CIAO DATE: 04/05

Who Builds Civil Society? Civil Society, Mass Media and Democracy in Post-Communist Countries

Abstract

Media are often acclaimed as the "fourth power" in a democracy. They are hailed as the "watch-dogs" of democracy. As an integral force of civil society, the mass media is expected to play a prominent role in controlling the parliament, the government and the judiciary, in investigating whether private industrial and financial interests respect the law, sounding the alarm if the environment is polluted, and engaging in conflict prevention and resolution.² Mass media are omnipresent in modern times. Perhaps, therefore, people expect omnipotence from the media.

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