Description
This lively book offers the first comprehensive examination of character assassination. In modern politics as well as in historical times, character attacks abound. Words and images, like psychological weapons, have sullied or destroyed numerous individual reputations. How does character assassination "work" and when or why does it not? Are character attacks getting worse in the age of social media? Why do many people fail when they are under character attack? How should they prevent attacks and defend against them?
Moving beyond discussions about corporate reputation management and public relations canons, Character Assassination and Reputation Management is designed to help understand, critically analyze, and effectively defend against such attacks. Written by an international and interdisciplinary team of experts, the book begins with a discussion of theoretical and applied features of the "five pillars" of character assassination: (1) the attacker, (2) the target, (3) the media, (4) the audience, and (5) the context. The remaining chapters present engaging in-depth discussions and case studies suitable for homework and class discussion. These cases include:
- Historic figures
- Leaders from modern times
- Women in politics
- U.S. presidents
- World leaders
- Political autocrats
- Democratic leaders
- Scientists
- Celebrities
Featuring an extensive glossary of key terms, critical thinking exercises, and summaries to encourage problem-based learning, Character Assassination and Reputation Management will prove invaluable to the undergraduate and postgraduate students in communication, political science, global affairs, history, sociology, and psychology departments.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Character Assassination in History
3. Approaches and Methodology to Study Character Assassination
4. The Actors in Character Attacks
5. Content and Types of Character Attacks
6. Means and Venues
7. The Impact of Character Attacks
8. Defending Against and Managing Character Attacks
9. The Culture Factor
10. Character Assassination in Democracies
11. The Political Factor: Authoritarianism
12. Character Assassination in International Relations
13. The Gender and Sexuality Factor
14. Character Attacks in Sports, Science, and Entertainment
Conclusion
