Methods of Communication for the Purpose of Political Marketing and Campaigns in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq A Descriptive Study

Abstract

This research paper is a scientific attempt to present and discuss the most common methods used in political communication in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The usage of the most recent means in the process of marketing meant for political communication is described. Advertising, Political Discourse, Public Relations, interpersonal and public reach-outs are among the main methods used by the political parties and actors to maintain an image they intend to show. Each country has its own political system which leads to various forms of political communication to directly and indirectly reach to the public and influence their decision making. Political parties employ the best tangible methods due to their access in their respective political atmosphere in order to influence the voters in favor of their political agenda. Therefore, the methods changes from one place to another according to the background, social fabric, traditions and societal norms. As a result, different techniques and methods of communication are employed to access the public opinion and creation of a public agenda. In the KRI as well, the political, economic and social background of the region has highly influenced the techniques and methods of political communication.

This paper uses a descriptive approach to define and explain political communication and its methods in the KRI. Then it compares commercial and political marketing with a perspective of KRI system. The paper further attempts to answer the main question of how to benefit from different means of communication in political marketing in the KRI. Finally, the paper evaluates whether or not the methods of communication used by the KRI political parties are successful towards a democratic political communication. This paper contains an introduction and three parts where in the first part it explains general framework of the research, which includes both the research problem, the importance of the research, its objectives, methodology, the sample of the research, and the research obstacles. The second part contains the general definitions of political communication and political marketing in addition to the fieldwork analysis in both qualitative and quantitative content analysis. The results of the field data collected for this study is presented in the last part in addition to some concluding remarks. One of the most important findings of the researcher is that political marketing in the KRI is one of the most successful to reach out to the voters.