Public lecture
Democratization processes and Media Transitions After the Arab Spring
Professor Joan Barata (Universitat Ramon Llull)
Time: Wednesday, November 2nd, 5:30 PM
Place: Gellner Room, Monument Building, Central European University, Nador u. 9.
Abstract:
The so-called Arab Spring has raised expectations about democratization processes taking place in countries as different as Tunisia, Lybia or Egypt, but also in other places where there have been no "revolutions" like Morocco or Jordan. It is necessary to analyze, then, not only the historical, political and social reasons behind these movements (and the current situation in these countries, in particular Tunisia where democratic elections have already taken place), but to also examine the role that traditional and new media have been playing. In this regard, the challenges for the immediate future include the creation of a new communications landscape, the effective protection of freedom of expression and information, the role or state media, and the creation of new democratic regulatory authorities.
Read Professor Barata`s report on political and media transitions in Tunisia
Bio:
Joan Barata is Vice Dean for International Affairs at Blanquerna Communications School, Universitat Ramon Llull (Barcelona), where he teaches Communications Law, among other topics. He has also been professor of Public Law at the School of Law at the University of Barcelona. He has specialized in communications law, freedom of expression and information, audiovisual regulation, and international relations. His PhD dissertation was on Public Service Broadcasting and has published books and articles in the areas just mentioned. From 2006 until 2011 he has been working at the Catalonia Audiovisual Council, which is the independent authority for audiovisual regulation in the Spanish region of Catalonia, as the Head of President's Cabinet and Secretary General. He also works as consultant in international media issues, with some experience in the MENA region (Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan...) Central Eastern Europe and South East Asia.