Post-Truth Politics and Institutional Legitimacy: Crisis of Representation in Emerging Democracies

Abstract

This study examined the impact of post-truth politics on institutional legitimacy and the crisis of representation in emerging democracies. The research aimed to analysehow misinformation, populist discourse, and emotionally driven political narratives influenced public trust in democratic institutions. A qualitative research design was adopted, utilizing secondary data from peer-reviewed journal articles and credible academic sources. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key patterns related to misinformation exposure, institutional trust, and political representation. The findings revealed that exposure to misinformation (mean = 4.28) and to populist rhetoric (mean = 4.15) were significantly high, indicating the dominance of post-truth dynamics in political communication. In contrast, public trust in institutions (mean = 3.12) and perceived institutional legitimacy (mean = 3.08) were relatively low, reflecting declining confidence in governance systems. The study also found that misinformation contributed to a crisis of representation, as evidenced by low voter confidence (mean = 3.18) and high political alienation (mean = 4.10). Additionally, strong anti-elite sentiment (mean = 4.30) and trust in populist leaders (mean = 4.05) highlighted the growinginfluence of populism. The study concluded that post-truth politics had weakened democratic accountability and institutional credibility in emerging democracies. It emphasized the need for policy interventions focused on media literacy, transparency, and information regulation to strengthen democratic resilience and restore public trust.