The Arab media localizing its democratic potential
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Authors
Moulis, Andrew Nicholas
Subjects
Advisors
Baylouny, Anne Marie
Chaterjee, Anshu
Date of Issue
2010-09
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The role of the media in society is an important consideration for policymakers and analysts when creating and implementing policies. In the Middle East, the Arab media's role in society has emerged as a crucial concern for U.S. policymakers who examine its potential to aid in social and democratic movements. The media provides the means to connect democratic movements to the both the masses and to the regimes in power; it is an important communication channel. The Middle East, despite the increase in the number of media outlets since 1991, has yet to experience a systemic change towards democracy or generate viable social movement organizations. Why has the media not promoted democracy in the Middle East as it has in other parts of the world? By comparing the relevant aspects of social movement theory and democratic media theory with the issues and events being covered by the Arab media, I demonstrate the Arab media does not provide viable support for sustained social movements or democracy. Specifically, I argue that the media has not aided the critical relationship between social movement organizations and democratic development due to the nature of its audience and subsequent focus on regional and pan-Arab issues. This is not to suggest that Arabs are indifferent towards democracy or local issues; rather, pan-Arabism is a significant consideration for the media due to the audience structure of the non-censored media in the Arab world.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Security Studies
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
x, 87 p. ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.