As we move through our modern world, the phenomenon we call knowledge is always involved. Whether we talk of know-how, technology, innovation, politics or education, it is the concept of knowledge that ties them all together. But despite its ubiquity as a modern trope we seldom encounter knowledge in itself. How is it produced, where does it reside, and who owns it? Is knowledge always beneficial, will we know all there is to know at some point in the future, and does knowledge really equal power? This book pursues an original approach to this concept that seems to define so many aspects of modern societies. It explores the topic from a distinctly sociological perspective, and traces the many ways that knowledge is woven into the very fabric of modern society.

As we move through our modern world, the phenomenon we call knowledge is always involved. Whether we talk of know-how, technology, innovation, politics or education, it is the concept of knowledge that ties them all together. But despite its ubiquity as a modern trope we seldom encounter knowledge in itself. How is it produced, where does it reside, and who owns it? Is knowledge always beneficial, will we know all there is to know at some point in the future, and does knowledge really equal power? This book pursues an original approach to this concept that seems to define so many aspects of modern societies. It explores the topic from a distinctly sociological perspective, and traces the many ways that knowledge is woven into the very fabric of modern society.

Der Band beschaftigt sich mit der Rolle der Medien fur gesellschaftliche Integrationsprozesse, die mit Blick auf die gegenwartigen rasanten Entwicklungen relevanter denn je ist. Wie ist das Spannungsfeld Medien und Integration im Kontext digitaler Medienkonstellationen (neu) zu theoretisieren? Wie kann das Verhaltnis von Medienkommunikation und Individuum in Bezug auf gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt empirisch gefasst werden? Wie ertragreich waren bisherige kommunikationswissenschaftliche Modelle und Forschungsansatze in den einzelnen Forschungsbereichen? Die Autorinnen und Autoren geben Antworten auf diese und andere Fragen und nutzen dabei eine breite Palette an theoretischen und methodischen Zugangen, die die gegenwartige Vielfalt der Soziologie der Medienkommunikation gut widerspiegelt.