Constituency Communication in Changing Times

This volume explores the changes in the relationship between citizens and their representatives through the lens of online constituency communication, highlighting the role of the (hyper)mediatization of politics and society. It examines the impact of social media on MPs communication practices and the strains in the relationship between executives and legislatures exploited by populist and nationalist parties.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 337 pages
Publication date: 23 March 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive volume takes a comparative approach to shed light on representation and representative processes from a communications perspective. It specifically focuses on online constituency communication, aiming to provide a foundation for empirical studies examining the evolving dynamics between citizens and their representatives. The (hyper)mediatization of politics and society is acknowledged as a significant enabling factor, as it creates the conditions for transformative changes in democratic processes. The chapters explore various political parties, including Podemos, the Lega, Law and Justice, and the Five-star Movement, as exemplary cases of this phenomenon.

Populist and nationalist movements have emerged as powerful forces, driven by the desire to represent the will of the people or advocate for more inclusive democratic processes. However, the intersection between populist and nationalist discourses and the related question of representation have largely been overlooked. By examining the transformations in MPs communication practices during non-election periods, the contributors to this volume shed light on how social media is impacting their communication strategies and analyze the strains in the relationship between executives and legislatures that populist and nationalist parties exploit.

The book explores the complex interplay between social media, political communication, and democratic processes, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of contemporary politics. It emphasizes the need for a comprehensive understanding of these dynamics to navigate the challenges and opportunities posed by the rise of populist and nationalist movements.

Weight: 460g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030913724
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022