The Politics of Radio and Television in Western Democracies

Using original archival evidence, this doctoral dissertation describes and explains differences in how Western democracies have governed radio and television, tracing interest group struggles over broadcasting in four countries from early radio policy to the rise of cable and satellite television in the late twentieth century.

Rather than framing political conflicts over radio and television as a binary dynamic between “state” and “market,” the thesis argues that policy outcomes emerge from a tripartite power struggle featuring state agencies, commercial enterprises, and groups from the third sector. It also distinguishes between whether these interests are engaged in the production of program content, or the operation of the technical infrastructure required for program distribution.

To explain institutional change over time, the study identifies two types of exogenous systemic shocks — revolutionary communication technologies and international threats — that can reshape the governance of broadcasting by transforming the overarching policymaking environment and shifting the balance of power among competing interests.

While such shocks can profoundly alter media systems, their impact is always mediated by preexisting power relations and institutional legacies at the national level. Consequently, despite shared technological pressures, Western democracies maintain distinct ways of governing radio and television.

Overall, the dissertation contributes to debates in communication studies, political science and comparative political economy regarding the sources of institutional stability and change in the media sector and the role of interests in shaping these dynamics.