Information Technology and Political Campaigning
Channel: The Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society
Date: 04/11/2008

Changes in the information environment and information technology have had a tremendous impact on political campaigning. A growing literature has tracked, for instance, how new information technologies have shaped the way citizens acquire political information, discuss the political realm, and participate in political activities. Others have documented how information technology has changed the way candidates communicate with voters, raise money, and try to make political news. Fundamentally, however, this research has generally focused on how information technology has changed the style, but not necessarily the substance of political campaigns. In my recent book, The Persuadable Voter, and in ongoing research, I evaluate the way in which today's information environment has shaped not only how candidates communicate with voters but also who they communicate with and what they are willing to say. Most notably, candidates are now able to communicate targeted messages to smaller and more segmented audiences, changing the candidates' ability and willingness to campaign on divisive wedge issues—with potentially negative consequences.