Comparing Political Communication
Theories, Cases, and Challenges

The volume aims at providing a comprehensive understanding of comparative political communication.

Frank Esser (Edited by), Barbara Pfetsch (Edited by)

9780521535403, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 6 September 2004

438 pages, 2 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm, 0.64 kg

'A much-needed and carefully conceptualized addition to the political communication literature [that] includes contributions by some of the most eminent scholars of this field … It is a veritable feast for those interested in the most sophisticated thinking on this subject. Congratulations to Frank Esser and Barbara Pfetsch for bringing these minds together in one volume.' David H. Weaver, Indiana University

This volume assesses comparative political communication research and considers potential ways in which it could and should develop. Twenty experts from Europe and the United States offer a unique and comprehensive discussion of the theories, cases, and challenges of comparative research in political communication. The first part discusses the fundamental themes, concepts and methods essential to analyze the effects of modernization and globalization of political communication. The second part offers a broad range of case studies that illustrate the enormous potential of cross-national approaches in many relevant fields of political communication. The third part paves the way for future research by describing the most promising concepts and pressing challenges of comparative political communication. This book is intended to introduce new students to a crucial, dynamic field as well as deepening advanced students' knowledge of its principles and perspectives.

1. Introduction Barbara Pfetsch and Frank Esser
Part I. Theories and Methods: 2. Americanization, globalization, and secularization: understanding the convergence of media systems and political communication Daniel C. Hallin and Paolo Mancini
3. Transnational trends in political communication: conventional views and new realities David L. Swanson
4. Comparing mass communication systems: media formats, media contents, and media processes Hans J. Kleinsteuber
5. Designs and methods of comparative political communication research Werner Wirth and Steffen Kolb
Part II. Cases: 6. Global political communication: good governance, human development and mass communication Pippa Norris
7. Local political communication: media and local publics in the age of globalization Sabine Lang
8. Strategic political communication: mobilizing public opinion in 'audience democracies' Hanspeter Kriesi
9. Political campaign communication: conditional convergence of modern media elections Christina Holtz-Bacha
10. Political communication and electronic democracy: American exceptionalism or global trend? Thomas Zittel
11. Political news journalists: partisanship, professionalism, and political roles in five countries Wolfgang Donsbach and Thomas Patterson
12. Political communication messages: pictures of our world on international television news Patrick Rössler
13. Political communication effects: the impact of mass media and interpersonal conversations on voting Rüdiger Schmitt-Beck
Part III. Perspectives and Challenges: 14. State of the art in comparative political communication research: poised for maturity? Michael Gurevitch and Jay G. Blumler
15. From political culture to political communications culture: a theoretical approach to comparative analysis Barbara Pfetsch
16. Problems of comparative political communication research: culture as a key variable Robert L. Stevenson
17. Meeting the challenges of global communication and political integration: the significance of comparative research in a changing world Frank Esser and Barbara Pfetsch.

Subject Areas: Press & journalism [KNTJ], Media, information & communication industries [KNT], Politics & government [JP], Globalization [JFFS], Communication studies [GTC]