Summary
Contents
Subject index
Exploring the theme of the putative transformation of political modernity under the impact of "new" media, this book adopts a questioning approach to the ways in which cultural and technological factors are affecting the temper of political life, and reflects the variety of normative thinking about and empirical research on the changing character of politics in mediatized cultures. New Media and Politics examines: the extent to which commercial populism now dominates electoral and other political discourses; the ways in which the functions of leadership, government and political parties are modified by different forms of both old and new media; the democratic or undemocratic import of such changes; and the ways in which the dominant territorial paradigm of politics is challenged by the space and time devouring capacities of electronic media.
The Transformation of Political Leadership?
The Transformation of Political Leadership?
The power of the presidents of the USA is largely rhetorical. They can recommend legislation and sign or veto it but not pass it; they can call for a declaration of war but cannot enact it. Lyndon Johnson put it more bluntly. ‘ “Power?” he asked. “The only power I've got is nuclear … and I can't use that” ‘ (Sidey, 1978: 260). Johnson, a master of the art of interpersonal persuasion, would have agreed, however, with Harry Truman, who observed: ‘the principal power that the President has is to bring people in and try to persuade them to do what they ought to do without persuasion. That's what the powers of the President amount ...
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