Projects / Programmes
The role of communication inequalities in disintegration of a multinational society
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.06.03 |
Social sciences |
Political science |
Communication science |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S265 |
Social sciences |
Press and communication sciences |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.06 |
Social Sciences |
Political science |
Communication inequalities, journalism, media, public sphere, democracy, nationalism, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Researchers (17)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
This project addresses the impact of communication inequalities as a significant deterrent to generating, obtaining and using information, and participating in social transactions, on the processes of social differentiation and integration. It is primarily focused on the processes of fragmentation and disintegration of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). However, by focusing on the rise of nationalisms ultimately leading to violent bloodshed and demise of SFRY, the project is also designed as a “thought experiment” to enhance our understanding of the contemporary tendencies towards differentiation, fragmentation and disintegration in Europe (e.g. Brexit, rise of right-wing populism) and beyond, which are closely connected to delegitimation of some of the key political and economic institutions in Western democracies.
The theoretical basis of the project is the concept of communication inequality, which is defined for the purpose of this project as differences in the access to the means of producing, manipulating and receiving information between individuals and social groups as well as different levels of development of information and communication infrastructure between countries and regions of the world. In order to engage with structural factors shaping communication inequalities and focus on the historical dimension we ground our research in the critical paradigm in communication studies, which has engaged with the dynamics of international communication and media in relation to global structural inequalities, development and economic dependency.
The disintegration of Yugoslavia has been the focus of sustained scholarly interest, which has identified a number of factors that have contributed to the rise of nationalism and ethnic hatred in the 1980s. However, the role of the news media and journalism in these processes has been scarcely researched, despite the fact that they represent the principal sphere of production and circulation of ideas in society. To overcome this deficit, the main objective of the proposed project is to investigate the impact of communication (in)equalities on the "life and death" of SFRY as a specific, and to some degree unique, historical case and potential exemplification of wider and more general trends spanning from social integration to differentiation, fragmentation, and disintegration. We will focus our attention both on the internal inequalities between republics and social groups within SFRY and their complex interactions with social disparities, as well as the leading role of SFRY within the Non-Aligned Movement in addressing global communication inequalities.
The main research question of the project is:
What is (was) the significance of internal and external communication inequalities in fostering and hampering cultural, economic and political differentiation and (dis)integration in multinational society (of the former Yugoslavia)?
The project combines political science and historical perspectives and analyses in order to focus on three main research areas (RAs) in which disparate communication capacities of individuals, groups and organisations influenced communication inequalities and their broader consequences in SFRY:
(1) Everyday media use and creation of shared memories and collective identities, with reference to national, transnational (Yugoslav) and global (Non-Alignment) imaginaries;
(2) Autonomy and nationalism in journalism, with the role of journalists and media content producers in generating communication (in)equalities;
(3) (In)equalities in news flows and the role of the Yugoslav news agency Tanjug in creating communication inequalities within Yugoslavia and overcoming them in the international distribution of news.
Significance for science
The project will have implications for the development of science and scientific field from six perspectives:
THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL ORIGINALITY
At the intersection of communication, media and journalism studies as well as history the project brings original theoretical development and empirical findings to the field of political sciences by establishing the concept of communication inequality and adopting it in explaining the role of journalism and mass media in the process of disintegration of SFRY.
METHODOLOGICAL INNOVATION
The project brings innovative methodological design by complementing conventional research methods, such as semi-structured interviews, content analysis and document analysis, with the method of personal histories of journalists, editors and audience members from the SFRY era.
DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH COMPETENCES OF YOUNG SCHOLARS AND STUDENTS
The list of project team members includes already young scholars who will take on responsibilities within the project, while others will be hired as postdoctoral research fellows as the project will be set up. In addition, in the collection of research data an active part will be taken by Journalism Programme students (within the course Journalism History at Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana) under the supervision of project team members.
INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER OF THE PROJECT
During the course of the project, the team will establish cooperation with relevant researchers from the republics of former SFRY - in addition to already expressed intent to cooperate from the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade, the team will seek opportunity to engage with scholars from Croatian research institutions, particularly the University of Zagreb. Further, the main findings of the project will be presented in international journals and other publications, international conferences, as well as lectures and workshops in Ljubljana, Belgrade, Zagreb and Brussels.
DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS OF SCIENTIFIC WORK AIMED AT VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS
Four special outputs of research findings are envisioned aimed at various stakeholders: (1) publication of an edited volume or monograph with renowned international publisher (aimed at Slovenian and international scientific community), (2) organisation of an international scientific conference in Slovenia or abroad (aimed at Slovenian and international scientific, expert and professional communities), (3) workshops in cooperation with Slovenian Association of Journalists (DNS) in Ljubljana and in Brussels as well as lectures in Belgrade and Zagreb (aimed at various professional and expert groups in Slovenia and abroad), and (4) setting up the project website and social media presence for popularizing the research findings (aimed at the broad public)
PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA
All the data collected during the research project will be made publicly available in the Social Science Data Archives (ADP) at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana.
Significance for the country
The project will have implications for the development of science and scientific field from six perspectives:
THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL ORIGINALITY
At the intersection of communication, media and journalism studies as well as history the project brings original theoretical development and empirical findings to the field of political sciences by establishing the concept of communication inequality and adopting it in explaining the role of journalism and mass media in the process of disintegration of SFRY.
METHODOLOGICAL INNOVATION
The project brings innovative methodological design by complementing conventional research methods, such as semi-structured interviews, content analysis and document analysis, with the method of personal histories of journalists, editors and audience members from the SFRY era.
DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH COMPETENCES OF YOUNG SCHOLARS AND STUDENTS
The list of project team members includes already young scholars who will take on responsibilities within the project, while others will be hired as postdoctoral research fellows as the project will be set up. In addition, in the collection of research data an active part will be taken by Journalism Programme students (within the course Journalism History at Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana) under the supervision of project team members.
INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER OF THE PROJECT
During the course of the project, the team will establish cooperation with relevant researchers from the republics of former SFRY - in addition to already expressed intent to cooperate from the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade, the team will seek opportunity to engage with scholars from Croatian research institutions, particularly the University of Zagreb. Further, the main findings of the project will be presented in international journals and other publications, international conferences, as well as lectures and workshops in Ljubljana, Belgrade, Zagreb and Brussels.
DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS OF SCIENTIFIC WORK AIMED AT VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS
Four special outputs of research findings are envisioned aimed at various stakeholders: (1) publication of an edited volume or monograph with renowned international publisher (aimed at Slovenian and international scientific community), (2) organisation of an international scientific conference in Slovenia or abroad (aimed at Slovenian and international scientific, expert and professional communities), (3) workshops in cooperation with Slovenian Association of Journalists (DNS) in Ljubljana and in Brussels as well as lectures in Belgrade and Zagreb (aimed at various professional and expert groups in Slovenia and abroad), and (4) setting up the project website and social media presence for popularizing the research findings (aimed at the broad public)
PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA
All the data collected during the research project will be made publicly available in the Social Science Data Archives (ADP) at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
