Research

The current fiscal crisis in Europe requires a concerted effort, but the crisis might turn out to be divisive. Though much of the continent has abolished border controls, shares a common currency and monetary policy, and made a feat of common regulations Europe is divided in its news media. The Euro Crisis in the Press is an interdisciplinary and comparative study of the way the crisis is covered in the press across the Eurozone: It investigates press coverage as a platform for the dissemination of public discourses about the crisis and as an indicator of public understanding along three key dimensions:

Collective decision-making: The European sovereign debt crisis significantly shapes the fortunes of many Europeans. Without a shared European understanding of what constitute the parameters of the crisis, key economic and monetary policy decisions that may decisively shape these fortunes are unlikely to enjoy popular legitimacy. Apart from operating as a space of contestation about the culprits of the crisis, to what extent do the media help forge a common European public discourse on the crisis’ causes and solutions?

Identity: The European project has often been viewed as a gradual process of convergence around a set of normative principles and cultural practices towards the forging of a common European identity. The crisis seems to be putting a strain on these views but also operates as an opportunity for genuine discussion on the future of Europe. Our project asks how the idea of Europe differs in public discourses across the European press.

Media: Journalism and the news media are often said to inform and create a common space for debate. But to what extent do the press in different European countries present perspectives from other member states to foster a cross-national understanding on the crisis? In which rubric are stories about Europe placed, under national news or foreign affairs? What would it mean to have a European journalism, indeed a European media?

Lead Investigator:

Max Hänska is interested in the role of public communication in shaping and legitimising collective decisions. He holds a PhD in Media and Communications from the LSE.

Co-Investigators:

Maria Kyriakidou holds a PhD in Media and Communications. Her research interests include the mediation of distant suffering, cosmopolitanism, globalisation and representation.

Jose Javier Olivas holds a PhD in Government. His areas of expertise are comparative politics, civil-military relations, Spanish politics, democratisation and public policy

Roberto Orsi holds a PhD in International Relations. His research focuses on the concept of order in international political theory, critical theory and political theology.

Vassilis Paipais holds a PhD in International Relations. His work focuses on International Relations theory and the conditions of self-reflexivity surrounding critical discourses in international relations. He also works on the role of post-secular ideas in international political theory.

Monica Poletti holds a PhD in (Political) Sociology and is an ESRC Research Fellow at the School of Politics and IR of Queen Mary University of London. Her research interests include Euroscepticism, media and public opinion analysis, UK party membership, political participation, electoral behaviour and Italian politics.

Henry Radice holds a PhD in International Relations and is Research Manager of the Justice and Security Research Programme at LSE. His research interests include the international political theory of common humanity, humanitarianism, solidarity and climate change.

Outi Keranen holds a PhD in International Relations. Her research interests are in conflict and peace in international relations as well as global governance and weak/failing states.

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