Current Trends in the Political Economy of Communication
Vincent Mosco
In 2008, Vincent Mosco wrote an article untitled: “Current Trends in the Political Economy of Communication” where he mentions 5 major tendencies: the globalization of Political Economy, the expansion of an enduring emphasis on historical research, the growth of research from alternative standpoints, especially feminism and labour, the transition from old to new media, and the development of media activism connected to the political economy tradition.
The writer clarifies that the 5 tends are built on existing ones and that the effects of some struggles within some of these tendencies explain the significant contributions of political economists to the progress of several communication issues.
Globalization has brought the world together; which explains that political economists from all over the world; work together on common projects and it is no longer uncommon to see research from one region taking up themes that were once prominent in another (Artz, Macek & Cloud, 2006; Mansell, 2004).
Mosco mentions that political economists have made a significant contribution to the overall resurgence of activism around major communication issues. “Network neutrality” is an example of their contributions. Yet, it is a controversial issue. Profits should only be the only thing to look at while introducing new ideas and presenting new contributions but in my opinion the effects on society and culture are to be given a be higher importance.
