Book Review: General Politics: Media and Participation: A Site of Ideological-Democratic Struggle
| Date | 01 May 2013 |
| DOI | 10.1111/1478-9302.12016_64 |
| Published date | 01 May 2013 |
| Author | James Dennis |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
267
Media and Participation: A Site of Ideological-
constraint, something it succeeds in doing through the
Democratic Struggle by Nico Carpentier. Bristol:
introduction of the Access, Interaction and Participa-
Intellect, 2011. 405pp., £19.95, ISBN 9781841504070
tion model. The book offers a lucid yet exhaustive
account, combining both intricate theoretical detail
The relationship between media and participation has
with prudent and informative examples. As a result, it
over time become obfuscated by vague interpretations
makes for a thorough, historically contextualised intro-
across a diverse array of academic fields. Media and
ductory text for emerging scholars, while the empirical
Participation: A Site of Ideological-Democratic Struggle offers
contributions should entice seasoned academics from a
a rich, interdisciplinary overview in order to amalga-
diverse range of fields including political theory, com-
mate and address the diverging definitions from demo-
munications and political sociology.
cratic theory, spatial planning, development, arts and
museums, and communication studies. In each a strug-
James Dennis
gle is exposed between minimalist and maximalist
(Royal Holloway, University of London)
dimensions of participation: a constant dispute over
whether participation is limited to representation
The Oxford Handbook of the Welfare State by
within institutionalised systems, or whether it is part of
Francis G. Castles, Stephan Leibfried, Jane Lewis,
a convergence of the political and social. Nico Carpen-
Herbert Obinger and Christopher Pierson (eds).
tier maintains that power dynamics, and the struggle to
Oxford: Oxford
University
Press, 2010. 876pp.,
minimise or maximise equal power positions (p. 11), are
£85.00, ISBN 978 0 19 957939 6
ubiquitous among the vying...
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