Political clientelism in Serbian media - the case of the Tanjug news agency

The paper problematizes the presence of political clientelism in the media in the Republic of Serbia. The aim of this research is to point out the examples of establishing mechanisms of clientelistic practice in the media, using the News agency Tanjug as an example. Three analytical categories, which are relevant for perceiving the problem of clientelism, have been included: regulatory framework, financial allocations from the state budget and the reporting of the news agency Tanjug. The results of the research show that the illegal functioning, the unsolved ownership issue, non-transparent financing and unprofessional reporting are characteristics of the media work of Tanjug agency. According to the law, the former state agency was scheduled to stop work by the end of 2015. However, Tanjug still, with unclear legal status and significant financial help from the state, publishes information, some of which were proven to be disinformation. The analysis of examples of unobjective and unprofessional reporting points out to the ignoring of public interest, in order to satisfy the particular interest of the governing political structure, which financially makes Tanjug?s functioning possible, in an illegal manner. This case represents a closed circle of interrelationships on the relation politics-economy-media, through which clientelism is defined, using quid pro quo practice.

The Gender Gap in Political Clientelism: Problem-Solving Networks and the Division of Political Work in Argentina

The literature on clientelism has recognized the importance of problem-solving networks, but ignored their gendered nature. Contrary to what is often assumed, I argue that female brokers have fewer opportunities to use clientelism for building, enlarging, and sustaining political networks than male brokers. First, I find that female brokers invest heavily in a nonvoting constituency because their work centers on children. The gendered division of political work hence reduces women’s chances of building a following. Second, female brokers are less able to distribute resources beyond their political network, diminishing their chances of enlarging the size of their constituency. Third, female brokers have a harder time punishing those who receive benefits but fail to participate in politics, limiting their ability to recruit new followers. Drawing on two decades of fieldwork in Argentina, this article studies the gender gap in political clientelism and the consequences of the division of political work for political representation. The article shows how these differences in opportunities, over time, translate into a political underrepresentation of female brokers and an impoverished quality of democracy.

Strike And Power(Lessness) Of The Union

The aim of this paper is to identify, on the basis of an analysis of the causes, the course and effects of strikes in Serbia over the last three decades, the mechanisms by which society and trade unions have moved from self-management mythology to the defense of whatever wages and “decent, dignified work” as the maximum goal. The drama of the decay of labor and trade unions, as well as the crisis of society, is presented in three chronologically related acts. The first one describes the process of decay concealed behind the call for patriotism, a kind of socialist-patriotic deception. The second one is the democratic introduction of capitalism through “predatory privatization”. The current, third act, illustrates how neoliberal populism seeks to pacify any resistance of employees and autonomous unions by creating their surrogates through political clientelism and party employment.

The image of COVID-19 in the Serbian daily newspapers

This work is focused on reporting of daily newspapers in Serbia during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and specifics of dominant narratives and relationship between the government and popular press. The content research includes the first half of 2020, when 1,271 from eight influential daily papers were analysed. While the representatives of the quality press have tried to steer the attention of citizens and introduce serious questions most tabloids trivialised the danger as another spectacle which will secure larger sales irrespective of social consequences and ethical norms of journalistic profession. Objectivity and unbiasedness are sacrificed for sensationalism, spectacle and political clientelism. Celebritization of medical profession has only led to spread of confusion in public opinion, while revealing how political elites eagerly use crisis for promotion of their own ideas and programs, instead of professional debate.

PROBING GUYANA’S PROVENANCE OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT per Doctrine of Discovery, Degenerated Democracy & Kleptocracy

ABSTRACT The article, while critically examining the provenance of Guyana’s “underdevelopment”, scrutinizes effects of “Doctrine of Discovery”, and construes that “maraud” befittingly describes the purpose of European discovery voyages to Americas and the Caribbean: the “genocides”; “institutionalized-injustice”; “Human Zoos”; and “systematic atrocities” perpetuated by the European monarchies ravaged Americas, Caribbean, and African nations - inflicting irreversible devastation that persists to this day. The British, questing for Guyana’s resources, setup bare infrastructure and institutions to facilitate “looting” while keeping it “underdeveloped” and its population in “abject poverty”. They were, absolutely, not interested in developing Guyana. However, US & UK continue meddling in Guyanese affairs: bankrolling “Democracy Degeneration”; enabling “Kleptocracy” that has been draining Guyana for the last five decades; and, now, drooling over potential oil money. The article recommends that Guyana is ravenous for legitimate, antidotal, “constitutional reforms” guaranteeing a decentralised, pragmatic, governing model that is: participatory; transparent; accountable; responsive; equitable; and inclusive. To abrogate “Colonial Dehumanisation Effects”, Guyana needs to restore the indigenous peoples “Human Dignity”, “Identity” and “Rights”; rid Guyana of the antiquated, repressive colonial institutions; and reform the archaic education system. “Analog Generation” has to let go; 21st century belongs to “netizens-digital generation”, they must fully participate and play a decisive role in Guyana’s politics and development. Guyanese must use technology to “Reinvent Democracy” and ensure that; it is neither “hacked” nor “hijacked”, “Global Democracy” does not undermine “National Democracy”, and “Political Clientelism” is eradicated for good.