[Air-L] New book announcement: Beyond Slacktivism

[James Dennis]

With apologies for cross-posting.

I am pleased to announce the publication of Beyond Slacktivism: Political
Participation on Social Media (Palgrave Macmillan, part of the Interest
Groups, Advocacy and Democracy Series).

*Cover Description*

Beyond Slacktivism examines how routine social media use shapes political
participation. Many commentators have argued that activism has been
compromised by “slacktivism,” a pejorative term that refers to supposedly
inauthentic, low-threshold forms of engagement online. Dennis argues that
this critique has an overly narrow focus. He offers a novel theoretical
framework—the continuum of participation—to help illuminate how and why
citizens use social networking sites to consume news, discuss civic
matters, and engage in politics. This idea is explored in two interrelated
settings. Firstly, in an activist context, through an ethnography of the
campaigning organisation 38 Degrees. Secondly, within day-to-day life, by
combining evidence of behaviour online with reflective diaries. Drawing on
this rich data on individual-level attitudes and behaviours, Dennis
challenges slacktivism as a judgement on contemporary political action.
Beyond Slacktivism provides an account of how the seemingly mundane
everyday use of social media can be beneficial to democracy.

*Endorsements*

“It’s better to light a candle than to fantasize about a sun” is the
eloquent rallying cry of James Dennis’ conceptually rich and meticulously
researched critique of the idea of slacktivism. By analyzing the testimony
of authentic, socially-situated individuals, Dennis guides us through the
complex textures of political life online. His research compels us to look
beyond the lazy clichés found in so much public debate about social media
and political engagement. Read this book. Discuss it with your students. It
will change the way we think about one of the most urgent issues of our
time.”

Andrew Chadwick, Loughborough University, UK

“There was a time when pundits referred to online activism as slacktivism.
Gone are those days, as recent movements and waves of populism demonstrate
the ability of online media to connect (and separate!) people around common
sentiment. Read this book and understand how it all happens. Engaging,
insightful, and sharp.”

Zizi Papacharissi, University of Illinois-Chicago, USA

“James Dennis’s book addresses a core research question: “what effect does
routine social media use have on political engagement?” In answering this
question Dennis skillfully sidelines assumptions of slacktivism and
clicktivism to take a deeper look at instances of meaningful digital
micro-activism via engaging ethnographic research, with both individual
social media users, and the influential digital campaigning organisation,
38 Degrees. The book, importantly, demonstrates that politics and
participation now emerge though everyday forms of communication and
engagement.”

Ariadne Vromen, University of Sydney, Australia

*Voucher*

A 20% discount is available on the hardcover version and the eBook if
purchased from Palgrave before November 28, 2018, using the following code:
PM18TWENTY4.

eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-00844-4 | £47.99
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-00843-7 | £59.99

Access on Palgrave: https://www.palgrave.com/gb/book/9783030008437
Access on SpringerLink:
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-00844-4

-- 
*Dr James Dennis*
Senior Lecturer in Political Communication and Journalism | University of
Portsmouth

*e* james.dennis at port.ac.uk
*t* @jameswilldennis <https://twitter.com/jameswilldennis>
*w*  jameswilldennis.com
*a* School of Film, Media and Communication, University of Portsmouth,
Milldam (LB 3.04), Burnaby Road, Portsmouth, PO1 3AS