Communication and Democracy

Coincident Revolutions and the Emergent Dictators

by Christopher Kedzie

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Protecting and expanding democracy around the globe is a perennial national security interest for the United States. A standard vehicle for democratization has been economic development. Another factor which stimulates both democratization and economic growth, namely access to information, could be consistent with the historically strong statistical correlation between democracy and development and might also help explain some of the recent unprecedented political changes. This study addresses the relationship between democracy and the new communication media by applying theory and data analysis to the task. The author concludes that one cannot reject a hypothesis that democracy and networked communication are positively correlated.

Table of Contents

  • Preface

  • Figures and Tables

  • Abstract

  • Acknowledgments

  • Chapter One

    Introduction: Coincident Revolutions

  • Chapter Two

    The Case of the Soviet Union: The Dictator's Dilemma

  • Chapter Three

    Qualitative Comparisons: A Brave New World or New World Order?

  • Chapter Four

    Quantitative Analyses: The Empty Corner

  • Chapter Five

    Implications for Policy: Communicating Democracy

  • Appendix A

    Data

  • Bibliography

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