WANA (July 01) – Elections worldwide are crucial democratic processes, employing various tactics to garner voter support and increase candidates’ chances of victory.

 

Iran’s social landscape, especially in the weeks leading up to the second round of its presidential election, is replete with campaigns and these tactics.

 

Among the most common methods globally to attract support and increase votes during the campaign period are:

Posters of presidential candidates Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili are displayed in a street

Posters of presidential candidates Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili are displayed in a street in Tehran, Iran June 22, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

– Mobilizing Local Resources
Utilizing local networks, religious leaders, and council members to garner support, especially in rural areas and small towns.

 

– Using Social Media
Social media has become a vital tool for direct communication with voters. It allows candidates to convey their messages quickly and cheaply to a broad audience.

 

– Media Advertising
Television, radio, and newspapers remain essential advertising tools. Access to state media and the nature of election news coverage can significantly influence the election process.

 

– Election Programs and Economic Promises
Presenting comprehensive economic plans and welfare promises is crucial. These promises are particularly impactful in challenging economic conditions.

 

– Using Religious and Cultural Symbols
Religious and cultural symbols can play a significant role in election campaigns in predominantly religious countries. Candidates seek to gain the trust and support of the religious community by participating in religious ceremonies and emphasizing religious values

 

– Forming Political Alliances
Forming political coalitions between different factions and groups can increase the chances of success.

 

– Grassroots Campaigns and Social Movements
Candidates try to garner widespread support from various societal sectors by creating grassroots campaigns and participating in solving local issues.|

 

– Attacking the Opponent
One common method is discrediting the opponent through disseminating negative news and information.

Presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian takes a selfie with one of his supporters during a campaign gathering

Presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian takes a selfie with one of his supporters during a campaign gathering in Tehran, Iran June 14, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Which Tactic is More Successful?
Global experiences show that positive tactics are generally more successful, such as presenting economic and social programs, mobilizing local resources, and intelligently using social media.

 

These tactics not only build more lasting trust and support but also prevent the creation of a negative and hostile atmosphere in society.

 

Given Iran’s current situation, marked by widespread dissatisfaction with economic, social, and political conditions, candidates’ election tactics will be crucial in attracting voters.

 

By examining the tactics of the two main candidates in the 2024 elections, Saeed Jalili and Massoud Pezeshkian, one can predict their success based on the current state of Iranian society.

A poster of Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili is seen on a street in Tehran

A poster of Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili is seen on a street in Tehran, Iran, June 29, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Saeed Jalili, a conservative candidate, has employed the following tactics in his campaign:

 

  1. Emphasizing conservatism and hardline stances on international and domestic issues, aiming to attract the conservative voter base.
  2. Extensive use of traditional media and social networks to disseminate conservative messages and highlight his positions on key national issues.
  3. Active participation in public ceremonies and emphasis on religious and cultural values to garner support from the religious community.
  4. Discrediting the opponent: Focusing on Pezeshkian’s views and associates and reminding people of past negative experiences with similar approaches.

 

Massoud Pezeshkian has turned to the following tactics for his campaign:

 

  1. Attacking the opponent involves disseminating negative information about the rival, highlighting their weaknesses, and even using fallacies.
  2. Gaining support from well-known politicians and leveraging their influence to boost his credibility.
  3. Using social media and media outlets to spread his messages and attack rivals.
Supporters of Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili attend a campaign event

Supporters of Iranian presidential candidate Saeed Jalili attend a campaign event in Tehran, Iran, June 24, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Success of Tactics Based on Iran’s Current Situation

Given the widespread dissatisfaction among the Iranian populace, several key factors influence the success of election tactics:

 

1. Economic Discontent: Poor economic conditions and high inflation require comprehensive economic plans and actionable promises. A candidate offering attractive and reliable economic programs will likely succeed more in such conditions.

 

2. Social and Political Discontent: People seek significant changes in the political and social system. Candidates who propose meaningful solutions and fundamental changes have a higher chance of gaining votes.

 

In this context, Massoud Pezeshkian, who focuses more on attacking the opponent and using smear tactics, might capture short-term voter attention but risks reducing public trust and creating a negative atmosphere.

 

In contrast, Saeed Jalili, by emphasizing conservatism and utilizing various media to spread positive messages, might maintain a more stable voter base. Especially since many voters in Iran are from underprivileged areas and outside major cities, Jalili can build a large and solid voter base by demonstrating his alignment with the underprivileged and visiting various towns and societal sectors, such as the influential bazaar community.

Iranian presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian waves during a campaign event

Iranian presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian waves during a campaign event in Tehran, Iran, June 23, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Predicting Success
Given Iran’s current widespread dissatisfaction with economic and social conditions, tactics that offer tangible and actionable programs to improve economic and social conditions are more likely to succeed.

 

Saeed Jalili, despite his conservative emphasis, might be more successful if he can present viable and promising economic programs.

 

Conversely, Massoud Pezeshkian will only succeed if he can provide actionable solutions to the country’s problems in addition to criticizing his rivals. Thus, the upcoming debates between the candidates will be crucial and decisive for this election.

By WANA writer: R. Hejazi