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Environmental politics and communication. Media, Politics and the Environment (CCGL 9012) March 30, 2011. Political system types:. Democractic states: Liberal democracy (Western Europe) Majoritarian democracy (Eastern Europe) Presidential vs. prime ministerial systems (US vs. UK)
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Environmental politics and communication Media, Politics and the Environment (CCGL 9012) March 30, 2011
Political system types: • Democractic states: • Liberal democracy (Western Europe) • Majoritarian democracy (Eastern Europe) • Presidential vs. prime ministerial systems (US vs. UK) • Authoritarian systems: • Electoral autocracy (Russia, Singapore) • One-party regimes (China)
Fields and key factors in policy making • State apparatus as a field of action • Traditional and new media field of communication • Consumer behavior and public opinion as key changing factors • International regulation regimes
Multiple stakeholders • Government as an actor: environmental legislation, regulation, implementation • Political parties (national and local levels) • Businesses, corporations, industries (all different interests: e.g., nuclear, carbon, renewable energy) • NGOs and citizens • International institutions
Structural problem areas of environmental politics Democratic states: • Party financing by unsustainable businesses • Campaign financing (parties and candidates) • Lobbying of lawmakers • Corruption at national and local level • Political expectations (e.g., cheap gas) • Consumer and cultural habits • Commercial media (advertising of unsustainable consumption)
Forces of renewal in democratic states • Free media, unrestrained agenda setting • Changing public opinion and consumer habits • Green parties and greening of parties • Implementation of environmental legislation • Rule of law (trust in and performance of courts)
Structural problem areas of environmental politics Authoritarian states: • Lack of freedom of speech, censorship of media • Lack of democratic public opinion making • Lack of rule of law and implementation of environmental regulation • Use of force (even violence) against independent voices • Weak civil society (NGOs) • Corruption at national and local level • Political expectations (e.g., cheap gas) • Consumer and cultural habits: regime legitimization by economic growth
Forces of renewal • Online media, avoiding state censorship • Changing public opinion and consumer habits • NGOS: support of international NGOs and civil society • Support of international medial • Environmental authoritarianism • Progressive environmental policy-making • Implementation of environmental legislation • Rule of law (especially in the environmental area)
Case study: • Ruby Yang documentary about environmental pollution and conflict in China – the Warriors of Qiugang • http://www.warriorsofqiugang.com/