Understanding movement parties through their communication

In many countries, movement parties have gained traction among the electorate. This special issue spotlights the communication of movement parties as an avenue for researching their purchase on democratic politics. Through a combination of empirical studies and commentaries, the issue covers multiple countries where movement parties have established a foothold in politics. The introduction makes the case that communication has played a vital part in their rise. Movement parties have expressed greater sensitivity to neglected issues, a drive to renew links with marginalized social groups through more direct–chiefly online–communication with them as well as an ambition to overhaul both the party organization and the political system. While movement parties have signalled a desire to disrupt and reimagine politics, we argue for their critical examination against questions regarding the quality of democracy. Specifically, we problematize the mismatch between a populist rhetoric emphasizing the need for more immediate and greater participation in the party organization as well as policymaking and movement party practices.