Hybrid Politics

Laura Iannelli is Lecturer of Sociology of Culture and Communication. She received her Ph.D. in Theory and Social Research from Sapienza University in Rome. Since 2011 she has been teaching 'Political Communication and Participation' at the University of Sassari in Sardinia (Italy). In 2014, she was Visiting Scholar at City University London and the University of Leicester. Her primary research focuses on communication processes and political participation. In 2013, she began coordinating a two-year interdisciplinary research project on contemporary public art, activism and performative citizenship, funded by the Region of Sardinia. In 2015, in collaboration with City University London she organized an international conference entitled 'Protest Participation in Variable Communication Ecologies' in Alghero, Italy, and co-edited a special issue on this topic in the journal Information, Communication & Society. She has published various book chapters and articles on media and political participation, and in 2010 authored the book 'Facebook & Co. Sociologia dei Social Network Sites' (Milano: Guerini Scientifica).

Introduction Chapter 1. Hybrid Research on Media and Political Participation Media and Participation Modern Media and Democratic Participation in Political Communication Research Modern Media, Public Spheres, and Perfomative Publics Alternative and Activist Media Internet Studies and Political Participation Beyond the Single-Medium Approach Chapter 2. Hybrid Media and Political Participation Media Ecologies, Remediation, Polymedia, Mediamorphosis Hybrid Media Logics in Political Communication Research The Power of Publics between Convergent Cultural Practices and Spreadable Media Contents Media-reflexive Activism Research Challenges Chapter 3. Hybrid Media Participation: Tweeting TV Politics and Pop Protests An Emerging Body of Research Performative Publics Tweeting TV Politics Pop Protests: Spreadable Hybrid Genres of Political Struggle Conclusions References

This rich, original, and engaging volume provides a new vernacular for understanding hybrid politics; paths to civic engagement that frequently fly under the radar and do not count as political. Through her discussion of pop protests, performative publics, polymedia, and civic engagement, Iannelli expertly synthesizes contemporary work to contribute her own, original take on the always-current question of the political. Smart, informed, and a must read for those interested in the political character of the net. -- Zizi Papacharissi Hybrid Politics covers the modern history of media and publics, from the mass media era to the age of social media. This comprehensive review of research in the field makes for a valuable sourcebook. Ianelli's discussion of the changing relationships between citizens and media points out the need for new models to explain emerging forms of politics. -- Lance Bennett This scholarly book brings together concerns for political activism, democracy, new [and old] media and changing cultural practices. It makes an invaluable contribution to multidisciplinary social science thinking about ways in which our world is moving. Iannelli's case studies - especially those from outside the US and UK - offer much needed illumination and understanding. -- Frank Webster Iannelli provides us with an insightful theorization and valuable resource for understanding the increasingly vital role played by communication in contemporary democratic politics. -- Brian Loader Hybrid Politics: Participation and Communication Practices is a thorough, theoretically rich and pointed analytical intervention into the crowded terrain of participation research spanning media and communication studies, political science and sociology. The book achieves two very important goals. It assembles a minute chronology of media hybridity culminating with aspirations for democratic participation in their workings. At the same time, Laura Iannelli is able to navigate a very complex theoretical landscape to produce a truly interdisciplinary reading of intersecting media and the political, economic and social relations at their heart. -- Dan Mercea From the Occupy Movement in the US to The Island of Redundant Workers in Sardinia, Iannelli draws a powerful picture of contemporary instances of unconventional political participation where different media ecologies play an undisputed role. With its innovative take on hybrid politics, this volume successfully tackles the challenge to talk about politics, communication and the media with a fine-grained, interdisciplinary and theoretically-driven approach. Hybrid Politics is a remarkable work that provides a needed contribution to the study of political participation in contemporary democracies. -- Stefania Vicari A worthy reference book... offering sophisticated analysis and asking important questions -- Craig Schamel