Understanding the Modern Election Campaign

Analysing Campaign Eras through Financial Transparency Disclosures at the 2019 UK General Election

Bibliographic Data

ID6267154
AuthorsKatharine Dommett (0000-0003-0624-6610, University of Sheffield, corresponding author), Sam Power (0000-0001-5803-2660, University of Sussex), Andrew Barclay (0000-0001-7154-218X, Oxford Policy Management), Amber Macintyre (0009-0003-0229-7303)
Year2025
Volume60
Issue1
Pages141-167
Publication date2025-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGovernment and Opposition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0017-257X • E-ISSN: 1477-7053
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/gov.2024.3
OpenAlexW4392653564
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited48

What do modern election campaigns look like? According to the most recent accounts, they are data-driven operations in which extensive data are collected and targeted messages are deployed in efforts to maximize support. Whilst highlighting important new developments, in this article we argue that a focus on novel practices offers a distorted picture of modern campaigns. Presenting a unique analysis of over 22,720 separate items of expenditure made by political parties at the 2019 UK general election, we demonstrate that whilst there is some evidence of a ‘fourth’ era of campaigning, these novel practices do not define campaigns. Taking a more holistic approach that examines how campaign activities are blended and entwined, we offer unprecedented insight into the nature of modern campaigns, revealing variation in parties' campaign strategies. We also introduce a new dataset for those interested in party campaigns and call for others to pursue a more holistic analysis

Business · Campaign finance · General election · Political science · Politics · Transparency (behavior · Accounting · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Political Influence and Corporate Strategies · Populism, Right-Wing Movements

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Open DOIOpen Access