The Role of Discourses and Social Identities in Donald Trump's Victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election: A Constructivist Approach

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

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Department of Political Science and International Relations, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

10.22124/wp.2026.30780.3529

Abstract

Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election has raised profound questions about the social and political factors influencing electoral behavior. This study investigated how discourses, social identities, and meaning-making processes in American society contributed to Trump's success. This study hypothesized that the redefinition of identity boundaries between "us" and "others," alongside Trump's use of populist discourses such as economic nationalism, anti-immigrant sentiment, and opposition to liberal elites, has reinforced the cohesion of his voter base. This qualitative study employed discourse analysis within a constructivist theoretical framework. This approach elucidates the discursive elements of Trump's rhetoric, including his emphasis on the white working class, economic nationalism, social conservatism, and the construction of opposing "others." The study findings demonstrate that social and political identities constructed around particular discourses have redefined existing realities and generated new political realities. The reproductive cycle of discourse and identity has influenced the electoral behavior of a substantial segment of American society in favor of Trump.

Keywords

World Politics

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 02 May 2026

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