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2 results

  • 1 - A Brief History of the Disinformation Age

  • from Part I - Disinformation in Political and Historical Context
  • Edited by W. Lance Bennett, University of Washington, Steven Livingston, George Washington University, Washington DC
  • Book:
    The Disinformation Age
    Published online:
    06 October 2020
    Print publication:
    15 October 2020, pp 3-40
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  • Summary

    In the opening chapter Bennett and Livingston define the nature of disinformation andoutline the challenges for healthy democratic discourse. Their account focuses on the rise ofpolitical influence networks anchored in think tanks, lobbying, tax supported “charitable”political organizations, and electoral campaign finance laws that have compromised therepresentative capacity of government and the credibility of many elected officials. Theresult has been a political backlash on both left and right. But the right has organizedpolitically around basic precepts of ethnic nationalism, anti-immigration, and other divisivepolitical issues. These political ruptures are magnified and supported by the largedisinformation networks that have grown with the help of wealthy “libertarian” businessinterests and the elected officials that they support.

The Disinformation Age
  • Edited by W. Lance Bennett, Steven Livingston
  • Published online:
    06 October 2020
    Print publication:
    15 October 2020
  • The intentional spread of falsehoods – and attendant attacks on minorities, press freedoms, and the rule of law – challenge the basic norms and values upon which institutional legitimacy and political stability depend. How did we get here? The Disinformation Age assembles a remarkable group of historians, political scientists, and communication scholars to examine the historical and political origins of the post-fact information era, focusing on the United States but with lessons for other democracies. Bennett and Livingston frame the book by examining decades-long efforts by political and business interests to undermine authoritative institutions, including parties, elections, public agencies, science, independent journalism, and civil society groups. The other distinguished scholars explore the historical origins and workings of disinformation, along with policy challenges and the role of the legacy press in improving public communication. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.