Research Report “Media Freedom, Democracy, and Security”

Can there be security without democracy and media freedom? Democracy is often argued to be a system for peacefully resolving political conflicts, and hence generating more secure societies. Rigorous research evidence provides clear guidance on this topic. Freedom of expression in general, and media freedom in particular, are necessary for peaceful deliberation and resolution of conflicts among contending individuals and groups. Free media are also a key watchdog on decision makers, holding them accountable to the public and thus making sure that ruling parties cannot use deception to lure citizens into supporting internal or international armed conflicts and undermining peace and security. This report provides a review of the latest and most robust research published on the relationship between media freedom, democracy, and security.