January 2026 call

Taking Humor Seriously: Memes and Political Communication

Guest Editors
Martin Echeverría, Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Mexico
Adriana Amado, Universidad Camilo José Cela, Spain

Introduction
Situated at the intersection of political communication, satire, and popular culture, memes have occupied a relevant space in the public sphere as vehicles for disseminating political ideas, particularly toward and among audiences with little interest or involvement in traditional political discourse.

Their visual and textual conciseness, humorous appeal, and use of media and digital culture references allow them to effectively capture attention and spread among diverse audiences. Thanks to this viral potential, memes acquire different political meanings, whether as tools of mobilization and empowerment or as instruments of domination by elites.

Thus, memes can play a crucial role in protest and resistance, especially in contexts of censorship or authoritarianism, where their ambiguity allows them to evade retaliation. This strategic use has become evident in social movements and demonstrations aimed at political leaders, mobilizing both critics and supporters and consolidating digital communities with shared interests and stances.

On the other hand, these emotionally driven forms of mobilization—particularly through sarcasm or anger—can reinforce social polarization and oversimplify complex debates. The reactions they provoke also make them prone to use in disinformation campaigns, due to their high viral potential.

In electoral campaign contexts, memes not only reinforce ideological stances but also serve as vehicles for criticism of public figures. Their reach transcends traditional journalistic media spaces, reaching broader and more heterogeneous audiences.

Ultimately, like other forms of political humor, memes are vehicles for collective identity, resistance, and affiliation—but also tools of manipulation. Understanding their role is essential to assess the challenges and opportunities they present in a political sphere increasingly shaped by digital dynamics.

This monograph invites analysis of the role of political memes from different perspectives, including:

• The role of memes in electoral campaigns, as vehicles for criticism of public figures as well as electoral propaganda.
• Their influence on political participation and mobilization, especially among younger generations.
• Their use as tools of resistance and identity-building in both authoritarian and democratic contexts.
• The risks of memes as mechanisms for simplification, manipulation, or the spread of disinformation.

We welcome contributions addressing these topics through theoretical or empirical approaches—qualitative, quantitative, comparative, or case studies. Research with a focus on Ibero-American contexts is especially encouraged.

Article Submission Guidelines

1. Article Specifications
   • Length: Between 6,000 and 7,000 words.
   • Languages: Articles may be submitted in Spanish, English, or Portuguese (at least one article in the monograph must be in a language other than Spanish).
   • Originality: Manuscripts must be unpublished and not under review elsewhere.
   • Format: Include title, abstract, and keywords in both Spanish and English. References must follow APA 7th edition guidelines and include at least 20 high-quality academic sources.
   • Authors are encouraged to cite previously published articles from Más Poder Local (see archive here: https://www.maspoderlocal.com/index.php/mpl/issue/archive).

2. Submission Process
   • Articles must be submitted through the journal’s OJS platform (submit here: https://www.maspoderlocal.com/) by September 12, 2025.
   • Two versions of the manuscript must be submitted:
   • A full version with personal and biographical information of the author(s).
   • An anonymized version, avoiding any references that could identify the author(s).

3. Evaluation
   Manuscripts will undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure quality and indexing standards. For more information, consult the evaluation guidelines: https://www.maspoderlocal.com/index.php/mpl/about/submissions.

4. Publication date: January 2026.