"Media, Wars and Politics. Comparing the Incomparable in Western and Eastern Europe" by Ekaterina Balabanova

This topical book studies media-foreign policy interaction in an age of proclaimed 'new military humanitarianism'. This book widens the debate beyond US media and policy making by considering the case of Western European and Eastern European media and policy processes.

It tests the wider application of existing theoretical approaches and provides useful comparisons which allows the reader to draw conclusions on the media/policy relationship.

The media is now more effective in gathering and distributing information all over the world and media coverage of humanitarian wars now allows for information and images to reach a wide audience with great immediacy and realism. For policy making, the current media news cycle has meant high levels of exposure of fast breaking international stories that receive global attention and produce a powerful 'do something' effect.

Those interested in political communication, European politics and media studies will find this book an excellent comparative text.


Contents
List of Tables
Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
1. Media and War
Introduction
Media of Conflict
The ‘Manufacturing Consent’ Thesis
The ‘CNN Effect’ Thesis
Media Power and Foreign Policy
Models
Beyond Current Boundaries
Conclusion
2. New Wars and New Humanitarianism
Introduction
The Changing Nature of Wars
Changes in the International Response to New Wars
Conclusion
3. The Kosovo Crisis
Introduction
The Background of the Conflict: The Lead up to NATO Intervention
NATO Air Campaign
The Kosovo Conflict: A New War? A New Military Humanitarianism in Practice?
Conclusion
4. Bulgarian Media
Introduction
‘Old Media’
‘New Media’
Conclusion
5. Press/Foreign Policy Interaction in Bulgaria
Introduction
Press Coverage
Bulgarian Foreign Policy Towards Kosovo: Measuring Policy Certainty/Uncertainty
Assessing Causation
Conclusion
6. Press/Foreign Policy Interaction in the UK
Introduction
Press Coverage
UK Policy Towards Kosovo
Assessing Causation
Conclusion
Conclusion
References
Index