OBSERVING THE LEADER'S INTERVENTION TO DEMOCRACY ON SOCIAL MEDIA: AN ANALYSIS OF THE TWEETS OF TRUMP AND BIDEN ON TWITTER IN THE 2020 US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN TERMS OF CONTENT AND SENTIMENT ANALYSIS

Year 2021, Volume: 11 Issue: 3, 1073 - 1097, 01.07.2021

Sarp Bağcan , Sezgin Savaş , Esra Tunçay

Abstract

In democracy that focuses on the individual's participation in the social system, the individual constitutes the direct target audience of politicians who are struggling for power with their citizen identity. Social media is also seen as the most up-to-date communication environment where the leader can directly, instantly and directly be able to / interact with her audience and establish a community system of her own. In the research, an answer to the questions of “Do political leaders have an open and direct intervention to democracy on social media?” and “How are leaders communicating with the masses in a critical and emotional election?" have been sought. For this, the 2020 US Presidential Election, the consequences of which will affect world politics, has been discussed. The process is set in a time frame with the agenda regarding before-sequence and after. Another important issue is that it is the highest turnout election in US history in the last 120 years; therefore, it points out that the level of expectations and feelings attributed to it is high. In this background and framework, examples were taken from leaders’ tweets; these leaders are at the point of representing the agenda and emotional intensity at the highest level in influencing the masses. As a result, it has been observed that Biden was running the process in a rather flat, cool-blooded, election and Trump-oriented manner, while Trump was an emotional leader acting with his audience in real life and social media with his actions and discourses and that he intervenes directly and openly to democracy in accordance with his leadership and aims, using communication (discourse and emotions) to activate the masses. 9.121 tweets have been obtained and analysed in total using RStudio (version R-4.0.4) programming language. The tweets discussed were subjected to content and sentiment analysis using text mining methods. It is possible to count the use of social media in this way as a sign of an era in which the legitimacy of governments and elections in politics can be debated constantly.

Keywords

2020 US Presidential Election, Trump, Biden, democracy, political communication, discourse analysis, sentiment analysis

SOSYAL MEDYADA DEMOKRASİYE LİDER MÜDAHALESİNİ GÖZLEMLEMEK: 2020 ABD BAŞKANLIK SEÇİMLERİ’NDE TRUMP VE BIDEN’IN TWEETLERİNİN İÇERİK VE DUYGU ANALİZİ AÇISINDAN İNCELENMESİ

Abstract

Bireyin toplumsal sisteme katılımını merkezine alan demokraside birey, vatandaş kimliğiyle, iktidar mücadelesi içinde olan siyasetçilerin iletişim açısından doğrudan hedef kitlesini oluşturmaktadır. Liderin, doğrudan, anlık ve filtresiz şekilde kitlesiyle olabildiği/etkileşime girebildiği, kendine ait bir topluluk sistemi kurabildiği sosyal medya da mevcut en güncel iletişim ortamı olarak görülmektedir. Araştırmada, “Sosyal medyada siyasi liderlerin demokrasiye açık ve doğrudan bir müdahalesi var mıdır?”, “Liderlerin kritik ve duygu yoğunluklu bir seçim anında kitlelerle iletişimi nasıldır?” sorularına cevap aranmaktadır. Bunun için sonuçları dünya siyasetini etkileyebilecek olan 2020 ABD Başkanlık Seçimleri ele alınmıştır. Süreç öncesi-sırası ve sonrasıyla ilgili gündem ile birlikte bir zaman dilimine oturtulmuştur. ABD tarihinde 120 yıl sonra gerçekleşen en yüksek katılımlı seçim olması ise diğer önemli bir husustur; dolayısıyla ona ilişkin beklentilerin ve yüklenen duyguların düzeyinin yüksek olduğunu işaret etmektedir. Bu zemin ve çerçevede liderlerin tweetlerinden örnekler alınmıştır; bu liderler gündem ve duygusal yoğunluğu şahıslarında en yüksek düzeyde temsil etme ve kitleleri etkileyebilme noktasında bulunmaktadır. Toplam 9.121 tweet RStudio (sürüm R-4.0.4) programlama dili kullanılarak elde edilmiş ve analiz edilmiştir. Ele alınan tweetler, metin madenciliği yöntemleri kullanılarak içerik ve duygu analizine tabi tutulmuştur. Sonuçta Biden’in oldukça düz, soğukkanlı, seçim ve Trump odaklı şekilde süreci yürüttüğü, Trump’ın ise eylem ve söylemleriyle gerçek hayatta ve sosyal medyada kitlesiyle birlikte hareket eden duygusal bir lider olduğu, liderliğine ve amaçlarına uygun olarak demokrasiye açık ve doğrudan müdahale ettiği, iletişimi (söylem ve duyguları) kitleleri aktive etmek için kullandığı görülmüştür. Sosyal medyanın bu şekilde kullanımını, siyasette iktidarların ve seçimlerin meşruluğunun sürekli tartışılabileceği bir dönemin işareti olarak saymak mümkündür.

