Politikserien: Indes. Zeitschrift für Politik und Gesellschaft 2014 Heft 04 (Zeitschrift Fur Politik Und Gesellschaft 2014)

Issue 4/2014 of INDES (Journal for Politics and Society) is concerned with the theme of political TV series. What is the recipe for their success? What role do they play in our view of politics?

"House of Cards," "West Wing," "Borgen" - these are just a few of the most popular examples of the genre of political TV series. Their success in times of broad political disgruntlement and fatigue would seem to be surprising and calls for an explanation, especially since the series tend to depict the unpopular backroom politics of compromise. Yet it is this very "hotbed of intrigue" in the episodes which appears to be greeted as a veritable necessity and laudable part of "politicking." This issue of INDES also looks at the image given to politics in these series. Why is this format presently so successful?