The 'Mammoliti Effect': Performance Politics Reshapes Urban Governance

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  Published in Science and Technology on Wednesday, February 25th 2026 at 17:52 GMT by Toronto Star
      Locales: Ontario, CANADA

The Mammoliti Effect: How Performance Politics is Reshaping Urban Governance

Giorgio Mammoliti, the longtime Toronto city councillor, is more than just a local politician; he's a phenomenon. While often dismissed as a publicity seeker, Mammoliti's career represents a burgeoning trend in urban governance: the rise of "performance politics." This isn't simply about a politician being charismatic or a good speaker. It's about actively constructing a public persona through often outlandish actions, leveraging social media to bypass traditional media filters, and fundamentally treating the political arena as a stage. His methods, while controversial, raise crucial questions about engagement, accountability, and the very nature of representation in the digital age.

For years, Mammoliti has courted attention with a series of attention-grabbing stunts. From the now-infamous gorilla mask protest to his ubiquitous TikTok videos dissecting council business, he consistently pushes the boundaries of acceptable political behavior. Critics label it grandstanding, a cynical ploy for votes, and a distraction from genuine policy work. However, the sheer volume of media coverage, social media engagement, and public discussion he generates suggests a more complex dynamic at play.

Mammoliti's self-awareness - his admission to being a "showman" - is key. He isn't attempting to appear unaffected by the spectacle; he embraces it. This is a deliberate strategy born from an understanding of the modern attention economy. Traditional political communication, reliant on press conferences and carefully worded statements, struggles to compete with the constant barrage of information vying for our limited focus. Mammoliti recognizes that memorability, even if achieved through controversy, is paramount. A bizarre image or a viral video clip is far more likely to cut through the noise than a well-reasoned policy argument delivered in a dry format.

But is this shift inherently negative? While some decry the trivialization of serious issues, others argue that performance politics can increase civic engagement. Mammoliti's direct engagement with constituents on social media, regardless of its often unconventional tone, offers a level of accessibility rarely seen in traditional politics. He responds to comments, participates in online debates, and presents himself as approachable - a stark contrast to the often-distant image of elected officials. This, arguably, makes politics feel less abstract and more connected to everyday life.

The implications of this trend extend far beyond Toronto. Across North America and Europe, we are seeing a growing number of politicians who prioritize personal branding and direct-to-voter communication over traditional party structures and media relationships. Figures like Donald Trump, with his masterful use of Twitter and rally-based campaigning, are prime examples of this phenomenon on a larger scale. They demonstrate that personality and spectacle can be incredibly powerful political tools, even if they come at the expense of nuanced debate.

However, the rise of performance politics also presents serious challenges. Accountability becomes blurred when the line between genuine concern for constituents and calculated self-promotion is so thin. The focus on creating a viral moment can overshadow substantive policy discussion, leading to superficial engagement with complex issues. Furthermore, the constant pursuit of attention can incentivize politicians to prioritize conflict and division over collaboration and consensus-building.

It's easy to dismiss Mammoliti as an outlier, a unique personality who doesn't represent the future of politics. But his longevity and continued relevance suggest otherwise. He has tapped into a deep-seated frustration with traditional political processes and a desire for more authentic, engaging leadership. Whether you view his methods as brilliant or reckless, it's clear that Giorgio Mammoliti has forced a reckoning within Toronto's city hall and, potentially, foreshadows a broader transformation in how we do politics. The question now is whether this transformation will ultimately serve the public good or simply amplify the noise and further erode trust in democratic institutions.