‘It Isn’t What We Don’t Know that Gives Us Trouble, It’s What We Know that Ain’t So’: Misinformation and Democratic Politics

This article explores the dangers to the quality of democratic governance of those who are informed but disengaged and, especially, those who are engaged but use false ‘knowledge’. Poll data show the extent of Americans’ misinformation about, or disengagement with, climate change. The main responsib...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of political science 2015-07, Vol.45 (3), p.467-475
Main Authors: Hochschild, Jennifer, Einstein, Katherine Levine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accords
Climate Change
Democracy
Disengagement
Education
Environmental policy
False information
Featured Article
Global warming
Governance
Health insurance
Incentives
Knowledge
Nuclear energy
Opinion Polls
Partisanship
Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act 2010-US
Political activism
Political science
Politicians
Polls & surveys
Sovereignty
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Summary:This article explores the dangers to the quality of democratic governance of those who are informed but disengaged and, especially, those who are engaged but use false ‘knowledge’. Poll data show the extent of Americans’ misinformation about, or disengagement with, climate change. The main responsibility for these problems lies with politicians, who have partisan incentives to help the disengaged become active, but also partisan incentives to keep the misinformed politically involved. Activity in accord with false ‘knowledge’ can slow needed responses to global warming and lead to concrete harm to individuals, communities and nations.
ISSN:0007-1234
1469-2112
DOI:10.1017/S000712341400043X