Media portraits in times of crisis (2008-2014). Public views of the european union and the austerity policies in the national leading press
- Autores: Sabina Alejandra Monza
- Directores de la Tesis: Eva Anduiza Perea (dir. tes.)
- Lectura: En la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona ( España ) en 2019
- Idioma: español
- Materias:
- Enlaces
- Tesis en acceso abierto en: TESEO
- Resumen
This article-based doctoral thesis revisits the role of the national printed press in supplying political information related to the European Union during the years of economic crisis and austerity policy-making (2008-2014). The supply side of political information plays an important function in establishing a general information environment at the national level that affects the process of citizens’ opinion formation regardless of people’s direct exposure to media outlets and news consumption (Vliegenthart et al. 2008). However, empirical research is still scarce. I argue that this information is particularly relevant in times of crises and in relation to the European Union, of whom information is usually scant. The managerial role of the European Union during the economic crisis opened up extraordinary opportunities for making it known and, furthermore, for reconnecting European citizens to the project of European integration. First, through gaining visibility in the national public spheres, which are usually dominated by national political actors advancing their interests. Second, through public debates, addressing political and social issues that, at the time, profoundly concerned wide sectors of the national populations.
The first chapter presents the theoretical framework for the three empirical articles that follow, each of which builds upon the preceding one. These analyze and compare cross-country and over time the key political information that during the last economic crisis: (1) enabled European citizens to track political responsibilities related to austerity policy-making; (2) facilitated the understanding of complex policy-making; and (3) included political, economic and social actors in discursive interactions, especially, European citizens. The second chapter (first article) analyzes the Europeanization of the national public spheres. European visibility was limited during the economic crisis, but there were significant differences across countries. The third chapter (second article) considers the national public sphere as an arena for contention where social actors struggle to make visible and legitimate their interests. Core political actors and interest groups alternatively dominated the media in all countries, advancing economic and financial issues, while civil society remained almost absent. The fourth chapter (third article) examines the relationship between the European Union and austerity policy-making. There were no clear references for tracking political responsibilities; economic lexicon was preponderant and too technical to be easily followed by European citizens. Finally, the fifth chapter assesses the empirical results in terms of the proposed theories, reflects about the inferences, and proposes further research.
Altogether, this thesis evidences a lost opportunity for bridging the information gap between the European Union and its citizens, and for engaging European citizens in discussing sensitive policy-making during the economic crisis. The results have empirical and normative implications concerning the legitimacy of the European Union.
