Discourse analysis reveals the 2024 presidential debates functioned as political theater rather than educational forums, highlighting a continuing decline in public deliberation.
Key Points
To determine whether the 2024 presidential debates fulfilled their primary societal and democratic functions of educating voters on candidate character and policy positions.
Analyzed the argumentative quality and discourse structure of the two 2024 presidential debates.
Reviewed polling and public opinion metrics alongside news media coverage and political commentator assessments.
The 2024 presidential debates operated primarily as political theater rather than informative public deliberation.
The debate performances continued a documented trajectory of diminished educational utility that began in the 2012 election cycle and persisted through 2016 and 2020.