Decentralization and Media Freedom in Democracies

• In Event: Federalism in a Comparative Context

Abstract

In this paper we consider the relative importance of local-level versus national-level actors who impede media freedom and independence. Our previous studies comparing media freedom across Latin American democracies raised unique issues that large, decentralized countries face with regard to upholding freedom of the press. This previous work motivates our current effort to systematically analyze the relationship between decentralization and media freedom in democracies around the world. In doing so, we draw parallels between arguments from comparative political studies that indicate that some forms of decentralization exacerbate corruption and our contention that decentralization facilitates the degradation of media freedom.
First, we argue that a larger number of veto players in decentralized systems, along with the more diffuse array of media outlets that characterize geographically large, politically decentralized countries, multiply opportunities for collusion between politicians and media owners. Furthermore, corrupt politicians have a greater incentive to silence the media than their cleaner counterparts who prefer the media publicize their good behavior. If more corruption exists in decentralized countries, we would anticipate greater efforts by politicians to limit media freedom. Second, decentralization also diminishes the central government’s capacity to uphold press freedom regulations, and reduces the ability of national political leaders to oversee the behavior of local actors. Often those who work in justice—police, lawyers and judges—at the federal level have better training, greater financing and more prestige than local criminal justice entities. Yet these federal agencies often lack the jurisdiction in matters related to members of the local media, thereby weakening protections of journalists in the face of repression. Also, multi-tiered systems help perpetrators of press freedom violations to obfuscate their culpability, leading to greater impunity.
In a series of cross-sectional empirical analyses of media freedom ratings in 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015, we test several hypotheses regarding various aspects of decentralization (e.g. fiscal, political, administrative and judicial). Our discussion of these results emphasizes how these aspects of decentralization influence the impact of executives, legislatures, courts, criminal groups and government corruption on media freedom ratings in democratic countries.

Authors

• Marisa Kellam, Waseda University

• Elizabeth A. Stein, Indiana University - Bloomington