A GAME OF STRATEGIES
Politics is never a simple game; it is a game of political strategies that plays an important role during campaign season. Even the most open politicians employ various tactics to attract voters and outmaneuver opponents. Some of these tactics are used more frequently and effectively than others.
Here is the list of six political strategies and tactics that will definitely be a game changer:
- Controlling the agenda and decision criteria
Voters often have specific criteria in mind that guide their decisions. However, even when these criteria are met, it can still lead to disappointment in terms of their expectations. Therefore, you take control and command the agenda and decision criteria, such as focusing on the agenda of rallies, attendance numbers of rallies and events (in order to show strong public support), and portraying your agenda (as “public agenda”).
- Using external expertise
A reliable political strategy to enhance the credibility of your policies, viewpoints, and arguments is to utilize external expertise for support. These experts include the following: political lobbyists, nonprofit groups, individual experts, and advocates. These experts are seen as the first authority in their respective fields and as backing a candidate. Thus, those who look up to these professionals who have established supporters transfer their support to you.
- Controlling symbols and narratives
Build your narrative on how you perceive your audience, and how you want to be perceived by the audience. Some examples of manipulating and controlling symbols and narratives as a political strategy are:
- Focusing on political successes while using spin doctors to manage failures or shortcomings.
- Employing subversive tactics against incumbents or other powerful institutions.
- Crafting memorable political slogans that inspire optimism and hope.
- Strategically organizing events and appearances so that people see you as a provider of solutions, not problems.
- Leveraging interpersonal communication.
Campaigns use interpersonal communication to determine how the audience associates themselves with the candidates. Two main components of political interpersonal communication are:
- Equally convenient platform or method of communication.
- A narrative that either of the parties feel akin to.
- Indulging in negative and positive campaigning.
Negative campaigning deals with the attack and criticism of the opponent, while positive campaigning is acknowledging the candidate. It is a standard narrative during campaign season requiring detailed planning for the implementation.
- Forming coalitions and partnerships.
This political strategy is particularly effective when the person endorsing a candidate has a large, trusted following and no direct stake in the election. Forming coalitions and partnerships is an advisable political strategy when you lack a definite majority or when the election has become a contest of one against all others.
To conclude, political strategies can be a way to manipulate circumstances in order to suit your campaign. Though, we trust in the fundamental integrity of the campaigning individual and party. We also hope that when selecting your political strategy, you choose one that is fair, honorable, and trustworthy.
By: Lloyd Alexis Muldong
