Rhetoric and Democracy in a Post-Truth Era offers a timely examination of public communication and political culture in the United States and the systemic feedback loops that have amplified democratic dysfunction and violence. Informed by both deductive and inductive analysis of four key perils (post-truth; polarization; [social media] platform; and populism) in the interplay of complex systems, Joshua J. Frye and Steven R. Goldzwig examine rhetorical traditions and trajectories to synoptically explain both how we got to this point and how we can fix it. Exploring salient and increasingly important issues affecting the public life and culture of American democracy and democracies worldwide, this work expands public understanding of the current political landscape, reveals what effective democratic citizenship requires, and identifies communication practices that can be used to better engage with these contemporary challenges. Scholars of communication, rhetoric, and political science will find this book of particular interest.

Western societies are under siege, as fake news, post-truth and alternative facts are undermining the very core of democracy. This dystopian narrative is currently circulated by intellectuals, journalists and policy makers worldwide. In this book, Johan Farkas and Jannick Schou deliver a comprehensive study of post-truth discourses. They critically map the normative ideas contained in these and present a forceful call for deepening democracy. The dominant narrative of our time is that democracy is in a state of emergency caused by social media, changes to journalism and misinformed masses. This crisis needs to be resolved by reinstating truth at the heart of democracy, even if this means curtailing civic participation and popular sovereignty. Engaging with critical political philosophy, Farkas and Schou argue that these solutions neglect the fact that democracy has never been about truth alone: it is equally about the voice of the democratic people. Post-Truth, Fake News and Democracy delivers a sobering diagnosis of our times. It maps contemporary discourses on truth and democracy, foregrounds their normative foundations and connects these to historical changes within liberal democracies. The book will be of interest to students and scholars studying the current state and future of democracy, as well as to a politically informed readership.

This book reconceptualises the idea of “post-truth”. It does not limit the domain of post-truth to the production factories of fake news. Drawing on examples such as Trump, War on Terror, anti-vaccination, climate change denial, denial of scientific facts about smoking, and so forth, it analyses the concept through a new theoretical lens which focuses on the specificity of post-truth discourses. Further, the volume develops a guide to operationalise post-truth discourse and makes use of Pakistan as a case study to illustrate post-truth discourses in Pakistani newspapers and implements an experiment to measure the effects of post-truth rhetoric on political attitudes. The volume will be essential reading for students, scholars, and researchers of media and communication studies, politics, and South Asian studies.

Scholars have recognized that fake news is not a phenomenon peculiar to the 21st century. While efforts for a more focused approach to fake news in the ancient world have been carried out in the field of Roman history, the phenomenon of fake news in ancient Greece has received limited attention. The contributions in this volume offer a selective approach to this phenomenon by applying media and cultural studies instruments to ancient texts. They pinpoint parallels and differences between ancient and modern fake news by employing methods of literary and cultural studies, as well as historical-documentary analysis of ancient sources. In particular, they explore questions such as: To what extent does reflection on the concepts of truth, lie, and opinion influence ancient Greek political-rhetorical discourse? What is the political or social function of embedding ‘misleading information’ in ancient Greek historiographical texts or pamphlets? Which intentions are pursued with the help of fake news in literary and documentary texts? Can parallels be drawn with modern approaches to fake news? Thus, the volume investigates the mechanisms that historically lay behind the creation, dissemination, and adaptation of ‘misleading information’.

This book compares Trump and Hitler as political performance artists. It explores their populist self-staging and rhetorical strategies and explains how they connected with their respective audiences. It also analyses the two men's character, work ethic, and management style. In addition, the book addresses seemingly peripheral issues like the reasons behind Hitler's toothbrush moustache and Trump's hairstyle. By demystifying Hitler and Trump, the author throws new light on both of them received a Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award and has been translated into three European languages as well as Chinese.

Developing nations have been experimenting with different models and theories in their quest for development for decades but are missing some critical elements when mirrored or judged via a Westernized lens. In order for these countries to successfully establish their identity and address issues that have held them back in the past, further study on the use of media and philosophy in correlation with development must be conducted. The Handbook of Research on Connecting Philosophy, Media, and Development in Developing Countries examines how media can be utilized to bridge the gap between the past and the future for developing countries and drive sustainable development. The book also seeks to reimagine development within developing regions through the prism of their unique cultures, religions, media, and philosophies so they can take hold of their identity and portrayals within the international arena. Covering topics such as human development, new media, language, and culture, this major reference work is ideal for government officials, policymakers, scholars, researchers, academicians, practitioners, instructors, and students.

The ascendency of Donald J. Trump to the office of president was not a fluke. Changes in the media environment and changes in the political landscape converged and provided fertile ground for a demagogic populist to exploit existing structures for his personal and political gains. A right-wing ecosystem had developed that included cable television, talk radio, social media, and imageboards. The political rise of Trump occurred alongside a mainstreaming of far-right politics and a skepticism towards long-established institutions. Trump was able to exploit the shifts in politics and the media environment for his political gain. He deployed a post-truth strategy that challenged established media and political institutions and their claims to be arbiters of truth and protectors of democracy. This book explores the shifts in the media environment that made the political career of Donald Trump possible. The author shows the ways that Trump was able to inhabit the new media and political landscape and take advantage of journalistic norms and practices that were susceptible to exploitation by a demagogue with no allegiance to the truth and no reverence towards the foundations of liberal democracy. Understanding the ways in which Trump was able to emerge as a powerful political force is essential to those invested in challenging the momentum of the alt-right and forwarding the project of democracy.

In an era shaped by misinformation, conspiracy theories, and anti-science movements, Science and Technology Studies / Science, Technology and Society (STS) provides a lighthouse of insight and interdisciplinary research. This volume, 'Science, technology and society for a post-truth age: Comparative dialogues on reflexivity,' embarks on a transformative journey through the interdependencies of science, technology, and society, offering vital perspectives and new insights on these challenging topics. This book, written by scholars in the field, reshapes post-truth discourse through STS and positions STS as a central force in addressing the post-truth crisis. It presents a compelling contribution that anchors STS at the heart of contemporary debates about truth and knowledge. 'Science, technology and society for a post-truth age: Comparative dialogues on reflexivity' is a contemporary and thought-provoking exploration of the evolving relationship between knowledge, truth, and society. It makes the case that STS is a catalyst for reshaping our understanding of truth in an age characterised by scepticism and uncertainty.

The Post-Truth Condition: Philosophical Reflections, edited by Tarun Jose Kattumana and Simon Truwant, demonstrates that the absence of a unitary understanding of the phenomenon of post-truth stems from the complex nature of the “post-truth condition” itself. By approaching post-truth as a broad and multi-layered societal issue, the contributors offer an original contribution to the existing scholarship in three ways. First, they show that post-truth can only be adequately understood if it is viewed not only as a political matter, but also as a pervasive cultural phenomenon. Secondly, the contributors concur that a profound understanding of the post-truth condition can only be gained if it is studied through a conceptual, empirical, and historical lens. Lastly, they maintain that a productive understanding of the post-truth condition also demands a nuanced and openminded take on both its negative, reactionary characteristics and its positive, liberating potential. Throughout this volume, philosophy of history, epistemology, philosophy of science, political philosophy, psychoanalysis, phenomenology, and philosophy of art join forces to clarify the pervasive character, dangers, and opportunities of our post-truth condition.

This book examines the relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) and politics in a global perspective.