Premium Essay

Critical Political Economy

Submitted By
Words 1082
Pages 5
This essay intends to identify and explain the basis of the critical political economy approach to media analysis. This task will be achieved by first delivering a brief historical overview of this scholarly discipline. Additionally, and by way of a thorough inquiry of the pertinent literature, this paper will highlight the critical boundaries of this Marxist social theory. Moreover, this essay will contend that in an attempt to overcome these perceived limitations, contemporary proponents of the critical political economy of the media have in fact adopted a conciliatory position with the cultural studies approach.
Indeed, this paper will deliver an understanding of the emergence of critical theory in social analysis. Consequently, through …show more content…
Moreover, although not inherently deterministic, he postulated that the construct of the free enterprise framework, what he termed as the ‘superstructure’, was built around two opposing classes. Principally, the bourgeoisie, owners of the means of production and capital, and the proletariat who were required to sell their labour to accrue wages or salaries. Marx contended that labour was the source of worth for the latter, which primarily produced ‘surplus value’ that was scrupulously claimed by the former as profit (Abercrombie et al. 2006, …show more content…
Likewise, he argues that ‘by placing issues of economic distribution at its centre, it prioritises the relationship between the economy and forms of democratic politics’ (Fenton 2007, p.7). Simply put, the main concern of critical political economists is with the distribution of resources within capitalist societies. Furthermore, Wasko contends that by documenting and analysing ‘relations of power, class systems and other structural inequalities’, critical scholars, while utilising methods drawn from history, economics, sociology and political science, should be able to reveal ‘structural contradictions and suggest strategies for resistance’. In this vein, it was during the 1950s and early 1960s that Dallas Smythe and Herbert Schiller focused their research on the rapidly expanding telecommunications sector, and by doing so, developed as a distinct approach of understanding the role of the media in society (Wasko 2014,

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Text Analysis Provides Some Insight Into Media Messages but Only a Critical Political Economy Approach Can Adequately Explain How the Media Work Today

...* ------------------------------------------------- Text analysis provides some insight into media messages but only a critical political economy approach can adequately explain how the media work today * * Whoever Controls the media, controls the mind. This is an interesting quote by Jim Morrison that shows the power of the media and its messages at the present day. Media has played a huge role in the cultures it inhabited. Starting from the Printing Press, and then evolving into the radio, the television till the World Wide Web. The evolution of the mass media took many different shapes and with this evolution, it shaped our cultures and understandings differently, which caused its effects to be more influential. Throughout the history the mass media molded our ideologies by its messages and changed the way we look at things around us. “When we consume mass media, there are a lot of physical and mental activities going on” (Fourie, 2001, p.283). At the present time when we decide to sit and watch a movie, there are millions of messages being interpreted to us as audiences that shape how we speak, dress, and behave. It is believed that the media determines what we should know and how we should think. But the vital question is who controls the media and controls its messages, and how does the media work today. This essay will therefore attempt to discuss the different approaches that are used to analyze and evaluate media messages, and how these various approaches operate...

Words: 2372 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

Critical Political Economy in Media

...problem for the growth and expansion of indigenous languages in the newspaper industry. The essay will be precisely formed in this following arrangement, beginning with a brief introduction then discussion on the Critical Political and Economy theory, the concept of funding and the effect it has on language diversity in newspapers. A comparison and contrast of newspapers and radio availability will be mentioned in relation to the growth of indigenous languages in the media. Critical Political Economy is concerned with the examination of the structure within the production of media and the outcomes acquired from the availability of funding and the influence of authority (Hesmondhalgh, 2002: 31). It is characterised by being historical, holistic, and moralistic in its critique of ownership and funding concept. CPE takes what is understood as economics and centers it with an intention to understand the relation between the economy and democratic politics (Inglis: 1990: 110). Political economy helps to understand why content are the way people see them through analysis on its consumption to production and its ownership and use of resources (Inglis: 1990: 110). The term Political Economy is a very perplexed one. As it seems as though the two ‘political’ and ‘economy’ are overlapping disciplines (Inglis 1990:...

Words: 2549 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

International Political Economy

...International Political Economy TITLE One cannot speak of International Political Economy without at least wading through the fundamental debate between the degree of importance of political structures and market forces in economic development. This dynamic serves as one of the basic foundations of the discipline itself as well as subsequent major schools of thought. Theories in International Economy have been founded on empirical observations on the economic conditions of a set of cases and are, as Robert Cox posits, critical of the circumstances from which certain politico-economic configurations emerge[1]. A contemporary theory that has surfaced in the last few decades is the developmental state theory which sought to explain the precipitous economic progress of East Asian states after the Second World War. Although the initial outcome of adopting developmental strategies among East Asian states have shown the theory’s potency as a basis for economic development policies, subsequent events especially the results of Southeast Asian attempts to pattern itself after developmental strategies have put into question the developmental state’s efficacy as a long-term arrangement. Specifically, the Philippines’ status as an “anti-developmental” state[2] serves as a channel for criticism of the developmental state theory through other IPE theories not only in terms of strategies and policies, but also in the deeper level of societal conflict and political structures. ...

