et illiberalt demokrati - hofhr

The News Media –
Part of the solution or part of the problem?
The role of the media in the Serbian transition from communism to democracy
Abstract
Key words: Serbia; news media; democratization; freedom of expression; political culture;
civil society
The dissertation examines the role of the news media in the transition from
Communism to democracy in Serbia. It thus covers the period from the beginning of
the nationalist wave that brought Milosevic to power in 1987, over the fall of his
regime in 2000 and on to the transitional government of the DOS-coalition from
2000-2003.
The dissertation questions conventional wisdom about the potential of ‘free media’ in
generating democratic change. It argues that while lifting restrictions on freedom of
speech and freedom of the media can in some cases generate changes in the political
culture, relative liberalization of the media has produced quite the opposite effect in
Serbia. Instead these media have supported and strengthened a non-democratic
political culture characterized by the lack of cooperation and dialogue as well as a lack
of will to put common interests before interests of personal/political power. The
persistence of this political culture does not only constitute the primary obstacle to a
deepening of democracy beyond its formal aspects, but may even cause a collapse of
the fragile democratic processes and institutions. Thus liberalization of the media has
actually until now contributed to the undermining of the democratization process in
Serbia.
Pointing to the dominant political culture as a major factor in determining the role of
the media in the transitional process, the thesis discusses changes in the behaviour and
attitudes of the Serbian political elite required for establishing an open democratic
communication system. Unless the political elite learns to cooperate and compromise
and starts taking its democratic responsibilities seriously, the risk of backsliding is very
real. Professionalization of part of the media sector alone is not sufficient to prevent
such a negative development. It is therefore necessary that foreign donor governments
persistently use available economical and political means to enforce a change in the
political culture of the Serbian elite.