Betto van Waarden
Historian and professor at Maastricht University specializing in media, politics, and democracy; author of Politicians and Mass Media in the Age of Empire (Cambridge UP, 2025) and researcher on disinformation and democracy.
Best podcasts with Betto van Waarden
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Jan 23, 2026 • 1h 22min
Betto van Waarden, "Politicians and Mass Media in the Age of Empire" (Cambridge UP, 2025)
Betto van Waarden, a historian and professor at Maastricht University, dives into the interplay between mass media and politics from 1890 to the First World War. He discusses how politicians adapted to a rapidly changing media landscape, using examples like Roosevelt and Leopold II. Betto highlights how transnational media redefined public perception and political legitimacy, and he connects historical phenomena to contemporary issues like disinformation and social media dynamics. His exploration reveals the enduring influence of 'publicity politicians' on today’s media strategies.
Jan 4, 2026 • 1h 10min
Publicity Politicians, Public Opinion, and the Birth of Media Politics, with Dr. Betto van Waarden
Dr. Betto van Waarden, an Assistant Professor of History at Maastricht University, dives into the intricate relationship between media and politics during the Age of Empire. He discusses how 19th-century technologies transformed news production and the emergence of public opinion. Van Waarden introduces the concept of 'publicity politicians,' whose traits include media savvy and hypersensitivity to public sentiment. He draws compelling parallels between historical political strategies and today's media landscape, exploring how personalization affects democracy.
