Neoliberalism, Media Hegemony, and Socio-Cultural Change: A Political Economy Analysis

مقالات آماده انتشار

نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی

نویسندگان

1 Postdoctoral Researcher in Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

چکیده

Background and Aim: Adopting a critical-analytical approach within the framework of the political economy of communication, this article examines the neoliberal project of social change, with a specific focus on media and cultural transformations. It investigates how neoliberal mechanisms alter the social fabric by capturing and dominating the realm of meaning production.
 
Data and Method: This study employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) integrated with a political economy framework to deconstruct the mechanisms of neoliberal social change. Data were gathered through a purposeful sampling of foundational and contemporary scholarly literature, institutional reports, and theoretical texts on cultural industries and media systems.
 
Findings: The analysis reveals a tripartite mechanism (economic, structural, and discursive) driving a self-reinforcing "economic silence cycle," where market deregulation facilitates media monopolization, leading to the commodification of cultural meaning. This cycle leads to institutional metamorphosis—subverting media into entertainment and transforming art into a mere commodity—consequently eroding the public sphere and threatening cultural diversity. The ultimate consequence of this process is a profound shift in the social fabric, characterized by weakened social solidarity and reduced diversity.
 
Conclusion: The study concludes that breaking this vicious cycle requires simultaneous, strategic action on three fronts: economic (promoting non-profit models), structural (enforcing anti-monopoly legislation), and discursive (redefining the public interest). Consequently, rethinking cultural-media policies emerges as an indispensable necessity for preserving collective cohesion.
 
Key Message: This study argues that neoliberalism drives profound social change by transforming media and culture into instruments of market logic. Through this vicious cycle of commodification, monopoly, and the naturalization of discourse, Neoliberalism progressively erodes the public sphere, threatens cultural diversity, and undermines foundational social solidarity.

کلیدواژه‌ها

عنوان مقاله [English]

Neoliberalism, Media Hegemony, and Socio-Cultural Change: A Political Economy Analysis

نویسندگان [English]

  • Ruohollah Oshrieh 1
  • Ramezan Mahdavi Azadboni 2
1 Postdoctoral Researcher in Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
2 Professor, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
چکیده [English]

Background and Aim: Adopting a critical-analytical approach within the framework of the political economy of communication, this article examines the neoliberal project of social change, with a specific focus on media and cultural transformations. It investigates how neoliberal mechanisms alter the social fabric by capturing and dominating the realm of meaning production.
 
Data and Method: This study employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) integrated with a political economy framework to deconstruct the mechanisms of neoliberal social change. Data were gathered through a purposeful sampling of foundational and contemporary scholarly literature, institutional reports, and theoretical texts on cultural industries and media systems.
 
Findings: The analysis reveals a tripartite mechanism (economic, structural, and discursive) driving a self-reinforcing "economic silence cycle," where market deregulation facilitates media monopolization, leading to the commodification of cultural meaning. This cycle leads to institutional metamorphosis—subverting media into entertainment and transforming art into a mere commodity—consequently eroding the public sphere and threatening cultural diversity. The ultimate consequence of this process is a profound shift in the social fabric, characterized by weakened social solidarity and reduced diversity.
 
Conclusion: The study concludes that breaking this vicious cycle requires simultaneous, strategic action on three fronts: economic (promoting non-profit models), structural (enforcing anti-monopoly legislation), and discursive (redefining the public interest). Consequently, rethinking cultural-media policies emerges as an indispensable necessity for preserving collective cohesion.
 
Key Message: This study argues that neoliberalism drives profound social change by transforming media and culture into instruments of market logic. Through this vicious cycle of commodification, monopoly, and the naturalization of discourse, Neoliberalism progressively erodes the public sphere, threatens cultural diversity, and undermines foundational social solidarity.

کلیدواژه‌ها [English]

  • Neoliberalism
  • Social change
  • Commodification of culture
  • Political economy
  • Media monopoly

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