Democracy and Communication in the New Europe

This volume explores answers to the following questions: what has been the impact of the collapse of the Cold War on communication policymaking in Eastern and Western Europe?; how valid is it to talk about "Europe" or an increasingly unified European approach to communication policymaking in the new global order of the 1990s?; how far have the recent "velvet revolutions" led to the development of more democratic communication orders in Eastern and Central Europe?; and what is the role of communication in the construction of more democratic politics and developed economies in contemporary Europe? The chapters investigate both theoretical and empirical aspects of change in the communication sector in Eastern, Central and Western Europe within a wider, global or international perspective. They also investigate many key features of recent changes in the industrial structure and economic characteristics of the media and telecommunications sphere, as well as in the related political discourse and policy practices. This volume is intended for those concerned with the changing characteristics and structure of the media and telecommunications sectors. It can be used as a supplementary text in courses dealing with the political economy of communications, European communication policies, industries and developments, communications and development, international communications and the deregulation and re-regulation of the communications sector.