6. Media and Democracy: Media and Democratization Flashcards
factors cause a country to become a democracy: internal factors
divisions within authoritarian regime
economic development
free values
civil society
factors cause a country to become a democracy - internal divisions within authoritarian regime
This can happen because they fail to fulfil their promises or fail miserably to perform. Especially when there is an aging dictator.
fail promises / dont perform
factors cause a country to become a democracy - economic development
This raises personal incomes, education and access to information. Economic development creates democracy and sustains it.
personal income , education and access information –> creates / sustains democracy
factors cause a country to become a democracy - free values
This in turn also shifts attitudes in democratic direction.
factors cause a country to become a democracy - civil society
When democratic desire is raised, people join organizations. Civil society architecture is present and mobilized. This mostly happens when there is economic development. Free values and civil society then drive the urge to democratization more.
democratic desire –> joining organizations –> mobilization –> drive urge to democratization
external factors that cause a country to become a democracy
diffusion / demonstration effects
peaceful pressure
factors cause a country to become a democracy - diffusion / demonstration effects
Diffusion of information is when a country close-by shows that a dictator leaves, this will show other countries that that is possible. This gives the demonstration effect message that democratization is possible.
factors cause a country to become a democracy - peaceful pressure
= diplomacy and sanctions
It amplifies fractions within an internal government. Sanctions need to be strong and long lasting otherwise this will not happen. Wear down country (if sanctions are tough) and generate divisions between authoritarian elites. But it takes a long time to materialize.
diplomacy / sanctions to generate divisions between authoritarian elites
What does this mean for the role of media in democratization
free media in unfree country
internal free media - creates diffusion so external democracy assistance (factor 5). Example is Al-Jazeera.
citizen journalism = feeds into the desire for free values, human development cycle (factor 2 / 3 / 4). Prominent in political communication. Arab Spring is an example.
What roles do these media specifically play
alternative media provide access to information
alternative media provide awareness of the world
assumption = international media can compensate lack of domestic free media
access info / awareness world
diffusion theory
core idea 1: diffusion via sequence: knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation, conformation.
–> Access to information is crucial, but is just the first step
core idea 2: some people are more open to diffusion than others. A critical mass is crucial.
- access is crucial (sequence)
- critical mass is crucial (open to diffusion)
how do dictators react
friction
fear
flooding
dictator reaction - friction
they make it hard for you to spread information, like pulling plugs out internet
dictator reaction - fear
intimidating the people who are acting against you
dictator reaction - flooding
sending out alternative messages
internal factors democratic erosion
internal divisions democratic regime
economic crisis
rise of authoritarian values
democratic erosion - internal divisions democration
anti-system parties. This can happen because mainstream fails to fulfil their promises. This is especially when there is no democratic alternative.
anti-system parties
democratic erosion - economic crisis
because that can decrease personal incomes, which fuels resentment.
democratic erosion - authoritarian values
Especially the younger ones would be vulnerable to this, because they are less attached to democracy.
External factors democratic erosion
diffusion
outside pressure
democratic erosion - diffusion
As in diffusion of information and diffusion of the demonstration effect: success of anti-system parties abroad.
success anti-system parties abroad
What does this mean for the role of social media
provides voice to marginalized groups
spread of authoritarian values among the younger generations
flooding and fear
Empirics on democratic erosion
show that anti-system parties have greatly benefited from social media, especially via flooding and fear
Counter strategies on this use of social media (flooding and fear)
removing posts, deplatforming, regulation and fact-checking
gorbatchev dilemma
is a state does not allow free media, it will not get criticism on its functioning and is therefore unaware of it. this can cause an uprising without the state expecting it.
theories communication science on media
diffusion theory
two-step-flow of communication
two-step flow of communication
not all information spreads to everyone equally
there are opinion leaders, who follow information on a certain topic closely and there are others who hear about this topic via the opinion leaders
–> not only individual access to information matters, but also the need for a place to discuss ideas about information
opinion leaders inform others
