Watching The Watchdogs: Repression of Freedom of the Press and Violence Against Journalists

Abstract

Journalists in suppressive environments face repression through both non-violent and violent tactics. Data from Reporters Without Borders suggests that while there is a linear association between the use of violent and non-violent forms of repression, there are countries in which one form is used much more heavily than the other. This thesis attempts to provide causal mechanisms through which states and non-state actors decide to use violent or non-violent forms of repression. It identifies four main categories that can affect whether a state is violent, suppressive, or both towards the media. Using previous literature and my own hypothesizing, this thesis compares the real situations within eight case study countries to the expected state of freedom of the press. This thesis determines that executive use of hostile rhetoric can lead to decreases in violence against journalists even as repression increases, that the use of bureaucratic power can lead to increased repression and violence, and that high resource wealth can create a highly repressive environment in which violence against journalists is not used as an intervening strategy. It also determines that states will limit freedom of the press through both policy-based repression and violence against journalists during a crisis, and that gangs can repress the media through both only violent or suppressive and violent repression depending on their territorial and economic power. Elections can lead to increased violence against journalists if the government and the press already have a tense relationship, or they can cause possible increases in media freedom due to increased public attention. Finally, party competition increases freedom of the press. The causes of different forms of governmental action towards the media as identified in this thesis can be used for further study on the differences in violence against journalists and repression of freedom of the press.