ABSTRACT

Communicative Civic-ness explores how political culture shapes social media interactions in civic participation, arguing that social media usage is informed by context-specific civil and political culture.

Drawing on cutting-edge research, the book develops a new robust theoretical and conceptual framework on civic engagement and participation, comprising:

  • contextual ethos of civic communication;
  • political culture and civic communication;
  • use of social media in private and public spheres;
  • design of social media.

It critically addresses issues within the concept of political culture and develops the concept of ‘communicative civic-ness’. This concept seeks to aid a better-informed debate about the capacity of social media to support the pluralistic discussions that underpin deliberative democratic processes.

This book appeals to both undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as academics with an interest in areas including (but not limited to) sociology, political science and media studies. It will also provide useful information and understanding to third sector organisations and policy-makers regarding forms of civic participation.

chapter 1

Introduction

chapter 2|17 pages

Engagement and participation

Forms and practices

chapter 3|17 pages

Voicing issues

The public sphere and the media

chapter 6|17 pages

Political culture

Communication and ways of relating

chapter 8|18 pages

Contexts of civic communication

Campaigning, citizen journalism and general social media use in civic life

chapter 10|18 pages

Communicative civic-ness

Framing communication, civic engagement and participation

chapter 11|8 pages

Conclusion

Communicative civic-ness