Keywords

2020 ABD BAşkanlık Seçimi, Trump, Biden, demokrasi, siyasal iletişim, söylem analizi, duygu analizi

References

• Referans1 Aliefendioğlu, Y. (2005). Temsili Demokrasinin “Seçim” Ayağı, TBB Dergisi, 60: 71-96
• Referans2 Anadolu Ajansı. (2021). ABD'de başkanlık seçimine son 120 yılın en fazla katılımı gerçekleşti. Erişim Tarihi: 07.03.2021, https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/abd-baskanlik-secimleri-2020/abdde-baskanlik-secimine-son-120-yilin-en-fazla-katilimi-gerceklesti/2032338
• Referans3 Ax, J. (2020). ‘The 2020 U.S. presidential election calendar: Day by day’. Reuters. Erişim Tarihi: 07.03.2021, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-timeline-idUSKBN25Y1HI
• Referans4 Axelrod, T. (2020). Georgia secretary of state announces hand recount of presidential race. The Erişim Tarihi: 11.11.2020, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/525476-georgia-secretary-of-state-announces-hand-recount
• Referans5 Axelrod, T. (2020). Minnesota certifies Biden victory. Erişim Tarihi: 24.11.2020, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/527482-minnesota-certifies-biden-victory
• Referans6 Bauer, S. (2020). Biden narrowly wins Wisconsin; Trump to call for a recount. Erişim Tarihi: 05.11.2020), https://www.startribune.com/biden-trump-locked-in-tight-race-in-wisconsin/572968382/
• Referans7 BBC (2018). Cambridge Analytica-linked firm 'boasted of poll interference'. Erişim Tarihi: 28.03.2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43528219
• Referans8 Budryk, Z. (2020). Dominion spokesman: 'It is not physically possible for our machines to switch votes from one candidate to the other. Erişim Tarihi: 22.11.2020, https://thehill.com/policy/technology/527086-dominion-spokesman-it-is-not-physically-possible-for-our-machines-to-switch
• Referans9 Budryk, Z. (2020). Trump walks back tweet saying Biden 'won' election. Erişim Tarihi: 15.11.2020, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/526027-trump-says-biden-won-while-promoting-election-conspiracy-theories
• Referans10 Bowden, J.(2020). Arizona GOP seeks to temporarily bar Maricopa Co. from certifying election results. Erişim Tarihi: 16.11.2020, https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/526448-arizona-gop-seeks-to-temporarily-bar-maricopa-co-from-certifying
• Referans11 Byrnes, J. (2020). Trump campaign files for new recount in Georgia. Erişim Tarihi: 21.11.2020, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/527051-trump-campaign-files-for-new-recount-in-georgia
• Referans12 Caitlin. O. (2019). Trump Tells Intel Chiefs to ‘go Back to School’ after They Break with Him. Erişim Tarihi: 23.03.2021, https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/30/trump-national-security-1136433?cid=apn
• Referans13 Cambridge (t.y). Elcetion. Erişim Tarihi 23.03.2021, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/election
• Referans14 Candan, K., Solak, M., Bilgin, M. (2020). Dünyada Seçim Sistemleri, Ankara: TBMM Araştırma Hizmetleri Başkanlığı Yayınları
• Referans15 Chalfant, M. (2020). Michigan certifies Biden victory in another blow to Trump. Erişim Tarihi: 23.11.2020, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/527255-michigan-election-board-certifies-biden-win
• Referans16 Chalfant, M.; Samuels, B. (2020). Barr to step down as attorney general, erişim Tarihi: 14.12.2020,.https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/530179-barr-to-step-down-as-attorney-general
