6. Media and Democracy: Media and Democratization

Question 1

factors cause a country to become a democracy: internal factors

Answer 1

divisions within authoritarian regime

economic development

free values

civil society

Question 2

factors cause a country to become a democracy - internal divisions within authoritarian regime

Answer 2

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

Question 3

factors cause a country to become a democracy - economic development

Answer 3

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

Question 4

factors cause a country to become a democracy - free values

Answer 4

This in turn also shifts attitudes in democratic direction.

Question 5

factors cause a country to become a democracy - civil society

Answer 5

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

Question 6

external factors that cause a country to become a democracy

Answer 6

diffusion / demonstration effects

peaceful pressure

Question 7

factors cause a country to become a democracy - diffusion / demonstration effects

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

factors cause a country to become a democracy - peaceful pressure

Answer 8

= 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

Question 9

What does this mean for the role of media in democratization

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

What roles do these media specifically play

Answer 10

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

Question 11

diffusion theory

Answer 11

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.

1. access is crucial (sequence)
2. critical mass is crucial (open to diffusion)

Question 12

how do dictators react

Answer 12

friction

fear

flooding

Question 13

dictator reaction - friction

Answer 13

they make it hard for you to spread information, like pulling plugs out internet

Question 14

dictator reaction - fear

Answer 14

intimidating the people who are acting against you

Question 15

dictator reaction - flooding

Answer 15

sending out alternative messages

Question 16

internal factors democratic erosion

Answer 16

internal divisions democratic regime

economic crisis

rise of authoritarian values

Question 17

democratic erosion - internal divisions democration

Answer 17

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

Question 18

democratic erosion - economic crisis

Answer 18

because that can decrease personal incomes, which fuels resentment.

Question 19

democratic erosion - authoritarian values

Answer 19

Especially the younger ones would be vulnerable to this, because they are less attached to democracy.

Question 20

External factors democratic erosion

Answer 20

diffusion

outside pressure

Question 21

democratic erosion - diffusion

Answer 21

As in diffusion of information and diffusion of the demonstration effect: success of anti-system parties abroad.

success anti-system parties abroad

Question 22

What does this mean for the role of social media

Answer 22

provides voice to marginalized groups

spread of authoritarian values among the younger generations

flooding and fear

Question 23

Empirics on democratic erosion

Answer 23

show that anti-system parties have greatly benefited from social media, especially via flooding and fear

Question 24

Counter strategies on this use of social media (flooding and fear)

Answer 24

removing posts, deplatforming, regulation and fact-checking

Question 25

gorbatchev dilemma

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

theories communication science on media

Answer 26

diffusion theory

two-step-flow of communication

Question 27

two-step flow of communication

Answer 27

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