Complexity, Digital Media and Post Truth Politics

This book analyzes the relationship between digital media systems and post-truth politics. It demonstrates that the complexity of modern systems presents an existential challenge to our ability to understand and research these issues. A new theory for studying complexity is proposed, explaining how system interactionism differs from established ideas, including assemblage and actor-network theories. After considering the social system of Niklas Luhmann, the author proposes an interactionist methodology better equipped to deal with system complexity. A description of the logical operations of the digital and political systems is provided, establishing precedents for an analysis of the role of hypertext in shaping emergent digital-politics. The book demonstrates how the principles of system interactionism can guide digital media research into polarization and political language.