Comparing Political Communication: A 2023 Update

In order to examine political communication comparatively, this chapter argues for a dynamic-systemic perspective. For this purpose, it outlines the model of a “political communication ecosystem.” On this basis, the chapter first explains (a) institutional country differences in the relationship between politics and the media and (b) cultural country differences in the relationship between politicians and journalists. It then goes on to explain how prototypical styles and message types of (a) politicians as communicators and (b) media as communicators differ in a cross-country comparison. Finally, it explains the differences between countries in (a) the news consumption of national audiences and (b) the impact of political communication on these audiences. Taking into account recent research findings on social media, populism, disinformation, and the Ukraine invasion, the chapter concludes with implications for comparative political communication from Western and non-Western perspectives.