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In person icon Populism and Media in Eastern Europe

Europe (Central and Eastern)
Cleavages
Democracy
Media
Populism
Social Media
Narratives
P080
Agnieszka Sadecka
Jagiellonian University
Haris Dajc
University of Belgrade
Natasza Styczynska
Jagiellonian University

In person icon Building: Viale Romania, Floor: 2, Room: A210

Friday 09:00 - 10:30 CEST (10/06/2022)

Abstract

The panel attempts at exploring the various public debates and media narratives in the broader region of Eastern Europe (more specifically in Poland, Romania and Serbia). Traditional and new media are essential for populist actors to achieve visibility, to rally supporters and – in some cases – to gain and consolidate political power. The so-called culture wars or debates about identity, values, visions of past and present, invariably manifest in the media sphere, stirring emotions and at times inciting conflicts. For instance, as discussed by Dajč and Radulović different narratives of national history may clash with one another in debates on defining the Serbian collective identity. Orzechowska-Wacławska and Sadecka show in their paper that the attitudes towards Europe and the West are often an issue of contention in Poland ruled by a populist government. Chiruta’s research stresses how social media often reflect ongoing debates, like the one on responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. The panel will not only address the content of the media narratives, but also the way media functions in countries with important populist presence: how is the media used (or misused), and what are the pressures that journalists face when trying to maintain independence (see: Jarić and Balaban’s paper). The debate the future of the media vis-à-vis growing populism and illiberalism in Eastern Europe is a crucial one, given that freedom of speech and access to independent and fact-based information are among the most important European values. The panel will thus focus on the role of media in times of crisis of liberal democracy and on the dangers posed by limiting journalistic independence.

Title Details
Nationalism and othering of Europe in Polish right-wing media (2015-2020) View Paper Details
Populism, Media Reporting and (Mis)Use of Unnamed Sources: The Case of Serbian News Media View Paper Details
Populist misuse of history: fight against “Western enemy” among contemporary Serbian historians View Paper Details