The only constant is change : technology, political communication, and innovation over time / Ben Epstein.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Epstein, Ben, 1978- author.

Series:

Oxford studies in digital politics

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Communication in politics--United States.

Communication in politics.

Communication in politics--Technological innovations.

United States.

Communication in politics--Technological innovations--United States.

Mass media--Political aspects--United States.

Mass media.

Mass media--Political aspects.

United States--Politics and government.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

x, 257 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Other Title:

Technology, political communication, and innovation over time

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2018]

Summary:

"The overarching goals of political communication rarely change, yet political communication strategies have evolved a great deal over the course of American history. As this book argues, these changes (at least the successful ones) occur during brief periods of dramatic and permanent transformation, are driven by political actors and organizations, and tend to follow predictable patterns each time. Covering over 300 years of such changes - what it identifies as Political Communication Revolutions - the book shows how this process of change happens and why. To do this, Ben Epstein, following an American Political Development approach, proposes a new model that accounts for the technological, behavioral, and political factors that lead to revolutionary political communication changes over time. In this way the book moves beyond the technological determinism that characterizes communication history scholarship and the medium-specific focus of much political communication work. The book identifies the political communication revolutions that have, in the United States, led to four, relatively stable political communication orders over history: the elite, mass, broadcast, and (the current) information orders. It identifies and tests three pattern phases of each revolution, ultimately sketching possible paths for the future"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction : the elements of political communication change

The social and technological history of political communication change

The technological imperative : how and when new communication technology becomes politically viable

Political choice : the behavioral role in political communication change

Political choice and campaign communication innovation : why campaigns have the most consistent innovation adoption

Innovation by political outsiders : why social movements innovate early and why it rarely matters

Interest group innovation : how different target audiences affect political communication goals

The stabilization process then and now

Conclusion : where we are and where we might be headed.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780190698973

0190698977

9780190698980

0190698985

OCLC:

1016922114