What is communication? This is a type of social interaction, communication between individuals and groups of individuals using verbal and non-verbal means. However, when it comes to some separate areas of the existence and interaction of people, some clarifications appear in this definition. So, consider the concept of political communication and its main features. Today, this sphere of human life is developing very rapidly, more and more new qualities and evaluation criteria appear in it.
Political communication stimulates the interaction of political interests, thus making the political process meaningful. Thanks to her, the chain of events is built into a logical chain.
As for the basis that lies at the center of the theory of this type of communication, it is based on the teachings of two scientific schools: structural-functional analysis and the cybernetic approach. Political communication from a scientific point of view began to be considered during the First World War, when propaganda was first investigated. The term itself and theoretical works devoted to this topic appeared in the late 1940s. By this time, there were many historically determined reasons that required the selection of this term and the consideration of the concept in a separate scientific discipline. Among them are the wave of post-war democratization, the development of cybernetic theory, the active development of communication systems and technologies.
In general, despite the fact that today political communication has many definitions, it is characterized as the exchange of information between participants in the political process, which occurs during their formal or informal interactions.
Note that each system is characterized by a separate communication network, which corresponds to its capabilities and levels of development. As the researchers note, the development of communication in this area is parallel to the evolutionary processes that are inherent in this area.
It is known that political communication is influenced by the type of relevant culture. However, this effect can be called mutual, because the first is a means of broadcasting the second. The fact is that communication reproduces those norms and values that are accepted in a particular society.
Note that its very important aspect is the semantic part of the relationship of political figures, which are based on the process of information exchange during the struggle for power. At this time, three main types of messages are transmitted:
- Incentive (e.g. request or order).
- Bearing only an informative load (information, real or imagined).
- Actual (information that is related to establishing contact or supporting it between political figures).
As for the means of communication in politics, their role is usually played by organizations or institutions that exist and work within the framework of social and political systems. Thanks to them, information is exchanged. Today, they also include communicative processes and situations, as well as groups and individuals that help information exchange.
Political communication has three main ways of implementation:
- Mass media (print and electronic media options).
- Communication through organizations if political parties or interest groups act as intermediaries between the rulers and the ruled.
- Communication through informal channels that become available only through personal connections.