In this book, leading international experts examine how political leaders have adapted to the challenges of social media, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Memes among other means of persuasion. Through a series of case studies the authors argue that many leaders have found new avenues to communicate with the public and use power.

Political Leadership and Social Media: An Introduction Part 1: Leaders and the New Instruments of Media Persuasion 2. The President Tweets the Press: President-Press Relations and the Politics of Media Degradation 3. Vulgar Eloquence in the Digital Age: A Case Study of Candidate Donald Trump's Use of Twitter 4. "Delete Your Account"? Hillary Rodham Clinton Across Social Media Platforms in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election 5. The Visually Viral Prime Minister: Justin Trudeau, Selfies, and Instagram 6. Tweeting the Agenda: Policy Making and Agenda Setting by U.S. Congressional Leaders in the Age of Social Media Part 2: Twitter, Leaders, and Populism 7. Populism and Social Media Popularity: How Populist Communication Benefits Political Leaders on Facebook and Twitter 8. A Marriage of Twitter and Populism in the French Presidential Campaign? The Twitter-Discourse of Challengers Macron and Le Pen 9. Political Communication Patterns and Sentiments Across Time Part 3: Social Media and Grassroots Politics 10. 'Twitter Was Like Magic!': Strategic use of social media in contemporary feminist activism 11. #Unsettling Canada 150, One Tweet at a Time: How Indigenous Leaders use Twitter to Resist and Reframe Mainstream News in Canada 12. Fanning Flames of Discontent: A Case Study of Social Media, Populism, and Campaigning 13. Not A Leader! Theresa May's Leadership Through the Lens of Internet Memes 14. Twitter and Student Leadership in South Africa: The Case of #FeesMustFall Conclusion