Political polarization in Greece. Thematic variations and rhetorical strategies in party manifestos (2012–2019)

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Published: Feb 19, 2026
Keywords:
polarization; party manifestos; typology of polarizing references
Costis Pieridis
Panteion University
Fani Kountouri
Panteion University
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5969-3652
Abstract

This article examines political polarization in the official party manifestos of Greece’s parliamentary parties during the 2012, 2015, and 2019 national elections. By integrating theoretical perspectives on polarization with a systematic analysis of pre-electoral programs—drawing on data from the Comparative Manifesto Project, the Chapel Hill Expert Survey, and an original typology of “polarizing references”—it explores how thematic priorities, ideological distinctions, and rhetorical strategies shape the political narrative.The study concludes that polarisation in political discourse is not only a reflection of social divisions, but also a tool of political strategy, which is strongly influenced by the ideological identity and the position of each party in the political competition.

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Author Biographies
Costis Pieridis, Panteion University

Dr in Political Science, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Political Science and History, Panteion University

Fani Kountouri, Panteion University

Associate Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science and History, Panteion University

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