Análisis funcional de los debates en las elecciones generales de 2008

Abstract

This research the Functional Theory to analyze the two debates featuring the two main political leaders in the 2008 Spanish general elections. These confrontations between candidates have been analyzed from the perspective of political communication (debates were also held in 1993). Candidates in these messages were more focused on attacks than on acclaims or positive statements. Few defenses were used. Policy was a more common topic than the candidates or parties. The incumbent acclaimed more, and attacked less, than the challenger both generally and in particular on past deeds. General goals ideals were used more to acclaim than to attack. These results are similar to those obtained in the content analysis of electoral debates, following the Functional Theory in the United States of America, Ukraine, South Korea and Israel, so it appears that there are some common characteristics in political debates that transcend borders.