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Published on: September 28, 2018
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Elite rhetoric can undermine democratic norms
Katherine Clayton1, Nicholas T Davis2, Brendan Nyhan3
1Department of Political Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305; kpc14@stanford.edu.
Summary
Political leaders' rhetoric can erode trust in election integrity. Exposure to statements questioning the 2020 US election results decreased confidence among supporters of former president Donald Trump.
Area of Science:
- Political Science
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Democratic stability relies on the acceptance of election results by all parties.
- Political rhetoric may influence public trust in democratic processes and norms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of political leaders' rhetoric on citizens' acceptance of election outcomes.
- To assess how exposure to statements questioning election legitimacy affects democratic norms.
Main Methods:
- A panel survey experiment was employed.
- Participants were exposed to statements from former president Donald Trump regarding the 2020 US presidential election's legitimacy.
Main Results:
- Exposure to rhetoric questioning election legitimacy did not significantly affect general support for political violence or belief in democracy.
- However, it eroded trust and confidence in elections among individuals who approved of Trump's job performance.
- Belief that the election was rigged increased among this specific demographic.
Conclusions:
- Rhetoric from political elites can undermine respect for critical democratic norms, particularly among their supporters.
- Targeted messaging questioning election integrity can decrease trust in electoral processes within specific political groups.
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