Words: 2283 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

What Does a “Political Economy” Approach to Study of the Creative and Cultural Industries Involve? What Are Its Advantages and Disadvantages?

...does a “political economy” approach to study of the Creative and Cultural Industries involve? What are its advantages and disadvantages? ID: 10048001 Anastasia Davydova 1. Introduction The intention of this paper is to define what we mean by political economy? What does this approach involve to study the Creative and Cultural Industries and what its advantages and disadvantages. This work will search through definitions, different schools and historical periods to better understand the background of Political Economy. Also this approach will be compared with another approach which examines cultural industries namely cultural studies approach to underline the main key point of political economy. This essay will briefly discuss specifics features of Creative and Cultural industries and moves to political economy approach itself with the final observation of advantages and disadvantages. “Culture is our business and business is our culture” [1] Definitions The term political economy addresses to relationship between politics and economy, how political power cooperate with economics, so politics responsible for the society and economy, in other words in charge of wealth of the society. Hence it is possible to declare that political economy examines the production and distribution of wealth in society. But there are also combination of such factors as political, economic...

Words: 4271 - Pages: 18

Premium Essay

Globalization

...Question: How does international political economy impact on your life in Belgium? Introduction International political economy also known as global political economy is an academic discipline within the social sciences that analyzes international relations in combination with political economy. As an interdisciplinary field it draws on many distinct academic schools, most notably political science and economics, but also sociology, history, and cultural studies. International political economy is concerned with the ways in which political forces (states, institutions, individuals, etc.) shape the systems through which economic interactions are expressed, and equally the effect that economic interactions have on political structures and outcomes. International political economy has various categories that help to describe and explain the different political and economic policies that various states, institutions and individuals may choose to be interested in. These categories are liberal, realist and Marxist. In this essay I will be exploring the different categories and the impact they would have on the international political economy of Belgium. History & Summary of Belgium Belgium is a constitutional, popular monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. It is a small, highly developed and densely populated country with approximately 10 million inhabitants at the cross-roads of Western Europe. Belgium is one of the founding members of the European Community, and its capital...

Words: 1478 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Xzcxc

...BSP5003 Contemporary Issues in International Political Economy Essay 1 (Part 1) – Marking Criteria Which of the three major theoretical perspectives on International Political Economy (IPE) – i.e. liberalism, mercantilism, and structuralism – best explains the emergence, development and consequences of the major IPE issues in the world today, and why? (1,000 words) 1. Critical Review of a Body of Knowledge (Wider Reading and Criticisms) | Criteria | Achievement* | | A | B | C | D | E | * ------------------------------------------------- Does this work use key readings relevant to the subject – sources may include books, journals and the University’s electronic resources with limited reference to internet sources? | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | * ------------------------------------------------- Does the literature on the three major perspectives on IPE include up-to-date material?------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | * ------------------------------------------------- ...

Words: 387 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

International Political Economy

...Syllabus INTA 3301: International Political Economy Spring 2013 Class meets MWF 1:05-1:55, Instructional Center 109   Instructor: Michael Murphree Sam Nunn School of International Affairs 137 Habersham Building Email: michael.murphree@gatech.edu Office Hours: Monday 2:00-3:00, 137 Habersham, or by appointment TA: Kathleen Thompson Email: kthompson136@gatech.edu   Political economy is the study of the role of government, politics and collective human behavior in shaping economic outcomes. This exciting field is both old and new. Political economy predates both political science and economics but only reemerged as a distinct field in the 1960s and 70s. It is concerned with understanding how political forces (broadly defined) shape and are shaped by economic ones (broadly defined). There are many research and policy-relevant questions addressed in this field: 1. What is globalization and is it really good for everyone? 2. Is free trade really the only “appropriate” means for international exchange? 3. Why are some countries or regions rich while others struggle? 4. How did the global casino of high finance emerge and what is its purpose? 5. Is economic performance the root of power or power the root of economic performance? 6. What should be the role of government in the economy? 7. Is there a best practice for government economic policy or are there many workable practices? 8. Why has Asia seemed to perform so well over the last...

