has been building globally, and it has direct implications for political campaigns. Voters increasingly question the efficacy and fairness of government, media, and financial institutions. The 2024 election reflects this skepticism, with an unprecedented number of voters supporting anti-establishment candidates or aligning with movements that challenge institutional authority. Without acknowledging this decline, campaigns that rely on appeals to institutional trust seem disconnected from public sentiment. In the future, political strategists must craft messages acknowledging institutional flaws while offering practical paths for reform and transparency to regain voter trust.

Social media’s limitations in news distribution

Finally, social media platforms—now one of the primary sources of news for many Americans—are proving ill-equipped to handle this responsibility. Algorithms that favor engagement over accuracy have amplified sensationalism and misinformation. As a result, news distribution on social media becomes polarized and unreliable, driven by the metrics of attention rather than truth. This environment creates echo chambers and intensifies divisions, often challenging civil discourse. Addressing this issue will require reform within social media platforms. Additionally, new platforms will be needed that can learn from election outcomes and respond to new challenges.

Cover photo credit: ChatGPT