Routledge Media and Conflict: Escalating Evil (Media and Power)

The world faces explosive conflicts about the distribution and scarcity of resources, about ethnicity and religion, and about the risks of urban life. These conflicts can easily spiral out of control toward mass slaughter-an evil of huge proportions that is often escalated by the media. What should be done to prevent this lethal trend? We need to understand how the 'spiral of escalation' works. How do media create anxiety, provide space for agitation, and disconnect people? Three approaches to the prevention of mass mediated aggression are proposed in this book: an early warning system for incitement to mass destruction, the invitation to disarming conversations in urban space, and the teaching of 'compassionate communication' to children and others. Alertness to the recurrence of collective violence is urgently needed not only in unstable and poor societies, but also in established democracies. Ordinary people can be incited to the mass slaughter of other ordinary people anywhere. Understanding the media's role in this and acting to prevent it are key goals of this book. About the Author Cees J. Hamelink is currently Professor of Human Rights and Public Health at the Athena Institute at Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam and Professor of Management of Information and Knowledge for Sustainable Development at the University of Aruba in Oranjestad, Aruba as well as Professor Emeritus of International Communication at the University of Amsterdam. He worked as a foreign correspondent for radio and television and was formerly a policy adviser and researcher for several intergovernmental organizations and national governments. He is editor-in-chief of the International Communication Gazette, is the Honorary President of the International Association for Media and Communication Research, and has authored sixteen books on communication, culture, and human rights.