The Paradox of Democracy - by Zac Gershberg & Sean Illing

About the Book

"In The Paradox of Democracy: New Media and the Eternal Problem of Politics, Sean Illing and Zac Gershberg argue that, although free speech and media has always been a necessary condition of democracy, that very freedom also is its greatest threat. Free speech gives those who would destroy democracy license to mislead the public, using whatever forms of media are available. New forms of media offer opportunities to both supporters and critics of democracy. Reaching back to the ancient Greeks and continuing through media disruptions such as the invention of the printing press, the growth of "yellow" journalism and mass circulation newspapers, to new media today, they contend that democracies have always been unsettled by changes in media. The authors trace how each of these changes have challenged democracy by providing new ways of talking about politics and of reaching audiences with often unsettling effects. They conclude by exploring what kinds of communication facilitates and defends democracy as changing technology overwhelms older forms of communication"--

Book Synopsis

A thought-provoking history of communications that challenges ideas about freedom of speech and democracy.

At the heart of democracy lies a contradiction that cannot be resolved, one that has affected free societies since their advent: Though freedom of speech and media has always been a necessary condition of democracy, that very freedom is also its greatest threat. When new forms of communication arrive, they often bolster the practices of democratic politics. But the more accessible the media of a society, the more susceptible that society is to demagoguery, distraction, and spectacle. Tracing the history of media disruption and the various responses to it over time, Zac Gershberg and Sean Illing reveal how these changes have challenged democracy--often with unsettling effects.

The Paradox of Democracy captures the deep connection between communication and political culture, from the ancient art of rhetoric and the revolutionary role of newspapers to liberal broadcast media and the toxic misinformation of the digital public sphere. With clear-eyed analysis, Gershberg and Illing show that our contemporary debates over media, populism, and cancel culture are not too different from the democratic cultural experiences of the past. As we grapple with a fast-changing, hyper-digital world, they prove democracy is always perched precipitously on a razor's edge, now as ever before.

Review Quotes

"The authors' efforts to help us understand the role that media can play in the potential fate of democracy and democracies are useful and remind us of the dangers present in this fraught political moment."-- "ProjectMUSE"

"A compelling and sober-minded assessment of our situation, and I commend it to you for your consideration." --L. M. Sacasas "The Convivial Society"

"As free speech advocates strain to reconcile the unparalleled access to information and the expression of ideas made possible by the internet with their undeniable potential for political, psychological, and even physical harm, Gershberg and Illing have come to say that these advocates are pushing a Sisyphean boulder up a mountainside... Though the authors insist that democracy is the best system there is, they clearly doubt, in Benjamin Franklin's words, 'we can keep it.' ... Recommended."-- "Choice"

"In The Paradox of Democracy: Free Speech, Open Media, and Perilous Persuasion, Gershberg and Illing suggest that democracy isn't really about the rules and institutions that usually leap to mind... Fundamentally, they say, democracy is a culture of free and open communication. And that openness makes it vulnerable to subversion from within."-- "The Boston Globe"

"A book that provides valuable context for the latest assaults on democracy. . . . A clear and informative history."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"We are living through an information revolution, but we have not adequately understood how this tsunami reshapes democratic politics. Sean Illing and Zac Gershberg do just that in this very interesting and intriguing book."--Fareed Zakaria, CNN

"The Paradox of Democracy is as provocative as it is unpredictable. It carefully and engagingly expands our understanding of how democracy works--and struggles--in a society where free expression is foundational and where media is undergoing revolutionary and rapid change. It will change how you think."--Margaret Sullivan, Washington Post

"The book gives a sweeping overview of the ways that political leaders can utilize communication and rhetoric in order to gain office or power. Overall, it provides an excellent summary of the ways that communication and democracy can coexist or undermine each other."--Shana Gadarian, Syracuse University

About the Author

Zac Gershberg is associate professor of journalism and media studies at Idaho State University. Sean Illing is a senior writer at Vox and the host of The Gray Area podcast. He lives in Gulfport, Mississippi