Professor of the Archaeology of the Roman Empire Andrew Wilson's Books

Virtual Politics

Faking Democracy in the Post-Soviet World

By: Andrew Wilson,Professor of the Archaeology of the Roman Empire Andrew Wilson

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Virtual Politics

Faking Democracy in the Post-Soviet World

By: Andrew Wilson,Professor of the Archaeology of the Roman Empire Andrew Wilson

States like Russia and Ukraine may not have gone back to totalitarianism or the traditional authoritarian formula of stuffing the ballot box, cowing the population and imprisoning the opposition - or not obviously. But a whole industry of 'political technology' has developed instead, with shadowy private firms and government 'fixers' on lucrative contracts dedicated to the black arts of organizing electoral success. This book uncovers the sophisticated techniques of the 'virtual' political system used to legitimize post-Soviet regimes; entire fake parties, phantom political rivals and 'scarecrow' opponents. And it exposes the paramount role of the mass media in projecting these creations and in falsifying the entire political process. Wilson argues that it is not primarily economic problems that have made it so difficult to develop meaningful democracy in the former Soviet world. Although the West also has its 'spin doctors', dirty tricks, and aggressive ad campaigns, it is the unique post-Bolshevik culture of 'political technology' that is the main obstacle to better governance in the region, to real popular participation in public affairs, and to the modernization of the political economy in the longer term.

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Page Count

364

Publisher

Yale University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0300095457

ISBN 13

9780300095456

Virtual Politics - Faking Democracy in the Post-Soviet World

By: Andrew Wilson

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Virtual Politics - Faking Democracy in the Post-Soviet World

By: Andrew Wilson

States such as Russia and Ukraine may not have gone back to totalitarianism or the traditional authoritarian formula of stuffing the ballot box. But a whole industry of 'political technology' has developed instead, with shadowy private firms and government 'fixers' on lucrative contracts dedicated to the black arts of organising electoral success. This book uncovers the sophisticated techniques of the 'virtual' political system used to legitimise post-Soviet regimes: entire fake parties, phantom political rivals and 'scarecrow' opponents. And it exposes the paramount role of the mass media in projecting these creations and in falsifying the entire political process. Wilson argues that it is not primarily economic problems that have made it so difficult to develop meaningful democracy in the former Soviet world. Although the West has seen its 'spin doctors', dirty tricks and aggressive ad campaigns, it is the unique post-Bolshevik culture of 'political technology' that is the main obstacle to better governance in the region, to real popular participation in public affairs and to the modernisation of the political economy in the longer term.

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352

Published Date

ISBN 10

0300244193

ISBN 13

9780300244199

Leisure-Time Studies, Chiefly Biological: A Series of Essays and Lectures

By: Andrew Wilson,Professor of the Archaeology of the Roman Empire Andrew Wilson

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Leisure-Time Studies, Chiefly Biological: A Series of Essays and Lectures

By: Andrew Wilson,Professor of the Archaeology of the Roman Empire Andrew Wilson

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

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