Book Description

The book explores the complex interconnections between media, political organisation and society. This is particularly important in a period when politics seems to be in crisis. This 'crisis' can be seen in problems of trust affecting political institutions and politicians, the apparently widespread political cynicism and apathy of audiences and citizens, and the perception that processes of globalisation are undermining the bases of contemporary democracy and public discussion. Old cherished views and ideals seem dead and there appears to be no clear vision of the future. This pessimistic view has been expressed, most cogently and explicitly, in the 'end of politics' thesis. Rather than taking this view the book investigates in detail how the use of media and new technology affects politics and how the consequences vary across national societies and regions. It focuses in particular on the way new technology poses problems, but also offers potentialities and solutions, for political actors of all sorts. To this end particular attention is paid to various political uses of the internet. The book closely analyses how political parties, pressure groups, governments and social movements explore and develop the range of media forms and rhetorics and assesses the aggregate consequences this has for political life. The book argues that key versions of the 'end of politics' thesis are simply too pessimistic about what we can hope for from the future and imply an unrealistic nostalgia about the past. Rather it puts the media-politics relationship into the broader context of a culturally complex and changing contemporary information society..