Political Communication

Political communication is one of the broadest areas of academic endeavor, encompassing processes (selective exposure, agenda setting), institutions (the mass media, the presidency), questions of effect (voter engagement, public knowledge), and the study of communicative systems, or how all of these elements combine. The study of political communication can be carried out within, among, or between nations; can concentrate on change or stability over time; and can focus on individual aspects, dyadic relations, or entire systems. Whether explicitly addressed or not, at heart, all of these studies are united by a concern with the communicative aspect of power and how it may influence communal relations. This entry provides an introduction to political communication. Attention is paid to understanding political communication as a set ...