Scripted Messengers: How Party Discipline and Branding Turn Election Candidates and Legislators into Brand Ambassadors |
| |
Authors: | Alex Marland Angelia Wagner |
| |
Institution: | 1. Department of Political Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canadaamarland@mun.ca;3. Department of Political Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| |
Abstract: | Political parties with strict party discipline are well-placed to demand that their election candidates and legislators promote the party brand. The franchise-franchisee relationship causes representatives to relinquish individual expression in exchange for centralized party messaging. This article looks at how a strategic desire for party unity combines with internal brand management to turn lower-ranking politicians in a parliamentary system into party brand ambassadors. Our Canadian case study draws on in-depth interviews with party leaders, Members of Parliament, political staff, candidates for office and prospective candidates. The implications for representative democracy in a Westminster system are considered, including the representational constraints for racial and sexual minorities. |
| |
Keywords: | brand ambassadors Canada centralization franchising message control parliamentary system party branding party discipline political parties representation |
|
|