CARP 2019 Conference
Character Assassination and Populism: Challenges and Responses
March 15–17, 2019 · George Mason University, Arlington Campus
Conference Overview
Exploring the intersection of character assassination and populism in today’s global society,
addressing challenges to democratic discourse and institutional authority.
One primary characteristic of today’s global society is the growing public distrust in many traditional
authorities. In the context of institutional legitimacy crisis, there is a great demand for new voices to
trust. These changes provide opportunities for populists and charismatic opinion leaders of all kinds to
promote their agendas and influence public opinion. Populist politicians often become primary newsmakers
for clickbait content in the media that proliferates personal opinions, falsehoods, and unwarranted ad
hominem attacks.
Belligerent rhetoric also normalizes the culture of incivility which has negative consequences for civil
debate in a well-functioning democracy.
Keynote Address
Featured Speaker
About the Keynote
Shawn Turner brings extensive experience in national security communication and media analysis
to discuss the challenges facing democratic institutions in the age of populist rhetoric and
strategic character assassination campaigns.
As a CNN National Security Communication Analyst, Turner provides critical insights into how
information warfare and character attacks impact public trust in democratic institutions and
national security discourse.
Conference Themes
Political Character & Populism
- The relationship between populist rhetoric and character assassination
- How institutional distrust creates opportunities for populist leaders
- The role of charismatic opinion leaders in shaping public discourse
- Character-based attacks in populist political movements
Media & Democratic Discourse
- Clickbait culture and the proliferation of personal attacks
- The normalization of incivility in political communication
- Social media’s role in spreading character assassination
- Challenges to civil debate in democratic societies
Strategic Communication in the Digital Age
The conference explores how strategic communication campaigns have evolved in the age of social media,
examining both the tools used for character assassination and the potential responses available to
defend democratic discourse. Sessions cover the intersection of traditional political communication
with new digital platforms and their impact on public opinion formation.
Conference Sessions
Keynote Address
Shawn Turner, CNN National Security Communication Analyst
Conference Materials & Resources
Access the complete conference schedule and additional materials from the CARP 2019 Conference
on Character Assassination and Populism.
Conference Documents
Full Conference Schedule
Complete program with detailed session information and speaker biographies
Additional Resources
Original Conference Page
Complete details and context from the original conference website
CARP Research Lab
Learn more about ongoing character assassination and populism research
Keynote Speaker Bio
Learn more about Shawn Turner and his work in national security communication
Note: This conference focused on contemporary challenges to democratic discourse.
For questions about research collaboration or materials, contact the
CARP Research Lab.
Research Focus Areas
The 2019 conference addressed critical contemporary issues at the intersection of political
communication, media studies, and democratic theory.
Populism & Authority
- Institutional Distrust – Examining the crisis of legitimacy in traditional authorities
- Charismatic Leadership – How populist figures gain influence through character appeals
- Alternative Voices – The demand for new sources of political authority
Media Environment
- Clickbait Culture – How sensational content promotes personal attacks
- Social Media Dynamics – Platform effects on political discourse quality
- Information Warfare – Strategic use of character attacks in digital campaigns
Democratic Discourse
- Civility Crisis – The normalization of uncivil political communication
- Debate Quality – Impact on substantive policy discussions
- Public Engagement – Effects on citizen participation in democracy
Strategic Responses
- Counter-strategies – Defending against character assassination campaigns
- Media Literacy – Educating publics about manipulation techniques
- Institutional Reform – Rebuilding trust in democratic institutions
Conference Related Videos
Explore video content that connects to the key themes discussed at the CARP 2019 Conference on Character Assassination and Populism.
An overview of character assassination research methodologies and key concepts explored by the CARP Lab.
Analysis of contemporary political discourse and the role of character attacks in modern conflicts.
Exploring how institutional trust crisis affects reputation management and democratic discourse.
Related Research Content
Explore additional CARP Lab research on character assassination, populism, and democratic discourse
that connects to the themes discussed at the 2019 conference.
Character Assassination Research Overview
A comprehensive overview of the CARP Lab’s research program and methodological approaches.
The CARP Lab’s research program directly addresses the challenges explored at the 2019 conference,
providing evidence-based insights into how character assassination functions in populist movements
and its effects on democratic discourse.
Learn more about ongoing research into strategic communication, media manipulation, and the
defense of democratic institutions against character-based attacks.