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COMS101: Media and Democracy
This document provides an overview of a lecture on media and democracy. It discusses key concepts like what democracy is, the historical development of democracy, freedom of speech and press, and how new media may be transforming politics. It also touches on debates around direct democracy, representative democracy, the tyranny of the majority, John Stuart Mill's harm principle, human rights to freedom of speech, press, and thought, and the relationship between the free press and private media ownership.
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COMS101: Media and Democracy
- 1. IntroductionsTessa HoughtonPhD candidate,Media & CommunicationHacktivism and Habermas: Online Protest as neo-Habermasian CounterpublicityFilling in for Dr. Babak Bahador:COMS205/POLS232: Media & Politics
- 2. COMS205/POLS232: Media &Politics“The course provides an understanding of the role of the media in domestic and international politics. It does this by analysing key theoretical assumptions and debates on the role of media institutions in the struggle for power domestically and internationally.”
- 3. COMS205/POLS232: Media &PoliticsPublic opinion + media effectsMedia + democracyThe public spherePolitics + entertainmentPublic relations, celebrity + spinPolitics + media in NZPropaganda + state control The Propaganda ModelMedia + foreign policy
- 4. L1 Media &Democracy: Lecture OverviewWhat is democracy?Historical developmentFreedom of speech and pressNew media and the transformation of politics?
- 5. What is democracy?Government “of/by/for the people”
- 6. The history ofdemocracyCommon belief today is that democracy = only legitimate form of governmentBut democracy = rejected for 2000yrs!
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- 9. Democracy FTW?So, whyis democracy better?Claims to be superior both:InstrumentallyIntrinsicallyTwo key values:FreedomEquality
- 10. Jean-Jacques RousseauThe ‘generalwill’Direct democracy“Were there a people of gods, their government would be democratic. So perfect a government is not for men.”
- 11. Limits of DirectDemocracyBarely conceivable, inefficientWho sets the agenda?
- 12. John Stuart Mill& Representative DemocracyElected political representativesMake and execute lawsIf they do it well, society > more prosperousBut system must have safeguards
- 13. The Tyranny ofthe MajorityDemocracy/majority vote alone = insufficientMinority rights must be protectedMust have a liberal democracy
- 14. Mill’s Harm PrincipleThestate should only limit individual actions that harm othersBalance must evolve from principles
- 15. RightsHarm principle >human rightsLife, freedom of assembly/movement/religion/vote/standing for office/speech/the press, etc.
- 16. Freedom of Speech/ThoughtMill:complete freedom in the private sphere, few limits in public.No gain in censorship but great possible lossSuppressing falsity will make the truth weak and dogmatic.
- 17. Freedom of thePressVarying degrees of freedom given to mass mediaNo complete press freedom
- 19. Mass Media’s Rolein DemocracyGreat weight placed on communication.Key roles:DeliberationRepresentationAccountability
- 20. The Free Pressand MarketCritics seen tension between free press and marketIssues over private ownership
- 21. New Media andPolitical TransformationNew media?Claims of political transformation and a return to direct democracy…Global networksInterconnectednessGlobalityIdentity
- 22. Time and SpaceAlwaysconstrained by spatial and temporal limitsNew transport/communication technologies have dramatically reduced these constraints
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- 24. Reconceptualising time60 days 1 day 0.5 days
- 26. Electronic DemocracyBelief thatthe internet can change politicsBelief in the dawn of a new democratic orderPotential for direct democracy
- 27. Limits to directdemocracyMore information does not necessarily mean better informationTechnology can devalue democracyTechnology can serve the powerful
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Editor's Notes
- #2 Introduce myselfTalk a little about my thesisSpeak about Dr. Bahador and his courses, and how these lectures are a preview to them, especially Media and PoliticsSpeaking about media and democracy because that is the core theme for media and Politics, and the public sphere is a major component of this wider discussion.
- #3 Introduce myselfTalk a little about my thesisSpeak about Dr. Bahador and his courses, and how these lectures are a preview to them, especially Media and PoliticsSpeaking about media and democracy because that is the core theme for media and Politics, and the public sphere is a major component of this wider discussion.
- #5 Introduce myselfTalk a little about my thesisSpeak about Dr. Bahador and his courses, and how these lectures are a preview to them, especially Media and PoliticsSpeaking about media and democracy because that is the core theme for media and Politics, and the public sphere is a major component of this wider discussion.