Democracy will be truly functional when the citizens would be informed about the electoral politics and exercise their choice independently without being influenced by any vested interest. Thus, Media plays a crucial role in shaping the popular opinion and intern affects the electoral politics. The course thus attempts to make the learners understand the significance of public opinion in electoral politics. It also reflects on the role and function of the election commissioner in ensuring free and fair election. The political parties are also to be studied to have a comprehensive understanding of electoral dynamics of political parties, media and public opinion.
Learning Outcome:
After studying this course, learners would acquire practical skills in electoral studies. The unit-wise learning outcomes are given below:
Unit I: Learners would be aware of the significance of public opinion in electoral politics.
Unit II: Learners would be aware of the Representation of People’s Act, constituencies and the dynamics of political parties in electoral politics.
Unit III: This unit would enable the students to be informed about the Election Commission and the election code of conduct with respect to the electoral politics.
Unit IV: The learners would know opinion polls, exit polls, their impact on electoral results and analysis of electoral data, which would infuse pragmatic understanding about the electoral behaviour in them.
Course Content:
Unit I: What is public opinion? Agents of formulating public opinion. Ways of developing healthy public opinion
Unit II: Meaning of Electoral Studies, Representation of People’s Act 1951, What is a Constituency, National and Regional Political Parties
Unit III: Composition and Powers of the Election Commission in India, State Election Commission, Media and Election Model Code of Conduct.
Unit IV: Different stages of election analysis, opinion polls, exit polls, methods of analysing electoral data, and analysing media reports.
Essential Readings:
- Verma, R., & Sardesai, S. (2014). Does media exposure affect voting behaviour and political preferences in India? Economic and Political Weekly, 82–88. Kanungo, N. T. (2015). India’s digital poll battle: Political parties and social media in the 16th Lok Sabha elections. Studies in Indian Politics, 3(2), 212–228.
- Rai, P. (2021). Psephological fallacies of public opinion polling. Economic & Political Weekly, 56(28), 51.
- Fisher, J., Fieldhouse, E., Franklin, M. N., Gibson, R. K., Cantijoch, M., & Wlezien, C. (Eds.). (2018). The Routledge Handbook of Elections, Voting Behaviour and Public Opinion (pp. 280–292). London: Routledge.
- Morwitz, V. G., & Pluzinski, C. (1996). Do polls reflect opinions or do opinions reflect polls? The impact of political polling on voters’ expectations, preferences, and behavior. Journal of Consumer Research, 23(1), 53–67.
- Traugott, M. W. (2014). Public opinion polls and election forecasting. PS: Political Science & Politics, 47(2), 342–344.