Words: 1381 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Int' Political Economy

...International political economy (IPE), also known as global political economy, is an academic discipline within the social sciences that analyzes international relations in combination with political economy. As an interdisciplinary field it draws on many distinct academic schools, most notably political science and economics, but also sociology, history, and cultural studies. The academic boundaries of IPE are flexible, and along with acceptable epistemologies are the subject of robust debate. This debate is essentially framed by the discipline's status as a new and interdisciplinary field of study. Despite such disagreements, most scholars can concur that IPE ultimately is concerned with the ways in which political forces (states, institutions, individual actors, etc.) shape the systems through which economic interactions are expressed, and conversely the effect that economic interactions (including the power of collective markets and individuals acting both within and outside them) have upon political structures and outcomes. IPE scholars are at the center of the debate and research surrounding globalization, both in the popular and academic spheres. Other topics that command substantial attention among IPE scholars are international trade (with particular attention to the politics surrounding trade deals, but also significant work examining the results of trade deals), development, the relationship between democracy and markets, international finance, global markets, multi-state...

Words: 6475 - Pages: 26

Premium Essay

Economic Development

...Economic Development The Impact of Political Decision Making Process to Economic Development Ruben Tota 1006805763 Statement of Authorship “Saya/kami yang bertandatangan dibawah ini menyatakan bahwa makalah/tugas terlampir adalah murni hasil pekerjaan saya/kami sendiri. Tidak ada pekerjaan orang lain yang saya/kami gunakan tanpa menyebutkan sumbernya. Materi ini tidak/belum pernah disajikan/digunakan sebagai bahan untuk makalah/tugas pada mata ajaran lain kecuali saya/kami menyatakan dengan jelas bahwa saya/kami menyatakan menggunakannya.” Saya/kami memahami bahwa tugas yang saya/kami kumpulkan ini dapat diperbanyak dan atau dikomunikasikan untuk tujuan mendeteksi adanya plagiarisme.” Nama : Ruben Tota NPM : 1006805763 Mata Ajaran : Economic Development Judul Makalah/Tugas :The Impacts of Political Decision Making Process to Economic Development Tanggal : 11 April 2013 Dosen : Mr. Budi Susetyo Tandatangan : ( / / ) Abstract The main idea of the paper is that the involvement of politicians in economic development decision making process as measured by political influence on Indonesian economic system which associated with worse economic performance. The procedures are based on the analysis of outlier events and differentiate between several sources of risk (“Political, Economic, World market, Other”). This paper is supported by my empirical results, which indicate that political influence is the most important...

Words: 5587 - Pages: 23

Premium Essay

Business, Government and Society

...Berend (2000) – From Plan to Market, From Regime Change to Sustained Growth in Central and Eastern Europe * After the state socalism collapsed in Central and Eastern Europe in the early 1990s, the Washington consensus of 1989 (a broadly accepted set of criteria for a reform program) was adopted as a blueprint for the process of transformation. * Central elements: * Macro-economic stabilization (for countries with significant inflation and indebtedness) * New institutions * Legislation * Price and trade liberalisation * Radical privatization * Most of the “transformatology“ literature is based on the assumption that the elimination of deformed non-market economies, a restoration of market, and private ownership, paired with a laissez-faire free market system would automatically solve all major economic/social problems of the transforming countries. * The economic crisis within the Central and Eastern Europe area started much earlier – in the mid-late 1970s when growth slowed significantly and the terms of trade for the state socialist countries began to deteriorate (1973 first oil shock 20% decline, for some even 26-32%) Schumpeter’s theory of “structural crisis”: advancements in technology lead to decline of the old leading sectors and export branches based on old technology, generating wide-ranging slow-down and decline and causing an economic crisis even in rich, advanced countries. However, although rising new technology...

Words: 9961 - Pages: 40

Premium Essay

International Business Political Behavior

...INTERNATIONAL-BUSINESS POLITICAL BEHAVIOR: NEW THEORETICAL DIRECTIONS JEAN J. BODDEWYN Baruch College THOMAS L. BREWER Georgetown University Alternative assumptions are advanced regarding the political nature of international business and the role of government as a factor of production, which firms must manage in their international valueadded chains. Based on a model oi business political behavior, various propositions are developed regarding the interactions among firm, industry, and nonmarket factors as well as the impact they have on various forms and intensities of political behavior, as affected by strategic objectives. Finally, the sfrategic-theorizing implications of such behavior are discussed in the context of the recent emphasis on resource-based models of strategy management. Research in international business (IB) is much more infused with a consideration of political factors than its domestic counterpart. Authors of IB studies have constantly mentioned and even emphasized government as a variable, rather than a constant or given, because international firms (exporters, importers, licensors, foreign direct investors, etc.) operate under a great variety of evolving political regimes that have an impact on these firms' entry, operation, and exit. When IB topics were first researched in a policy-oriented manner, Fayerweather (1969) stressed "the accommodation of interests and the resolution of conflict" between international firms and political actors at ...

