The Influence of Media of Europe and the US on the Middle East - Essay Example

The influence of media of Europe and United s America on Middle East and compare the usage Affiliation: Introduction The extent of which the media does coverage of the Arab-Israel conflict by the scope of journalists through the international news media receives criticism of biases in coverage through the view of independent observers. Through these perceptions of bias, with some of them exacerbated by the hostile media effect, plays a key role into the increased complaints of partisan reporting than compared to any other news topic. The concept is responsible for the proliferation of the media watchdog groups. There is a reported increase in the presence and growth of Middle East media, particularly in areas of satellite televisions, which eventually raises pertinent questions in regards to the nature and influence of this information explosion. According to Pollack (2011 p.45), tensions between United State and the European Union have been occurring repeatedly since the 2003 Iraq war. It eventually ended up affecting the many areas of the Middle East policy as a result of media coverage. However, none of these states has been able to encapsulate on these tensions as compared to the quest of achieving advanced democracy in the region. The aim of writing this paper is to examine the role of contemporary media coverage, especially television, from both the European and United States America sources on Middle East while also comparing the usage. Literature Review According to Wehrey (2010), the Middle East region remains to be one of the most cultural and the political intricate regions through the entire world. The Middle East region operates with three religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, whereby all of them trace their origins to the Middle East. Through the presence of rich and diversified cultural history, the Middle East region of today is struggling to find a balance between the “western” culture and modernization. Most of the influence comes from United States media and the other from European media, with the traditional and religious values of the Middle East region. In some part, due to the struggle and the existent region’s diversity, the media is occupying a special place in the Middle Easter society and its related politics. Bennett & Paletz (1994) also present their views that the media influences all works of life and exercise a profound and an incalculable influence. Coverage on some significant issues such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is an area that occupies the center stage of the media, with the dissatisfaction fed by the media retaining the capacity of spilling out into the street. It is apparent that media coverage on some key sensitive subjects may end up affecting the relations between the European, the United States, and the Arab world. Due to the significance of the media, majority of the Middle Eastern regimes are heavily censoring the “western” media. Currently, the al-Jazeera news network is the only one that remains independent of the direct state control. Despite censorship, it only covers the part of the problem, as there are many other sources of individual responses to the media, remains to be a coverage and spin. Other areas that receive significant media influence according to Epstein (2009) include the variable circumstances and education, together with social background, and the political persuasion. Upon comparing the Middle East media to that of the United States, it is evident that the U.S. media remains free of official censorship. It is the reason it is deemed by the Middle East regions to be having a negative influence to their generations in that some of the aired programs do not have cultural and family morals. During the twentieth century, the U.S. media was subject to consider as being powerful in meriting the appellation of the ‘fourth state.’ The concept implies that it was assuming the near-equal footing with the old-regime-style nobility, the commoners, and the clergy. Basing on the U.S. terms, this metaphor was subject to consider being implying that the media is often to consider as being influential in all the three branches of the national government. Wehrey et al., (2010) in their book discuss how the Middle East region views the American culture to be comprising of many stigmas. The specific area is in relation to the manner of which the media relays the information about the American culture. For example, from the perspective of Middle East region, there is a stigma that all Americans are rich. There is another stigma that women are oppressed in U.S., Americans have no Family values, and a stigma that all Americans are hypocritical. Similarly, the American media also portrays that the Middle East regions have their stigmas as well. For example, from the perspective of American media, there is a stigma that Islam is violent. Another existing stigma is that the Middle East is a one big sandy desert populated by Taliban and hooded women. Finally, there is a stigma that the Islam is oppressive towards the women. In this relation, the Middle East region considers the U.S. media to of massive negative influence on its populations, thus opting to introduce strict censors and limited airing on the U.S. media source in their regions. In the European media, there are a little bit fewer restrictions when it comes to airing them in the Middle East regions. The media continues in providing a progressive liberal view when it comes to addressing the European and the Middle East cultures. The Middle East region views the European media to have having significant morals and one that is unbiased when it comes to addressing social, political, and economic issues. The building relationship has been able to promote the European ties with the Middle East region. Currently, the EU remains to be the primary trading partner to the Middle East region. Even though oil is the substantial element that drives their economic ties, any significant changes in the oil prices would end up affecting the United States. It was also affecting the overall European economic interests that remain integrated with the Middle East region. It could partly result from the transparency and balanced media coverage when addressing their interests. In this regard, the European media seem to be having a massive influence on the Middle East cultures and traditions (Khanna, 2008). Discussion Section The finding indicates that the manner of which the Middle East media has grown and increased its presence, particular through satellite television is a matter that raises pertinent questions. Relevant questions are in regards to the nature and the influence of the information explosion. For the majority of U.S. decision-makers, the pressing issue is how the realities and the expanding open media sources affect its image. Another matter is the transitioning societies that are affecting issues like the presence of the United States forces in the Middle East region. Another arising issue is that the media seems to be having significant influence is on the matter of regional stability. Other issues are the growth of economic ties, areas of decentralization, and significant influence on the transnational terrorism. Wehrey et al., (2010) suggest that there is a need for the U.S. policymakers to develop an understanding of the complexity