Mass Media and Political Communication in New Democracies

Using a comparative approach, this book examines how political communication and the mass media have played an important role in the consolidation of democratic institutions. Covering a broad range of political and cultural contexts, including Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa, the authors evaluate the assumptions as to how different contexts and pathways to democracy may alter the role of the media and the way in which they are employed by political actors.

Each Cast study explores:

· How each of the participants in political communication adapts to the new political environment
· How conflicting norms and interests shape the political discourse in new democracies
· The way in which the audience interprets and is vulnerable to political messages
· The role of the Internet

This book will be of interest to those studying and researching democracy, comparative politics, political communication, journalism, media and the internet.