[Air-L] New Book and Book Launch event - The Web of knowledge (Polity)

[Giota Alevizou]

Dear all,


I am delighted to announce the publication of my new book, *The Web of
Knowledge*
<https://www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?book_slug=the-web-of-knowledge-encylopedias-and-authority-in-the-digital-age--9780745646282>,
by Polity, which is now on general release in the UK (e-book and US edition
in April).


This book has been a long time coming - stitched together across more than
two decades of research, reflection and reinvention. Drawing on media
studies, science and technology studies, and digital humanities, *The Web
of Knowledge* offers a genealogy of encyclopedic authority that speaks
directly to contemporary debates about AI, platform governance, and the
future of collective knowledge. It is a book about encyclopedias — but also
about the changing conditions under which knowledge becomes legitimate,
credible, and governable.


*You are cordially invited to my **book launch event on 11 March*
<https://www.tickettailor.com/events/digitalhumanitieskcl/2063700> from
6.00 pm, followed by drinks. The event takes place at King’s College London
(Strand Campus). Registration details/exact location are in the link.


The evening will be a conversation about the histories and challenges of
current knowledge ecologies. I will be joined by Professor Emerita *Robin
Mansell* <https://www.lse.ac.uk/people/robin-mansell> and Professor *Elena
Simperl* <https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/elena-simperl>.


I'd love to see any UK AoIR-istas there.


Please contact me if you'd like any inspection copies, would like a review,
or for anything else.




—

*Praise*


"This fascinating genealogy reveals how encyclopedias - commercial and
commons-based - influence the authoritative status of knowledge and why
epistemic justice and resistance to biases depend on future choices about
who controls the production, credibility, and accessibility of knowledge."
*Robin Mansell, London School of Economics and Political Science*

"This book shows encyclopedias have been reinvented for the digital age -
reshaped by new media, changing institutions, and the politics of
knowledge. Must-read!"


*Jimmy Wales, Wikimedia Foundation *"With the vast amount of information
swirling around us, Giota Alevizou's new book is a crucial guide to how
knowledge is being assembled, ordered and mediated, and to the profound
consequences these structures have for meaning and knowing."


*David Beer, University of York *"What happens to knowledge structures in
the digital age? This book is timely, authoritative, and important –
encyclopaedic in the best sense of the word."
*Caroline Bassett, University of Cambridge*



===============

*Dr Giota Alevizou | Lecturer in Digital Humanities & Culture*

*Programme co-Director *MA in Digital Futures
<https://online.kcl.ac.uk/online-masters/digital-futures-ma#:~:text=The%20Digital%20Futures%20MA%20covers,and%20influence%20the%20digital%20world.>

Department of Digital Humanities | King’s College London


*Profile* <https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/giota-alevizou>*  | **BlueSky*
<https://bsky.app/profile/giotita.bsky.social>* | **LinkedIn*
<https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-giota-alevizou/>





*New publications*

Alevizou, G. (2026). *The Web of Knowledge*
<https://www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?book_slug=the-web-of-knowledge-encylopedias-and-authority-in-the-digital-age--9780745646282>.
Cambridge: Polity