The Paradox of Democracy: Free Speech, Open Media, and Perilous Persuasion

The Paradox of Democracy explores the history of communications and challenges ideas about freedom of speech and democracy. It reveals how new forms of communication can bolster democratic politics but also lead to demagoguery, distraction, and spectacle. The book argues that our contemporary debates over media, populism, and cancel culture are not too different from the democratic cultural experiences of the past and that democracy is always perched precipitously on a razors edge.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

A captivating exploration of the intricate relationship between communication and democracy, this thought-provoking history delves into the paradoxical nature of freedom of speech and media in shaping democratic societies. Since the dawn of free societies, the contradiction at the core of democracy has remained a persistent challenge: While freedom of speech and media are essential prerequisites for democratic governance, they also pose the greatest threat to the very foundations of democracy. As new communication forms emerge, they often reinforce democratic practices, fostering political engagement and participation. However, the more accessible and widespread the media becomes in a society, the greater the susceptibility it becomes to demagoguery, distraction, and spectacle.

Tracing the historical trajectory of media disruption and the diverse responses to it throughout time, Zac Gershberg and Sean Illing unveil how these changes have profoundly impacted democracy, often with unsettling consequences. The Paradox of Democracy delves into the profound connection between communication and political culture, encompassing the ancient art of rhetoric, the revolutionary impact of newspapers, the liberal broadcasting media, and the pernicious spread of misinformation in the digital public sphere. Through a discerning analysis, Gershberg and Illing demonstrate that our contemporary debates surrounding media, populism, and cancel culture bear striking similarities to the democratic cultural experiences of the past. In this rapidly evolving, hyper-digital world, they underscores the precarious nature of democracy, as it remains perched on a delicate razor's edge, both now and in times past.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226829418