Research Article

The Role of the Leader in Political Campaigns: An Analysis in the Context of Political Communication, Leadership and Image Management

Volume: 11 Number: 2 July 1, 2026
TR EN

The Role of the Leader in Political Campaigns: An Analysis in the Context of Political Communication, Leadership and Image Management

Abstract

This study examines the fundamental dynamics of political communication in democratic systems from the perspectives of political leadership and leader image management, using a systematic literature review. The main problem of the study is how the role of the leader and leader image management strategies in political campaign processes can be explained within a theoretical framework, with respect to their impact on voter behavior. Within this problem framework, the objectives of the study are as follows: (a) to analyze the functions and transformation of political campaigns; (b) to discuss the characteristics that determine the influence of political leaders on voters; (c) to evaluate the impact of leader image management strategies on voter behavior at a theoretical level; and (d) to examine the transformative effect of the digitalization process on political campaign strategies and leader image management. In the research, national and international literature on political communication, campaign management, leadership theories, and image management has been systematically examined; fundamental theoretical approaches and empirical findings in these areas have been compiled, compared, and critically evaluated. As a result of the study, it has been determined that the political communication process is a reciprocal interaction with voters, that political campaigns increase democratic participation, that leader image is a more effective determinant of voter behavior than party ideology, and that trust is the foundational condition of political communication. Furthermore, it has been concluded that the digitalization process has transformed political campaign strategies and leader image management, that personalized politics has risen, that social media has made leader-voter interaction direct and continuous, and that visual and symbolic elements play a critical role in political branding. The contribution of this study to the literature lies in bringing together the theoretical connections between political communication, leadership, and image management in a systematic framework and analyzing the transformation of these dynamics in the digital age at a theoretical level.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

N/A

Ethical Statement

Since there were no human participants in the study, ethical approval was not deemed necessary.

Thanks

N/A

References

  1. Akdemir, A. (2008). Vision Management: At the individual, institution, city and country level. Ekin Publishing House. Aristotle. (2013). Rhetoric. (Trans. Mehmet H. Doğan). Yapı Kredi Publications.
  2. Aziz, A. (2017). Political communication. Ankara: Nobel Publications.
  3. Balcı, Ş. (2003). Image management in political campaigns (the case of young party). Journal of Selçuk Institute of Social Sciences, 9, 143–161.
  4. Dahl, R. A. (2010). On democracy. Phoenix Publishing House.
  5. Devran, Y. (2004). Political campaign management: Message, strategy and tactics. Odak Communication.
  6. Eysenck, M. W. (2004). Psychology. Psychology Press Ltd.
  7. Holtz-Bacha, C. (2007). Professionalisation of politics in Germany. In R. Negrine, P. Mancini, C. Holtz-Bacha, & S. Papathanassopoulus (Eds.). The Professionalisation of political communication: Changing media, changing Europe volume 3 (pp. 63–81). Intellect Books Limited.
  8. Kalender, A. (2005). Political communication, voters and persuasion strategies. Çizgi Bookstore.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Advertising Campaigns, Political Advertising, Leadership

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sevinç Engin *
0000-0001-9187-9732
Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti

Publication Date

July 1, 2026

Submission Date

March 25, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 26, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 11 Number: 2

APA
Engin, S. (2026). The Role of the Leader in Political Campaigns: An Analysis in the Context of Political Communication, Leadership and Image Management. Turkish Academic Research Review, 11(2), 309-322. https://doi.org/10.30622/tarr.1916333
AMA
1.Engin S. The Role of the Leader in Political Campaigns: An Analysis in the Context of Political Communication, Leadership and Image Management. tarr. 2026;11(2):309-322. doi:10.30622/tarr.1916333
Chicago
Engin, Sevinç. 2026. “The Role of the Leader in Political Campaigns: An Analysis in the Context of Political Communication, Leadership and Image Management”. Turkish Academic Research Review 11 (2): 309-22. https://doi.org/10.30622/tarr.1916333.
EndNote
Engin S (July 1, 2026) The Role of the Leader in Political Campaigns: An Analysis in the Context of Political Communication, Leadership and Image Management. Turkish Academic Research Review 11 2 309–322.
IEEE
[1]S. Engin, “The Role of the Leader in Political Campaigns: An Analysis in the Context of Political Communication, Leadership and Image Management”, tarr, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 309–322, July 2026, doi: 10.30622/tarr.1916333.
ISNAD
Engin, Sevinç. “The Role of the Leader in Political Campaigns: An Analysis in the Context of Political Communication, Leadership and Image Management”. Turkish Academic Research Review 11/2 (July 1, 2026): 309-322. https://doi.org/10.30622/tarr.1916333.
JAMA
1.Engin S. The Role of the Leader in Political Campaigns: An Analysis in the Context of Political Communication, Leadership and Image Management. tarr. 2026;11:309–322.
MLA
Engin, Sevinç. “The Role of the Leader in Political Campaigns: An Analysis in the Context of Political Communication, Leadership and Image Management”. Turkish Academic Research Review, vol. 11, no. 2, July 2026, pp. 309-22, doi:10.30622/tarr.1916333.
Vancouver
1.Sevinç Engin. The Role of the Leader in Political Campaigns: An Analysis in the Context of Political Communication, Leadership and Image Management. tarr. 2026 Jul. 1;11(2):309-22. doi:10.30622/tarr.1916333