Open AccessAn Analysis of Some of the Factors that Affect the Role of Party Leaders in Election Campaigns in Albania
Author(s) -
Lorenc Ligori
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european journal of interdisciplinary studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2411-958X
pISSN - 2411-4138
DOI - 10.26417/875cly55j
Subject(s) - dominance (genetics) , political science , politics , democracy , general election , political economy , primary election , public relations , single non transferable vote , electoral system , sociology , law , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
In recent election campaigns in Albania, whether general or local, party leaders have become increasingly important. There is a dominance of party leaders in political communication in an electoral campaign. Increasingly the media focus is on leading individuals, neglecting parties and collective identities. Political leaders now serve as a shortcut to informing the electorate. But why does this happen? Is this a feature of the Albanian electoral reality or a trend and influence from developed democracies? What are some of the specific circumstances in the country that enabled this change? Is it a demand from the electorate or an imposition on it? What role does media play in this regard? These and other matters related to it such as: how the party leaders are elected, internal party democracy issues, the methods and tactics of campaign organization, the role of electoral rules and the type of electoral system, etc. shall be briefly addressed in this paper, which is based on observations and analysis of three election campaigns, two general elections (2017 - 2021) and one local (2015).