Against the background of an enormous expansion and diversification of both political communication itself and scientific research into its structures, processes, and effects, this volume gives an overview of some of the key theories and findings accumulated by political communication research over the last decades. In order to do so, the volume provides readers with review articles by renowned international authors on various aspects of (I) the normative, regulatory and conceptual foundations of political communication, (II) different situations of political communication (e.g., elections, referendums, social movements, media hypes, crisis and war), (III) the activities of and part played by political actors, (IV) mass media and journalism, (V) characteristics and typical features of media messages, (VI) the role played by citizens as well as (VII) various kinds of effects on citizens. Each section includes several chapters that address specific issues and research problems in the form of comprehensive overviews articles.

Der Band ist theoretisch anspruchsvoll und als akademisches Nachschlagewerk sehr zu empfehlen. Die meisten Beitr ge sind entlang thematischer Dimensionen aufgebaut und bieten so einen einfachen Zugang. So eignet sich das Handbuch auch als Lekt re f r Studierende h herer Semester.
Pablo Porten-Che in: M&K Medien & Kommunikationswissenschaft 4/2015

Carsten Reinemann, University of Munich, Germany.