MANAGING ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS AND PROGRAMS IN IRAQI TV CHANNELS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THEIR ELECTORAL BEHAVIOR

Abstract

Most contemporary societies have adopted a democratic system of government as an alternative to totalitarianism or a one-party system. The trajectory of this alternative approach can be traced from the 1970s through attempts to generalize it and announce its adoption on a global scale during the first decade of the current century. This was evident in the historical transformations and the trend toward adopting a democratic system that occurred in the societies of Southern Europe, Latin America, some Asian and African societies, and Eastern European societies after the fall of the Soviet Union. It is also possible to recognize the generality of the call to adopt a democratic system of government, in the social issues raised in the context of the call for political reform in societies whose systems of government still rely on traditional tribal foundations and principles, such as Gulf societies. These societies sought to achieve advanced steps toward establishing legislative institutions and related modern political processes, such as parliamentary elections and local council elections, given the importance of elections. It plays a pivotal role in building political trust and in fulfilling society's desires and demands.

With the growing importance of elections and political parties in democratic systems, electoral campaigns gained increasing importance beginning in the last decade of the twentieth century, especially after the diminishing influence of ideology, which had previously performed two essential functions: First, it was the primary determinant governing the interactions of political parties and forces, both among themselves and with the ruling political system, and regulating their engagement with domestic and foreign issues. Second, it was also the decisive factor in citizens' adherence to one party or another. In other words, ideology was one of the determinants of distinction between parties and political forces present on the domestic scene. The researcher's study of the electoral behavior of Iraqi youth is what prompted him to choose this topic for study, and to determine the importance of youth exposure to Iraqi television channels and the impact of this exposure on their electoral behavior.