Words: 10811 - Pages: 44

Free Essay

The Views of the Division of Labour Through the Eyes of Three of the Most Influential Philosophers

...The views of the Division of Labour through the eyes of three of the most influential philosophers The productive activity, especially for the sake of economic gain. The definition of labour has been constant over time, yet many have argued to what extent labour is divided. For some the division of labour represent doing what we are naturally inclined to do, to others it represents specialization in certain tasks and yet to others labour is most productive when decisions are left in the hands of the worker . There are many distinct definitions of the division of labour, yet the most famous are found in the teachings of Plato, Karl Marx and Adam Smith. The division of labour for Plato stems from the natural capacity of human beings. Plato believes people are naturally suited for specific jobs, it is not through the acquired skill that they chose what they will do in life. He states “…we must infer that all things are produced more plentiful and easily and of a better quality when one man does one thing which is natural to him and does it at the right time and leaves other things”(McNulty, 1975). Simply stating this indicates that one should not gravitate towards another job, as the result would be all but optimal for society. He states that division of labour is formed due to the diversity of human talent (McNulty, 1975). Simply put, not everyone is made out to be a basket weaver, blacksmith or baker, yet when society calls upon its members to meet its demand people while...

Words: 4125 - Pages: 17

Free Essay

Planned Economy and Socialism

...Planned Economy and Socialism (Name) (College/University) Planned Economy and Socialism Planned Economy is an economic system whereby decisions concerning investment and production become configured in a plan formulated by a central authority. Central planning justify that the consolidation of economic resources plays a vital role by allowing the economy to take advantage of ideal information. This takes place during the decision-making process for production and investment. In planned economy, the central economic planning by the government controls all sectors of economy and formulates all decisions concerning resource allocation and use. It is the duty of the planners to decide what to produce and make directions to the lower level enterprises to produce goods taking care of national and social objectives. A planned economy consists of private enterprises, state-owned enterprises, and cooperative enterprises. Therefore, planned economy is an economic system whereby the government controls and regulates production, distribution, and pricing. Conversely, socialism is an economic system characterized by control of the cooperative management and the means of production (Lavigne, 1991). This economic system combines cooperative ownership, direct state ownership, and common owner. In addition, it focuses on the production, which meets human needs and economic demand. This implies that goods and services produced are for...

Words: 301 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Effective Leaders

...The Sanctions Debate and the Logic of Choice David A. Baldwin debate over whether economic sanctions "work" is mired in a scholarly limbo. One writer contends that recent international relations scholarship has promoted optimism about the utility of such measures and sets out to challenge this trend} while another notes the pessimism that "pervades the sanctions literature" and proceeds to argue that it is unjustified. 2 A third scholar cites the sanctions literature as an example of fruitless academic debate with little policy relevance.3 Such divergent readings of the scholarly literature are often explained by differences in ideology or fundamentally different theoretical orientations. This does not seem to be the case with respect to the sanctions debate. Under appropriate circumstances, it is quite possible for liberals, neoliberals, realists, neorealists, or globalists to argue in favor of using economic sanctions. If the sanctions debate is bogged down, the explanation does not seem to lie in the essentially contested nature of the subject matter. A second potential explanation is that scholars are talking past one another because they ask different questions, use different concepts, and set the discussion in different analytical contexts. In short, they are talking about different things. This article explores the second explanation. The basic paradox at the heart of the sanctions debate is that policymakers continue to use sanctions with increasing...

Words: 12612 - Pages: 51

Premium Essay

Mena

...choice. Many MENA countries have been facing significant economic hardships. This has forced the international community for economic intervention - serious interventions - to protect their interests in the form of economic reforms. Economic Reform and Structural Adjustment Programs had its failures, reflecting the failures of the post- Washington Consensus neo-liberal interventions in developing countries (Mitchelle, 1999). These failures have to reflect on choices of MENA countries as they are facing a cross-road. Forms of intervention varied in many ways after WWI, when political imperialism was done with its role in fostering mercantilist and conventional capitalism gains (Dillard, 1988). But these powers had to be maintained, so the economic intervention was more appealing than political, during the second half of the twentieth century. This paper argues that developing countries were victims of political and economic powers struggle for dominance during the cold war, and when the west capitalist prevailed after the collapse of communism in late 1980s, the ERSAPs were the most appropriate form of intervention to eradicate any socialist traces form already weakly performing developing countries. We may also argue that the success stories of these programs were very limited, because it didn’t include serious governance reform...

Words: 1183 - Pages: 5