Week 12 : Critical economy & post-colonial theory (Herman & Chomsky)

Question 1

What is political economy ?

Answer 1

Historical overview
• Various schools of thought
o Adam Smith (classic theory)
o Thomas Carlyle (conservative approach)
o Robert Owen (utopian-socialist vision)
o Karl Marx (critique of capitalism)
o William Jevons (political economy as science)
• Emerged as a field of study in the 18th century

Question 2

What is the political economy of communication ? (PEC)

Answer 2

Traditionally, there are 2 particulars trends within PEC:
– US Model ( e.g. Chomsky; McChesney)
– Cultural Studies Approach (mainly European & normally associated with Nicholas Garnham (Hesmondhalgh, 2002:33)

Question 3

What is the US model of PEC ?

Answer 3

The US Model (example of Propaganda Model):
– Emphasizes strategic use of power
– Focuses on issues of concentration and conglomeration – Offers a critique of advertising & its impact
• Prominent scholars include – HerbertSchiller
– Noam Chomsky
– Robert McChesney
– Eli Noam

Question 4

What is McChesney’s approach to PEC studies ?

Answer 4

The relationship between media and communication systems and the broader social structures of society

Question 5

What is the cultural studies approach of PEC ?

Answer 5

Focuses on the contradictions and problems of cultural production-owners, advertisers and political figures cant always do as they would wish; they operate within structures that constrain as well as facilitate, imposing limits as well as offering opportunities (Murdock & Golding, 2005:63)

Prominent scholars include:
• Nicholas Garnham
• Graham Murdock
• Peter Golding