Media Power and the Transformation of War (Electronic book text)

Do the news media have any role in the transformation of war and warfare? This book argues that the news media alter the cognitive and strategic environment of the actors of war and politics and change the way these interact with one another. Contributing to the changing nature of war and warfare, the media is influencing decision-making and political leaders themselves, highlighting that politics is not a rational process. Building on a four-dimensional definition of power and focusing on the role of television, this book recognises the importance of interactions upon the understanding of any social phenomenon. It suggests that the nature of war is changing partly because it is no longer just a matter of linear strategic interactions but also, and mainly, of 'mediated' ones.