• Referans17 Collins (t.y). Election, Erişim Tarihi 23.03.2021, https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/election
• Referans18 Collony, G. (2020). Trump trains' block highways and bridges from New York to Colorado as 2020 election approaches. Erişim Tarihi: 02.11.2020, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/trump-train-maga-colorado-us-2020-election-biden-b1515257.html
• Referans19 Confessore, N. (2018). Cambridge Analytica and Facebook: The Scandal and the Fallout So Far. Erişim Tarihi: 28.03.2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/04/us/politics/cambridge-analytica-scandal-fallout.html
• Referans20 Durkee, A. (2020). Judge Says Trump Campaign Has ‘No Evidence’ To Support Georgia Mail-In Ballot Claims. Erişim Tarihi: 05.11.2020, https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2020/11/05/trump-georgia-mail-in-ballots-lawsuit-in-third-battleground-state-lawsuit-of-the-day/?sh=3db365673ca2
• Referans21 Durke, A. (2020). Pennsylvania Judge Rules In Favor Of Trump Campaign, Orders State Can’t Count Some Ballots. Erişim Tarihi: 12.11.2020, https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2020/11/12/pennsylvania-judge-rules-in-favor-of-trump-campaign-orders-state-cant-count-some-ballots/?sh=1ff6e0b06c12
• Referans22 Easley, J. (2020). Conservative outlet OAN won't recognize Biden as president-elect until Congress certifies. Erişim Tarihi: 16.12.2020, https://thehill.com/homenews/media/530496-oan-wont-recognize-biden-as-president-elect-until-congress-certifies
• Referans23 Edmonds, R. (2020). The AP and Fox News say Biden has carried Arizona. Why do other networks say it’s too close to call?. Erişim Tarihi: 05.11.2020, https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2020/the-ap-and-fox-news-say-biden-has-carried-arizona-why-do-other-networks-say-its-too-close-to-call/
• Referans24 Entman, R.M. (1993). Framing: Toward Clarification of a Fractured Paradigm. Journal of Communication, 43(4): 51-58.
• Referans25 Erdoğan, İ. (2012). Pozitivist Metodoloji ve Ötesi: Araştırma Tasarımları, Niteliksel ve İstatistiksel Yöntemler. Ankara: ERK Yayınları
• Referans26 Faris, R., Clark, J., Etling, B., Kaiser, J., Roberts, H. Schmitt, C., Benkler, Y. (2020). Partisanship, Impeachment, and the Democratic Primaries: American Political Discourse, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society
• Referans27 Francia, P. L. (2018). Free Media and Twitter in the 2016 Presidential Election: The Unconventional Campaign of Donald Trump. Social Science Computer Review, 36(4): 440–455.
• Referans28 Gainous, J. ve Wagner. K. M. (2014). Tweeting to Power: The Social Media Revolution in American Politics. NY: Oxford University Press.
• Referans29 Gamson, W.A.ve Modigliani, A. (1989). Media discourse and public opinion on nuclear power: A constructionist approach. American Journal of Sociology, 95: 1-37.
• Referans30 Gerstein, J. (2020). Trump campaign revises Pennsylvania suit, again. Erişim Tarihi: 18.11.2020, https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/18/trump-pennsylvania-election-lawsuit-437996
• Referans31 Gulati, G. J. (2010). No Laughing Matter: The Role of New Media in the 2008 Election. L. J. Sabato (Ed.), The Year of Obama: How Barack Obama Won the White House (s. 187–204). New York: Longman.
• Referans32 Hançerlioğlu, O. (1986). Toplumbilim Sözlüğü, İstanbul: Remzi Kitabevi
• Referans33 Hutzler, A. (2020). Electoral College Cements Joe Biden's Victory With Zero Faithless Electors. Erişim Tarihi: 14.12.2020, https://www.newsweek.com/electoral-college-cements-joe-bidens-victory-zero-faithless-electors-1554660
• Referans34 Ingram, M. (2017). The 140-Character President. Columbia Journalism Review. Erişim Tarihi: 23.03.2021, https://www.cjr.org/special_report/trump-twitter-tweets-presidentIngram
• Referans35 Keith, W. ve Lundberg, C. (2008). The Essential Guide to Rhetoric. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.
• Referans36 Kelly, C. (2019). Trump Attacks McChrystal after Retired General Called Trump Immoral. Erişim Tarihi: 23.03.2021, https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/01/politics/trump-tweet-mcchrystal/index.html
• Referans37 KhudaBukhsh, A. R., Sarkar, R., Kamlet, M. S., Mitchell, T. M. (2021). Fringe News Networks: Dynamics of US News Viewership following the 2020 Presidential Election: 1-13
• Referans38 Kışlalı, A. T. (1987), Siyaset Bilimi, Ankara: Ankara Üniversitesi Basın Yayın Yüksekokulu Yayınları
• Referans39 Komşuoğlu, A. (2007). Türkiye’de Siyasal Liderlik Ve Kitle İletişimi: Bir Örnek İnceleme–Süleyman Demirel. ICANAS (International Congress of Asian and North African Studies), Ankara, 10-15 Ekim: 1933-1950
• Referans40 Kuzu, B. (1992). Demokrasi- Resmi İdeoloji-Sivil Toplum, Ankara Üniversitesi SBF Dergisi, 47(01): 335-369.
• Referans41 MacLean, M. (2020). The Impact Of Socıal Medıa On Name Recognıtıon In The 2020 Democratıc Prımarıes. Quarterly Review of Business Disciplines, 6(4): 361-377
• Referans42 McNair, B. (2003). An Introduction to Political Communication, London and New York: Routledge
• Referans43 Mills, S. (2020). Trump campaign dismisses appeal to Nevada Supreme Court. Erişim Tarihi: 11.11.2020, https://news3lv.com/news/local/trump-campaign-dismisses-appeal-to-nevada-supreme-court
• Referans44 Neidig, H. (2020, b). Judge dismisses Arizona GOP lawsuit seeking audit of county's ballots. Erişim Tarihi: 19.11.2020, https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/526781-judge-dismisses-arizona-gop-lawsuit-seeking-audit-of-countys-ballots
• Referans45 Neidig, H. (2020). Michigan judge rejects GOP effort to halt county's vote certification. Erişim Tarihi: 13.11.2020), https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/525900-michigan-judge-rejects-gop-effort-to-halt-countys-vote-certification
• Referans46 Ouyang, Y. ve Waterman, R. W. (2020). Trump, Twitter, and the American Democracy, Switzerland: Springer
• Referans47 Oxford (t.y). Democracy. Erişim Tarihi 23.03.2021, https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095709688
• Referans48 Özgül, B. (2002). Seçim ve Seçim Sistemleri, Türkiye’deki Seçim Sistemi Uygulamaları ve Bir Model Önerisi. (Yayımlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi). Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi / Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü
• Referans49 Özkul, F. (2012). Başkanlık Sistemi Üzerine Amerika Birleşik Devletleri ve Azerbaycan Modeli Karşılaştırması. TBB Dergisi, (103): 85-110.
• Referans50 Pulver, D.V. (2020). US Postal Service blows court-ordered deadline to check for missing ballots. About 300,000 can't be traced. Erişim Tarihi: 03.11.2020, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2020/11/03/postal-service-blows-deadline-check-missing-mail-ballots/6149643002/
• Referans51 RDocumentation. (2021). Syuzhet Package. Erişim Tarihi: 12.03.2021, https://www.rdocumentation.org/packages/syuzhet/versions/1.0.6 adresinden erişim sağlanmıştır.
• Referans52 Samuels, B. (2020). Trump campaign sues to halt vote counting in Michigan. Erişim Tarihi: 04.11.2020, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/524506-trump-campaign-sues-to-halt-vote-counting-in-michigan
• Referans53 Segers, G.; Mitchell, L.; Linton, C. (2020). Georgia's secretary of state certifies Joe Biden as winner. Erişim Tarihi: 20.11.2020,. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-recount-election-2020-will-of-people-biden/
• Referans54 Seipel, B. (2020). Pennsylvania court rejects five Trump campaign, GOP legal challenges to ballots. Erişim Tarihi: 13.11.2020), https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/525944-pennsylvania-court-rejects-five-trump-campaign-gop-legal-challenges
• Referans55 Singman, B. (2020). Trump claims victory with many states still undeclared, hints at possible Supreme Court case. Erişim Tarihi: 04.11.2020, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-claims-victory-states-undecided-supreme-court-white-house
• Referans56 Smith, A. (2009). The Internet’s Role in Campaign 2008. Erişim Tarihi: 14.02.2021, https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2009/04/15/the-internets-role-in-campaign-2008/
• Referans57 Soysal, M. (1969). Anayasaya Giriş, Ankara: AÜSBF Yayınları
• Referans58 Şeker, S.E. (2015). Metin Madenciliği (Text Mining). YBS Ansiklopedisi, 2(3): 30-32
• Referans59 Todd, C. ve Gawiser, S. (2009). How Barack Obama Won: A State-by-State Guide to the Historic 2008 Presidential Election, New York: Vintage Books
• Referans60 Trump, D. J. “Twitter/@realDonaldTrump: Wow, @CNN got caught fixing their “focus group” in order to make Crooked Hillary look better. Really pathetic and totally dishonest!” October 10, 2016, 12:31 PM. https:// twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/785563318652178432
• Referans61 Tunaya, T. Z. (1982). Siyasal Kurumlar ve Anayasa Hukuku, İstanbul: Ekin Yayınları
• Referans62 Türk, H. S. (2006). Seçim, Seçim Sistemleri ve Anayasal Tercih, Anayasa Yargısı, 23: 75: 113
• Referans63 Welk, B. (2020). Joe Biden Urges Supporters to ‘Stay Calm,’ Says ‘Democracy Is Sometimes Messy. Erişim Tarihi: 05.11.2020, https://www.thewrap.com/joe-biden-urges-supporters-to-stay-calm-says-democracy-is-sometimes-messy/
• Referans64 Wharton (2020). How Social Media Is Shaping Political Campaigns, Erişim Tarihi: 23.03.2021, https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/how-social-media-is-shaping-political-campaigns/
• Referans65 Williams, J. (2020). Georgia secretary of state says voting machine audit is complete, no sign of foul play. Erişim Tarihi: 17.11.2020, https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/526368-georgia-secretary-of-state-says-voting-machine-audit-is-complete-no-sign
• Referans66 Williams, J. (2020). Trump campaign files new election-related lawsuit in Arizona. Erişim Tarihi: 07.11.2020, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/524983-trump-campaign-files-new-election-related-lawsuit-in-arizona
• Referans67 Williams, J. (2020). Trump rails against Georgia recount process. Erişim Tarihi: 13.11.2020, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/526007-trump-rails-against-georgia-recount-process
• Referans68 Wolf, Z.B.; Mullery, W. (2020). ‘Congress has the next -- and final -- vote in the 2020 election. Here's how it Works. Erişim Tarihi: 14.12.2020, https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/07/politics/electoral-college-vote-timeline/index.html
• Referans69 Yasushi, H. (t.y). Political Parties and Elections. Erişim Tarihi: 23.03.2021, https://www.ide.go.jp/English/Research/Topics/Pol/Elections/overview.html