Emotional Governance: Politics, Media and Terror

by B. Richards

Overview

This lucid and original work argues for a new style of political leadership, one which pays deliberate and sophisticated attention to the emotional dynamics of the public. A case study of terrorism, as a highly emotional topic and as a key political issue in many liberal democracies, grounds the book's ideas in today's political landscape.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230008397
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	10/17/2007
Edition description:	2007
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.03(d)

About the Author

BARRY RICHARDS is Professor of Public Communication and Deputy Dean of the Media School at Bournemouth University, UK. He was formerly Professor and Head of the Department of Human Relations at the University of East London. He has written extensively on psychosocial dimensions of politics and popular culture.

Table of Contents

Introduction PART I: A DEMOCRACY OF FEELINGS Shaping the Public Mind The Rise of Therapeutic Culture Global Passions PART II: THE BIAS AGAINST HOPE Journalism as Emotional Labour Rottweilers Savage Democracy Challenging the Media Bias PART III: THE SEARCH FOR CONNECTION Politics as Emotional Labour Poor Emotional Governance PART IV: TERROR IN THE PUBLIC MIND The Four Factors of Fear Terrorism and the Emotional Public From Emotional Audit to Communication Strategy PART V: REPAIRING LEADERSHIP Market Failures Deferring to Reality

Editorial Reviews

'This is a rich book and its strengths lie in its capacity to provoke further work on both contemporary political debates and policy: asylum and immigration, international terrorism, possession of economic resources, climate change and environmental risk would all benefit from Richards' approach.' War and Media

From the Publisher