The Media, War and Conflict: How They Adversely Affect Conflict Rather Than Foster Resolution

Abstract

Consider the relationship between war and the media by looking at how the media are involved in conflict, either as targets (war on the media) or as an auxiliary (war thanks to the media). Based on this distinction, four major developments can be cited that today combine to make war, above all, a media spectacle: photography, which opened the door to manipulation through stage-management; live technologies, which raise the question of journalists’ critical distance vis-à-vis the material they broadcast and can facilitate the process of using them; and pressure on the media and media globalization, which have led to a change in the way the political process is conducted and the way in which military officials propagandize; and, finally, the fact that censorship has fallen out of favor, prompting the government to come up with creative techniques to control journalists. In today’s conflict, the media frequently plays an important role. In essence, their role can take two distinct and opposing forms. Either the media participates actively in the conflict and bears responsibility for increased violence, or it remains independent and separate from the conflict, thereby contributing to conflict resolution and violence reduction. Whichever role the media plays in a given conflict, and in the phases before and after, is determined by a complex set of factors, including the media’s relationship with conflict actors and its independence from power holders in society. The purpose of this article is to examine and comprehend modern conflict, as well as the role of the media in exacerbating or alleviating violence.