The 2020 Belarusian Presidential Campaign : Crisis Performance as a Pillar of Lukashenka’s Communication Strategy

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14230%2F25%3A00140551" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14230/25:00140551 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://brill.com/view/journals/bela/14/1-2/article-p34_3.xml" target="_blank" >https://brill.com/view/journals/bela/14/1-2/article-p34_3.xml</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.30965/20526512-BJA10024" target="_blank" >10.30965/20526512-BJA10024</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

The 2020 Belarusian Presidential Campaign : Crisis Performance as a Pillar of Lukashenka’s Communication Strategy

Original language description

Research on Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s communication strategy shows that the ‘performance of crisis’ was a key pillar in his 2020 presidential campaign strategy, with content analysis illuminating populist elements such as tipping points and stigmatisation. The politician actively disseminated the idea of existential threats to sow fear and foster an image of strength, primarily targeting siloviki and incumbents. For the first time, his election campaign predominantly focused on visiting special forces bases and consolidation of the “power vertical”, rather than ordinary campaigning. Herein, several reasons for such a switch are explored, including the electoral majority’s lack of demand for strong leadership. Rather than adapting his communication strategy, Lukashenka consolidated the “power vertical” structure to prevent a schism among the political elite. This division, which resulted in a populist, pro-authoritarian camp and a democratic camp, led to the ongoing political crisis. This article serves as a retrospective overview and analytical lens for the upcoming 2025 presidential election in Belarus.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_SC - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the SCOPUS database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

50601 - Political science

Project

—

Continuities

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Belarusian Studies

ISSN

0075-4161

e-ISSN

2052-6512

Volume of the periodical

14

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1-2

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

29

Pages from-to

34-62

UT code for WoS article

—

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105003297809