The electronic Commonwealth: The impact of new media technologies on democratic politics
Basic, New York, (1988)Abstract
Written by political scientists, this major contribution to the literature will set the tone for future research. While other recent works have addressed this topic (e.g., Richard Armstrong's The Next Hurrah , LJ 6/1/88), Abramson et al.'s study is by far the most substantial, combining elements of history and political theory with a current survey of the new communication technologies used by the political sector. The authors express an underlying concern with democratic values, giving this book a solid theoretical framework. Each chapter raises questions about the impact of the communications revolution on governing, policy making, democratic participation, and freedom of the press. Heavily documented, this study is highly recommended for academic and larger public libraries.