Media and Politics in Latin America: Globalization, Democracy and Identity

Latin America is an increasingly important geopolitical entity and its nations are emerging as some of the most influential and radical states in the modern world. The media conglomerates which control the television and radio platforms in these countries, such as the powerful Globo organization in Brazil and the Mercurial S.P.A. media corporation in Chile, have great political influence across the region. Since the 1980s, television stations, radio stations and newspapers in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina have become increasingly important in the state-building process. In this study, Carolina Matos contrasts public service broadcasting in Brazil and Latin America to that in Europe and the UK, engaging with current globalization debates and theories of cultural imperialism. Left-wing political parties now dominate the South and Central American political landscape, enacting large-scale social change which is bolstered by an increasingly strong media presence in the lives of Latin American citizens. Matos examines the role public media has played in the processes of national development, democratization and international dialogue across Latin America, arguing that it can be a powerful tool for political and social inclusion. Placing media platforms in Latin America in their historical and contemporary contexts, Matos compares them to European public and private media outlets as well as addressing the challenges faced in the digital era. As key countries in the region, such as Brazil and Mexico, begin to flex their economic and demographic muscle, Latin America is an increasingly influential entity in balance of global international relations. This book will be essential reading for students and scholars of Media, Politics and Cultural Studies, as well as those with an interest in Latin American culture.