ABSTRACT
In modern politics as well as in historical times, character attacks abound. Words and images, like symbolic and psychological weapons, have sullied or destroyed numerous reputations. People mobilize significant material and psychological resources to defend themselves against such attacks. How does character assassination "work," and when does it not? Why do many targets fall so easily when they are under character attack? How can one prevent attacks and defend against them?
The Routledge Handbook of Character Assassination and Reputation Management offers the first comprehensive examination of character assassination. Moving beyond studying corporate reputation management and how public figures enact and maintain their reputation, this lively volume offers a framework and cases to help understand, critically analyze, and effectively defend against such attacks. Written by an international and interdisciplinary team of experts, the book begins with a theoretical introduction and extensive description of the "five pillars" of character assassination: (1) the attacker, (2) the target, (3) the media, (4) the public, and (5) the context. The remaining chapters present engaging case studies suitable for class discussion. These include:
- Roman emperors;
- Reformation propaganda;
- the Founding Fathers;
- defamation in US politics;
- women politicians;
- autocratic regimes;
- European leaders;
- celebrities;
- nations;
- Internet campaigns.
This handbook will prove invaluable to undergraduate and postgraduate students in communication, political science, history, sociology, and psychology departments. It will also help researchers become independent, critical, and informed thinkers capable of avoiding the pressure and manipulations of the media.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|64 pages
The Theory of CA and Reputation Management
part II|108 pages
National and International Dynamics
part III|69 pages
Individual and Collective Targets
chapter 14|13 pages
The Character Assassination of Marie-Antoinette
chapter 15|16 pages
Argumentum ad Carricare as a Mode of Character Attack
part IV|84 pages
Strategies of Attack and Defence
chapter 23|15 pages
Show Trials in Communist Countries
part V|94 pages
The Cultures of Emergent Media