surrounding the Middle East media landscape. They should do this if they intend to achieve formulating more productive security policies and finding permanent solutions to the reoccurring conflicts between the U.S. and the Middle East interests. Another area that policymakers need to focus on is studying on the growing sophistication arising from the media outlets and their audiences. There is a need to look at how the Middle East media does compare or contrast with the norms of the United States media norms. In this regard, it will be possible to figure out common trends and be able to figure the media impact towards the revolution on the regional, social, economic, and the political realms. There is also an existing media landscape on the trends and challenges that media presents to each other. While comparing their usage, the reason as to why the Middle East media is transforming is due to the external and the internal forces that drive it. For example, the relationship existing between Europe and the Middle East countries has been able to change considerably. Changes start from the time of colonial period and the decades of the Cold War (Epstein, 2009. p.76). The findings of the research indicate that the existing economic dimensions of European and the Middle East have been improving. The strong ties a subject that requires complement basing on the new perspectives of the entangled historical legacies and the shared destinies as influenced by their media (Dannreuther, 2004. P 67). The migrants from these Arab and Islamic countries are continuously changing the face of the European cities. Similarly, the European countries continue expanding their growth in the Middle East, which occurs partly from the historical political and the military interventions. The European media has been categorical in airing issues facing the Israel-Palestine conflicts through balanced coverage while their interest remain to be clear, which is achieving long-lasting peace between these conflicting nations. It is easy for an individual to figure out that much of the impetus of the usage of media era in the Middle East region derives from the coverage of the regional wars. Another impetus derives from a number of civil conflicts that took place back in 1980s and 1990s. It was found that direct credit to the witnessed new trends of media usage in the Middle East regions belonged to the strategic regional elites. It is agreeable that the small amount of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) backed up with the advertisement of the dollars together with the development of media infrastructure continues to be relying on each states support. Currently, the European nations seem to have invested more in the Middle East region than compared to the United States. It thus justifies on the reason as to why the European media has significant influence in the Middle East region. Foreign pressure and the social influence are directly responsible for driving the dynamic and the fresh media that is dominating the Middle East region. For example, small states in the Middle East regions such as UAE, Qatar, and Lebanon have ties with these two states. Additionally, there is feedback that the ties between these countries with the U.S. and Europe to be leading to the media revolution (Bennett & Paletz, 1994. p.103). Results from the study were able to indicate that states are more outwardly focused towards the orientation that enables each of them into increasing their influence on the media by either suppressing change or globalization. However, research indicates that part of the reason as to why the Middle East region does not use the United States media is because there are little morals and cultural syntax in the U.S. media. For example, there are many instances of lack of morals and cultural value present in the U.S. media, whereby issues of pornography and bad moral behaviors are rampant in the United States media. According to Khanna (2008), the magazines and advert coverage in the U.S. media have more nudity in them which are against the morals of the cultures and values of most of the Middle East countries. However, the European adverts and magazine covers seem to be having some moral values in them, which are in line with the key values and cultural practices in the Middle East countries. In the end, high chances indicate that the European media has significant influences on the Middle East media. Conclusion The topic of media influence is one that relies on the deep cultural and social practices, backed up by some social, economic, and political interests. Both of the two sources of media, the U.S. media, and the European media have some significant influences of the Middle East media, but on differing grounds. Comparing the two, it is apparent that the Middle East considers the U.S. media to be having a negative influence on its states. On the contrary, the Middle East media considers the European media to be having a positive influence on its states, hence going ahead to adopt some of the policies of the European media usage in its states. In order to understand what other nations look for as a good example to emulate, there is need for both parties involved. The study should aim at understanding the underlying principles of each other as the option for finding a resolution to the problem. Self Evaluation The strengths of this project is that I have been able to gain significant insights on the potential of the media influencing the social, economic, cultural, and political activities of other states. Additionally, the project has enabled me to learn on the key principles and values that underlie the media, hence influencing the behaviors and activities of the entire state. In this regard, any form of media needs to consider the cultural, morals and traditions of each party involved as a way for reaching a common understanding. There were little problems encountered in completing this project. Sources of information for the project were readily available and gave information that was precise and reliable. However, the only problem could result from the lack of certainty in determining if the recommended solutions would be able to achieve a mutual understanding between these sources of media and their influence on each other. Finally, the only thing that I would change in case of need to redo this project is looking at the root cause of these problems at first, then develop a mechanism that would prevent these differences from occurring. Bibliography BENNETT, W. L., & PALETZ, D. L. (1994). Taken by storm: the media, public opinion, and U.S. foreign policy in the Gulf War. Chicago, University of Chicago Press. DANNREUTHER, R. (2004). European Union foreign and security policy: towards a neighbourhood strategy. London, Routledge. EPSTEIN, S. (2009). An economic and social history of later medieval Europe, 1000-1500. Cambridge, England, Cambridge University Press. HOOVER, S. M., & EMERICH, M. (2011). Media, spiritualities and social change. London, Continuum. KHANNA, P. (2008). The second world: empires and influence in the new global order. New York, Random House. POLLACK, K. M. (2011). The Arab awakening America and the transformation of the Middle East. Washington, DC, Brookings Institution. WEHREY, F. M., KAYE, D. D., WATKINS, J., MARTINI, J., & GUFFREY, R. A. (2010). The Iraq effect: future challenges to U.S. interests in the Middle East. Santa Monica, CA, RAND. Read More