The Media and International Relations Theory

Not all International relations theories have a connection to the media.  Radicalism and constructivism have the greatest relationship to the media, while realism has none and liberalism has minimal.  Radical theorists would not use the media to enhance or promote their ideas.  They would argue that the media further strengthens the dominance of the capitalist system, and that capitalists use the media to their advantage.  On the other hand, constructivists would believe the media could support their views and ideas.  From a constructivist point of view, one of the most important aspects of international relations is the understanding of identities, language, and culture.  Therefore, Constructivists would argue that the media could be used as an instrument for propaganda.  Liberalists would also use the media as a tool to promote their ideals.  For example, liberalists use the media to portray wars and conflict in the worse possible manner, in hopes that their criticism of such occurrences will have an impact on the beliefs of their viewers.  Therefore, it can be seen how some International relations theorists could use the media to their advantage while other could not.  More to come…