Common Themes in Belief in Campaign Promises

Across the articles examined, a few key themes emerge regarding why voters believe in campaign promises. First, the notion of credibility and reputation plays a significant role. In the study by Aragonès et al., for instance, candidates’ reputations influence their ability to make credible promises. Voters are more likely to believe promises from candidates who have consistently fulfilled their past commitments, which underscores the importance of maintaining a good reputation for future electoral success. Similarly, Bonilla’s work emphasizes that voters are influenced by how candidates’ promises align with their partisan beliefs and perceptions of candidate intentions, which adds a layer of psychological complexity to the belief in promises.

Another important factor is transparency. According to Lang and Schudy, when there is transparency about promise keeping, voters are more likely to hold candidates accountable for their promises, resulting in more rational voting behavior. Transparency fosters an environment where voters can evaluate the honesty and competence of candidates, leading to stronger beliefs in the promises made. Conversely, in opaque environments where promises are not monitored, candidates may feel less compelled to keep their promises, leading to a dynamic where voters still perceive campaign promises as a viable strategy for accountability, albeit through different lenses.

Voter Apathy and Engagement

Despite the clear mechanisms through which promises and accountability function, there is a noteworthy trend of voter apathy and a perception of politics as a spectator sport. There are several factors contributing to this disengagement. One primary reason is the complexity and uncertainty surrounding electoral processes and candidate performance. Many voters feel overwhelmed by the amount of information available and may struggle to differentiate between promises and actual outcomes. This confusion can lead to a general sense of disillusionment, where voters adopt a passive stance rather than actively engaging in the political process.

Moreover, the consistent presence of clientelism and vote buying, particularly in less-consolidated democracies like the Philippines, suggests an entrenched system where short-term benefits outweigh long-term commitments to policy and representation. Voters may rationally decide that engaging deeply with campaign promises is not worth the effort if they perceive that their vote is more easily swayed by immediate incentives in the form of financial rewards instead of accountability for long-term commitments. This creates a cycle where fewer voters genuinely engage with campaigns or hold candidates accountable based on their promises.

Collective Future Vision and Campaign Promises

Regarding the efficacy of campaign promises in driving a collective vision for the future, the evidence indicates that while promises can mobilize support and create a sense of accountability, their overall effectiveness is conditional. When voters perceive promises as credible, they can indeed inspire collective action and provide a framework for accountability. However, when the political environment is characterized by opacity and distrust—exemplified through high levels of partisanship and skepticism regarding candidate motives—campaign promises may function more as rhetorical tools rather than as genuine commitments to future action.

In strategic contexts where voters become informed about policy promises and their outcomes, as demonstrated in Cruz et al.’s field experiments, there is a noted increase in voter engagement and responsiveness to candidates’ behaviors. Yet, this delicate balance can easily tip, and opportunities for transformation into a more engaged electorate can be undermined by clientelism and opaque party systems.

While campaign promises possess the potential to enhance political engagement and collective vision, achieving this requires a foundation of transparency, accountability, and a political culture that values informed voter participation. Without these elements, promises can become mere campaign tools rather than mechanisms for genuine change, leading to a system where politics remains a spectator sport rather than a participatory endeavor.

Here are all the APA citations generated based on the articles we have analyzed: