[Commlist] De Gruyter Handbook of Digital Political Communication

De Gruyter Handbook of Digital Political Communication

  * Edited by: _Mark Wheeler_ and _Petros Iosifidis_

Published August 2026.
The book shines a light on two different perspectives when it comes to 
the influence that social media has on politics: For advocates of a 
digital democracy, the abundance of unfiltered information social media 
provides constitutes a decentralisation of power relations within the 
body politic, and a removal of old hierarchies. Conversely, critical 
theorists argue social media has created societal and political 
dislocations, which have eroded rational debate in favour of ideological 
polarisation. Celebrity politicians such as Donald Trump and tech giants 
like Elon Musk are examples of this within electoral and party politics. 
States and non-state actors have sought to enhance their soft power 
attraction to foreign publics. This book analyses the transformation in 
the behaviour of governing institutions, parties and the media through 
the digital commons.

  * The first handbook fully dedicated to digital political communication
  * Chapters written by a global roster of leading academics
  * Balanced in-depth exploration of information and communication
    technologies in politics

Author / Editor information
Mark Wheeler is a Professor of Political Communication and Research Lead 
at London Metropolitan University. His research interests include media 
and policy, political communication, social media and democracy, the 
politics of Hollywood and celebrity politics.
Petros Iosifidis is a Professor in Sociology & Media Policy at City St 
George’s, University of London. He has acknowledged expertise in 
communications policy, public service media and regulation of social media.

*Reviews*
It is a truism to observe that digital media have transformed political 
communication. The challenge is to show how, and to be able to comment 
on their impacts. With this collection, Petros Iosifidis and Mark 
Wheeler have drawn together leading scholars in the field for an 
overview that is global in scope, critical in its insights, and 
addressing contemporary phenomena, from YouTube to influencers.
Terry Flew, Professor of Digital Communication and Culture, The 
University of Sydney

Professors Wheeler and Iosifidis have assembled a thorough survey of the 
roles of digital technologies in political communications, focusing on 
its effects on elections, political party activities, activism, 
government, and democracy and democratic debate. The volume provides a 
comprehensive discussion of the social benefits and costs of the rise of 
digital political communications and its implications. This is an 
excellent resource for both students and scholars of political 
communications.
Robert G. Picard, Reuters Institute, University of Oxford
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