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Media and the Neoliberal Agenda Within Political Socialization

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Book cover Political Socialization of Youth

Abstract

The presentation of media, both in formal and informal manner, affects youth political socialization and agency. Media can include a wide range of elements, such as television, the Internet, social media, graffiti, and literature. Media can be very influential in the way youth view and perceive their world and reality. Historically, media has been discussed in a linear way, such as including only dominant news sources, without considering alternative media in the community. The multiple narratives of media have been ignored, especially when considering youth agency and political socialization. This chapter will focus on the interaction of the effect of media, both formal and informal, that is shaping the national narrative, community political discourse, and the interaction of youth political socialization. For example, one 12-year-old female participant from a city wrote about watching TV with her father and seeing children crying. The youth asked her father why the children were crying and her father responded, “the occupation expelled them from their own country, and now they don’t have water, food, or homes to sleep in.” Media as a source of political information can impact Palestinian youth’s political socialization interactions and communications.

I woke up in the morning of January 15, 2009 and was hoping that the Gaza sorrows had ended, and a new day full of hope [had] begun. But unfortunately, while I [was] watching TV I noticed that the situation [had] worsened. [T]he news was that the martyrs of 17 citizens and the injury of 65 citizens during the air strikes on al-Zaytoun neighborhood … children are dying every day. We are silent, [we] wait, and cannot do anything. I hope that someday I wake up and I see no grieving in Gaza.

14-year-old male from a village

While I [was] watching TV with my family, I saw the famine in Africa. Africans as well as Palestinians are deprived of everything. As an example: American children have everything. We are not greedy, all we want is to free Palestine because we want to know our country and its landmarks, especially Jerusalem—many children dream to visit it, and there are many that [have been] born, grew up, and died without seeing Jerusalem.

12-year-old female from a city

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Oklahoma, Norman, USA

    Janette Habashi

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  1. Janette Habashi
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Habashi, J. (2017). Media and the Neoliberal Agenda Within Political Socialization. In: Political Socialization of Youth. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-47523-7_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-47523-7_7

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-47522-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-47523-7

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