Part I. Trends and Theories: chapter 1. The new chaotics; chapter 2. Fifty shades of freedom: the democratic century; chapter 3. The globalized public sphere and the non-linear dynamics of cultural chaos -- Part II. Consequences and Cases: chapter 4. The communication crisis of democratic governance; chapter 5. Communication and the crisis of authoritarian control; chapter 6. Non-state actors, communication and politics; chapter 7. Beyond chaos?