The “CNN effect” and “manufacturing consent” theses are widely accepted in the Western world. But how do these established theories hold up when applied outside of the US context in Eastern Europe? Media, Wars and Politics: Comparing the Incomparable in Western and Eastern Europe by Ekaterina Balabanova analyses the media coverage of the Kosovo crisis in Bulgaria and Britain, providing a unique contribution to the media and foreign policy debate.

In Media, Wars and Politics, Balabanova details the “manufacturing consent” and “CNN effect” theses, before delving into the media and foreign policy interactions in both Bulgaria and Britain, in the context of the Kosovo crisis. A lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Liverpool in the UK, Balabanova mixes her academic background with personal experiences to draw comparisons between media coverage in Eastern and Western Europe. Media, Wars and Politics provides readers with solid arguments and questions within the field of media and foreign policy.

The “CNN effect” and “manufacturing consent” theses had not before been tested substantially outside of the US. In Media, Wars and Politics, Balabanova uses an excellent approach by examining the press coverage and foreign policy interaction in both Bulgaria and Britain to apply the existing theories to Eastern and Western Europe.

Balabanova also investigates the changing nature of wars and changes in the international response to new wars and moves beyond current debates in media and foreign policy. In the chapter “New Wars and New Humanitarianism”, the author analyses the phenomenon of war and investigates current trends in war and humanitarian intervention. The Kosovo crisis is used as an example of “new wars”. Balabanova looks at the differences in the media cultures of Bulgaria and Britain, from “old media” to “new media”.

Today, we live in a ‘global village’ and media have the ability to gather and distribute news almost immediately to people around the world. Large audiences see in an instance the pictures from conflicts thousands of kilometres away and are aware more so than ever what is happening outside of their local areas. The 24/7 news cycle gives global attention to such issues and this can produce a powerful 'do something!' effect. Balabanova questions how much this effect is evident in media and foreign policy interactions in Eastern and Western Europe. Media, Wars and Politics suggests that media can be a catalyst for change by putting certain issues on the agenda that without extensive coverage might have been ignored. Media, Wars and Politics looks at the focus of news reports by the different media in Bulgaria and Britain, and what interactions media has in foreign policy and government responses.

The background provided on the Kosovo crisis leading up to NATO intervention is useful for readers, and the subsequent analysis of media coverage during the crisis in both Bulgaria and Britain is organised into accessible chapters. By comparing the media and foreign policy interaction in Britain and Bulgaria, Media, Wars and Politics provides the reader with a detailed analysis of the debates surrounding this field. Media, Wars and Politics is an excellent source for understanding the interactions between media and politics in the age of “new military humanitarianism”.


Media, Wars and Politics: Comparing the Incomparable in Western and Eastern Europe
(2007)

by Ekaterina Balabanova
Ashgate Publishing
ISBN: 9789754670698
190pp US$99.95/£55.00