Comparative Analysis of Civil Society, Media and Conflict
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This is a repository copy of Comparative analysis of civil society, media and conflict. White Rose Research Online URL for this paper: http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/117311/ Monograph: Pointer, R, Bosch, T, Chuma, W et al. (1 more author) (2016) Comparative analysis of civil society, media and conflict. Working Paper. MeCoDEM . ISSN 2057-4002 (Unpublished) ©2016 Rebecca Pointer, Tanja Bosch, Wallace Chuma, Herman Wasserman. The Working Papers in the MeCoDEM series serve to disseminate the research results of work in progress prior to publication in order to encourage the exchange of ideas and academic debate. Inclusion of a paper in the MeCoDEM Working Papers series does not constitute publication and should not limit publication in any other venue. Copyright remains with the authors. Reuse Unless indicated otherwise, fulltext items are protected by copyright with all rights reserved. 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[email protected] https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ Rebecca Pointer, Tanja Bosch, Wallace Chuma, Herman Wasserman Comparative analysis of civil society, media and conflict September 2016 1 The Working Papers in the MeCoDEM series serve to disseminate the research results of work in progress prior to publication in order to encourage the exchange of ideas and academic debate. Inclusion of a paper in the MeCoDEM Working Papers series does not constitute publication and should not limit publication in any other venue. Copyright remains with the authors. Media, Conflict and Democratisation (MeCoDEM) ISSN 2057-4002 Comparative analysis of civil society, media and conflict Copyright for this issue: ©Rebecca Pointer, Tanja Bosch, Wallace Chuma, Herman Wasserman WP Coordination: University of Cape Town Editor: Katy Parry Editorial assistance and English-language copy editing: Emma Tsoneva University of Leeds, United Kingdom 2016 All MeCoDEM Working Papers are available online and free of charge at www.mecodem.eu For further information please contact Barbara Thomass, [email protected] This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 613370. Project Term: 1.2.2014 – 31.1.2017. Affiliation of the authors: Rebecca Pointer University of Cape Town [email protected] Tanja Bosch University of Cape Town [email protected] Wallace Chuma University of Cape Town [email protected] Herman Wasserman University of Cape Town [email protected] Table of contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 2 Structure of the paper ......................................................................................................... 3 Background to the conflict cases ...................................................................................... 4 Egypt ................................................................................................................................ 5 Maspero Demonstrations 2011 .................................................................................... 5 Presidential Elections of 2012 and 2014 ..................................................................... 5 Christian-Muslim Violence 2013 .................................................................................. 6 Media role ..................................................................................................................... 6 Kenya ................................................................................................................................ 6 Somali conflict .............................................................................................................. 7 Election conflict 2007 and 2013 ................................................................................... 8 The Kenyatta ICC Trial 2014 ........................................................................................ 8 Media role ..................................................................................................................... 8 Serbia................................................................................................................................ 9 The Pride Parade of October 2010 .............................................................................. 9 The 2008 Election ......................................................................................................... 9 The Milošević ICTY Trial .............................................................................................. 9 Role of the media ........................................................................................................10 South Africa ....................................................................................................................10 Community protests....................................................................................................10 Xenophobia ..................................................................................................................11 The 2015 State of the Nation Address .......................................................................11 Role of the media ........................................................................................................11 Research interest and conceptual background ...............................................................11 Defining civil society ......................................................................................................12 The role of media in democracies and the mediatisation of conflict ..........................16 Methodology .......................................................................................................................17 Description of sample ....................................................................................................17 Techniques of data collection and data analysis .........................................................18 Interviews .....................................................................................................................18 Data analysis and ethics ................................................................................................19 Findings ..............................................................................................................................20 Perceived causes of conflict and target of activism ....................................................20 Internal and external communication for mobilisation ................................................23 Internal mobilisation ...................................................................................................23 External mobilisation ..................................................................................................26 Mediatisation ...................................................................................................................31 Importance of the media .............................................................................................31 Procedures for getting media attention .....................................................................32 Perceived quality of media coverage .........................................................................34 Importance and role of social media ..........................................................................36 Perceptions of democracy .............................................................................................38 Discussion ..........................................................................................................................40 Citizenship and collective identities ..............................................................................40 Control and distribution of power .................................................................................42 Electoral conflicts ...........................................................................................................45 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................46 Bibliography .......................................................................................................................49 Executive Summary This paper explores how Egyptian, Kenyan, Serbian and South African civil society organisations (CSOs) use communication and relationships with media to engage in democratic contestation. Individual interviews were conducted with 91 CSO members who participated in the various democratisation conflicts