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Are most journalists killed in democracies?
[working paper]
Corporate Editor
Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung gGmbH
Abstract
Existing research presents conflicting evidence on how political institutions affect journalist killings. Some suggest most murders occur in the middle of the regime spectrum, while others indicate increased safety in democracies. Another perspective argues journalists are most vulnerable in democra... view more
Existing research presents conflicting evidence on how political institutions affect journalist killings. Some suggest most murders occur in the middle of the regime spectrum, while others indicate increased safety in democracies. Another perspective argues journalists are most vulnerable in democracies. This article uncovers which institutions effectively protect journalists. Using global data on journalist killings between 2002-2016, it showcases to which extent each of the three hypothesized relationships is empirically observable. My study provides a unified theoretical framework and reveals: Most murders occur in the middle of the regime spectrum. Electoral democratic institutions offer insufficient protection - journalists are safe only in liberal democracies. Demonstrating that evolving definitions of 'democracy' affect our conclusions, my article highlights the need to prioritize defining contemporary democracy. When studying journalist killings over the past two decades, the electoral to liberal democracy threshold holds greater importance than the democracy-autocracy distinction.... view less
Keywords
democracy; political system; journalist; homicide
Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Document language
English
Publication Year
2024
City
Berlin
Page/Pages
25, XXIII p.
Series
Discussion Papers / Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung, Forschungsschwerpunkt Wandel politischer Systeme, Abteilung Transformationen der Demokratie, SP V 2024-501
Handle
http://hdl.handle.net/10419/284403
Status
Published Version; reviewed
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications