Limits and paradox of TeleSUR: the media as a political agent of regional (dis)integration

Mônica Leite Lessa,Pablo Victor Fontes

doi:10.1590/0034-7329202000102

Abstract

In this article, we analyze the limits and paradox of TeleSUR’s role in the process of regional (dis)integration and identity construction during the Chávez era. Our question is: how did TeleSUR promote regional, cultural and media integration? To demonstrate the influence of public and media diplomacy, this article was built upon studies on regionalism, media and culture, as well as the content analysis of speeches.

Highlights

In International Relations, recognition of the media’s importance has been manifested in repeated excursions to Communication studies, as can be observed in the use of concepts and theories established in media studies, such as: ‘Agenda-Setting’, ‘CNN Effect’, ‘Al Jazeera Effect’, ‘Media Diplomacy’ etc. (Chomsky and Herman 1988; Robinson 1999; Seib 2008)
Considering TeleSUR’s political project as a medium theory, whose conception comes from Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, we understand that the broadcaster was capable of expressing anti-hegemonic positions in the region, even though its main goal was to promote Latin American integration
We highlight that TeleSUR suffered political setbacks because of contingencies, limits, ambiguities and contradictions of the mediation between the particular and the universal, and regarding multiple groups that are part of Venezuelan and Latin American societies

Summary

Revista Brasileira de Política Internacional

Copyright: • This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original author and source are credited. • Este é um artigo publicado em acesso aberto e distribuído sob os termos da Licença de Atribuição Creative Commons, que permite uso irrestrito, distribuição e reprodução em qualquer meio, desde que o autor e a fonte originais sejam creditados.

Introduction

Identities and cultures in Latin American regional integration

Programs Editorials

Findings

Conclusion