Information and Political Power at the Turn of the 21st Century

This session will explore the history of information networks at the turn of the 21st century and their political consequences. It will examine how grassroots activists, elected officials, and partisans shaped—and were shaped by—new forms of information and the new business models of these emerging industries. Topics will include the explosion of the 24/7 news cycle, the early internet era; online conspiracy theories around the Clintons; competing attempts to use the internet to shape the narrative around Y2K; and the rise of social media platforms.