Post-truth, Fake News and Democracy: Mapping the Politics of Falsehood

Cover
Endorsements for the Second Edition
Endorsements for the First Edition
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Foreword: A Feminist Reading
Acknowledgments
Part I Preparing for the Post-Truth Journey
	1 Introduction
		The Fake News Virus
		Democracy in Decline? Core Arguments
		Approach and Clarifications
		Outline of Book
		References
	2 An Expanding Field: Approaches, Concepts, Provocations
		Historical Antecedents I: From Propaganda to Fake News
		Historical Antecedents II: the Search for an Untainted Concept
		The Current State of Fake News Research
			Four Provocations for Future Research
				Provocation 1: History Needs to Be Brought to the Forefront
				Provocation 2: Epistemic Vigilance Must Be Brought Back Into the Table
				Provocation 3: the Magic Bullets Must Be Unloaded
				Provocation 4: Fake News Solutionism Needs Critical Engagement.
		Summing Up and Moving Closer to Our Journey
		References
	3 Political Theory in Post-Factual Times
		Discourse Theory and Its Development
		Discourses Beyond Language
		Ontological Abyss
		Elusive Truths
		Methodological Approach: Mapping the Landscape
		Operationalizing Discourse Theory
		Establishing an Archive of Data
		Analyzing the Data
		Limitations
		Notes
		References
Part II Into Post-Truth Worlds
	4 Prophecies of Post-Truth
		A Modern-Day Plague
		Post-truth: the Rise of an “Alternative Reality”
		Fake News
		Who Is to Blame? Villain 1: Social Media
		Villain 2: Journalism
		Villain 3: the Masses
		Democratic Eschatology
		References
	5 Crises Upon Crises
		Some Remarks On Discourses and Crisis
		Crisis Moment I: the Rise and Legacy of Trumpism (2016–)
			Fake News as a Floating Signifier
		Crisis Moment II: COVID-19 (2019–)
		Crisis Moment III: the Russian Invasion (2022–)
		Closing Thoughts: Truth in the Midst of Crisis
		Note
		References
	6 Restoring Democracy
		State Responses to Post-Truth
		Back to Truth
		Antidotes and Immunity
		Only Technology Can Save Us Now
		Silicon Valley Strikes Back
		One Solution, Many Solutions
		References
Part III Out of Post-Truth Worlds
	7 Post-Truth and Post-Politics: Splitting the Difference
		Democracy as Truth, the Truth of Democracy
		The Neoliberal Takeover
		Politics After the Demos
		The Hegemony of the Market
		Post-truth and Post-Politics
		References
	8 Ways Out?: Truth, Technology, and Democracy
		Solutions and Their Discontents
		Solution 1: Moralizing, Condemning
		Solution 2: Policing the Truth
		Solution 3: Technological Solutionism
		Solution 4: Re-Establishing Centers of Truth-Making
		Concluding Remarks
		References
	9 Democratic Alternatives to Post-Truth Worlds
		Politics as Dispute
		Radicalizing Democracy
		Solutions Or Strategies? Pointers for Other Ways Out
			Rather Than Regulating Fake News, We Need to Regulate Wealth
			Rather Than Restricting Difference and Dispute, We Need to Restrict Corporate Power
			Rather Than Media Literacy, We Need Democratic Media
			Rather Than More Truth, We Need More Democratic Participation
		Closing Thoughts
		Note
		References
	10 Conclusion
		References
Index