Communication in Governance and Official Discourse as Tools of Social Control in Ecuador

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of communication within governance in Ecuador, with particular emphasis on official discourse as a tool for social control. It argues that governmental communication not only fulfills an informative function but also a strategic one, as it seeks to legitimize political decisions, shape citizens’ perceptions, and reinforce power narratives. Through a qualitative approach and documentary review, official speeches, regulations, and communicative practices issued in recent years are examined, assessing their implications for citizenship exercise and the construction of the public sphere. The findings show how institutional communication operates as a mechanism