Review

“Those of us interested in press/politics owe a debt of gratitude to David L. Swanson and Paolo Mancini for producing a collection of excellent studies by accomplished scholars on the way in which the modern means of communication have affected the electoral process in stable and emerging democracies around the world. Their collection is valuable, readable and important.”–Marvin Kalb, Director The Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy Harvard University

“This volume is an excellent example of comparative research in political communication which locates a rich diversity of national case studies within a coherent and challenging theoretical framework. The result is a most informative and thought-provoking volume which will appeal to all who are interested in the contemporary relationship between politics, communication and society and, indeed, in the future course of development of democratic politics.”– Denis McQuail, Professor of Mass Communication University of Amsterdam

“An eye-opening assessment of how different democracies are responding to similar trends in electronic electioneering. The analysis is sharpened by a useful comparative framework that explores the democratic implications of election campaigns.”– W. Lance Bennett, Professor and Chair Department of Political Science, University of Washington

Product Description

This important new text brings together an outstanding group of international scholars to look at the current state of electoral politics around the world. Elements of the modern (or American) model of election campaigning have been adopted in many countries in recent years--including the use of mass media, the personalization of campaigns, use of public opinion polls, and a general professionalization of campaigns--and conditions would seem to favor the spread of that model. Contributors to this volume, from established democracies, new and restored democracies, and democracies facing destabilizing pressure, examine the extent to which electoral politics in their countries have been affected by the emergence of high-tech professional campaigns. Countries examined provide a cross-section of today's democracies, including the United States, Britain, Sweden, Germany, Russia, Poland, Spain, Israel, Italy, Argentina, and Venezuela. The work will be of interest to scholars and students alike in political communication, political parties and elections, and comparative politics.