Lie-telling in Election: Forms, Levels, and Outcomes

The use of language is affected social situations. The social actors exist in asymmetrical social situations (including asymmetrical power situations, asymmetrical social-skills occasions, and asymmetrical possibilities). They involve some conflicts in terms of their various desires, interests, and positions, and use language in order to achieve their goals. The language is sometimes used for attaining consensus and accompany and resolving deputies and it is sometimes used in order to continue conflicts. Contrary to public opinion, use of language isn’t a function of moral norms and religious doctrines but, it’s a function of social situation. Some social conflicts can emerge in election. The election campaign is an opportunity of social exchanges and civil or social rivalry. It is expected that candidates and other social actors lie in order to pursue their purposes. In election, lie-telling emerges in three levels: micro (face to face relations, meso (groups, clans, organizations, and institutions), and macro (political system). Also, various forms of lie-telling are expressed in the electoral campaigns, especially in political campaigns. This article examines some forms of lie-telling and some its negative consequences in past electoral campaigns in Iran.