Examining the Role of Wedge Issues in Shaping Voter Behavior: Insights From the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election

Carmen Ramos Martínez

doi:10.14422/cir.i27.y2023.006

Autores/as

Carmen Ramos Martínez Universidad Pontificia Comillas https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7796-8565

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14422/cir.i27.y2023.006

Palabras clave:

Elecciones presidenciales, COVID-19, temas raciales, prestigio de las instituciones políticas, discurso electoral

Resumen

Cada elección presidencial está marcada por temas específicos que resultan determinantes para el resultado electoral. Los llamados wedge issues, temas construidos intencionadamente para dividir a los votantes del adversario, pueden influenciar al electorado hasta el punto de movilizarlo hacia un partido u otro. Las elecciones presidenciales estadounidenses de 2020 se caracterizaron por la pandemia de la COVID-19, la crisis económica resultante de la pandemia, las acusaciones de fraude electoral y los altos niveles de desinformación, así como la brutalidad policial contra las minorías raciales, dejando un país muy dividido y a un electorado decepcionado con las instituciones políticas. El objetivo general de esta investigación es explicar el efecto del discurso político en la movilización de los votantes, principalmente el impacto que juegan los wedge issues, centrándonos en tres temas específicos de la campaña: la brutalidad contra las minorías raciales, el prestigio de las instituciones políticas y la COVID-19.

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