Second draft ECPR European Consortium for Political Research: Standing group on international relations (SGIR) Conference in Stockholm 9-11 September Paper for working group 13; “Challenges of Democracy Promotion” International... more
Second draft
ECPR European Consortium for Political Research:
Standing group on international relations (SGIR)
Conference in Stockholm 9-11 September
Paper for working group 13; “Challenges of Democracy Promotion”
International intervention, democracy promotion and goal conflicts in Kosovo and Afghanistan
Abstract: Media support is valued as an important part of democracy-building in post-conflict states. This paper draws on studies of international support for media development in Kosovo after the NATO intervention in 1999 and in Afghanistan after the defeat of the Taliban regime 2001. Although different in geography, history, size and culture these states show two important similarities. They have been theatre for a massive international military intervention followed by a long-term international developmental commitment to sustainable peace, stability, and democracy-building. In both cases international information interventions was used to promote these goals.
Kosovo as well as Afghanistan experienced a rapid growth of a free mass media-sector in the off-spring of international intervention. However, internal financial resources and external support have evaporated in recent years. During the financial crisis international media-support was less prioritized, leaving the media sector in the hands of vested interests. This has weakened expectations of support to create conditions for journalists to counter state authoritarianism and political corruption. This paper suggests a set of explanations why the international commitment to democracy support for the information sector not yet has shown to be forceful and sustainable. It also proposes a research program on conditions for journalism in post-conflict states.
Key words: Democracy building, post-conflict state, international commitment, information intervention, Afghanistan, Kosovo, media support, goal conflicts
ECPR European Consortium for Political Research:
Standing group on international relations (SGIR)
Conference in Stockholm 9-11 September
Paper for working group 13; “Challenges of Democracy Promotion”
International intervention, democracy promotion and goal conflicts in Kosovo and Afghanistan
Abstract: Media support is valued as an important part of democracy-building in post-conflict states. This paper draws on studies of international support for media development in Kosovo after the NATO intervention in 1999 and in Afghanistan after the defeat of the Taliban regime 2001. Although different in geography, history, size and culture these states show two important similarities. They have been theatre for a massive international military intervention followed by a long-term international developmental commitment to sustainable peace, stability, and democracy-building. In both cases international information interventions was used to promote these goals.
Kosovo as well as Afghanistan experienced a rapid growth of a free mass media-sector in the off-spring of international intervention. However, internal financial resources and external support have evaporated in recent years. During the financial crisis international media-support was less prioritized, leaving the media sector in the hands of vested interests. This has weakened expectations of support to create conditions for journalists to counter state authoritarianism and political corruption. This paper suggests a set of explanations why the international commitment to democracy support for the information sector not yet has shown to be forceful and sustainable. It also proposes a research program on conditions for journalism in post-conflict states.
Key words: Democracy building, post-conflict state, international commitment, information intervention, Afghanistan, Kosovo, media support, goal conflicts
Research Interests:
Handbook of Peace and Conflict Studies The fields of peace and conflict studies have grown exponentially since their initiation in Scandinavia about a half century ago by Johan Galtung. They have forged a transdisciplinary and professional... more
Handbook of Peace and Conflict Studies The fields of peace and conflict studies have grown exponentially since their initiation in Scandinavia about a half century ago by Johan Galtung. They have forged a transdisciplinary and professional identity distinct from ...
This collection copyright© The Pennsylvania State University Press 1995 Each chapter€'the author First published in 1995 in the United States and Canada by The Pennsylvania State University Press. 820 North University Drive. ...
Research Interests:
I11 his discussion of Thomas More's (1516) De Optimo Reipublicae Statu Deque Nova Insula Utopia, Coppleston (1969) concludes that" the great Christian humanist stood on the threshold of a capitalist... more
I11 his discussion of Thomas More's (1516) De Optimo Reipublicae Statu Deque Nova Insula Utopia, Coppleston (1969) concludes that" the great Christian humanist stood on the threshold of a capitalist development which was to run its course. Yet in due time some at ...