Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

8-2017

Abstract

What role does mass media play in the promotion of global norms? We address this question through an analysis of Human Development Reports (HDRs) produced by the United Nations Development Programme. Although HDRs have promoted human development ideology over the past twenty-five years, little is known about how and to what extent their messages have been disseminated to the public. Addressing this gap in the literature, we examine a critical intervening factor in the process of international norm diffusion: political communication via the mass media. Highlighting the importance of framing and agenda setting, we identify four communicative mechanisms that can facilitate norm diffusion: credibility, persistence, resonance, and decentralization. Through qualitative and quantitative content analysis, we assess how these mechanisms have enabled HDRs to attract favorable global media attention such that they are now cited much more frequently than their rival, the World Bank’s World Development Reports.

Keywords

Human development, Human development report, Ideology, International organization

Discipline

Mass Communication | Political Science | Social Influence and Political Communication

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

International Studies Perspectives

Volume

18

Issue

3

First Page

343

Last Page

364

ISSN

1528-3577

Identifier

10.1093/isp/ekv018

Publisher

Wiley: 24 months / Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy F - Oxford Open Option D

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Comments

Data for the paper is available at https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/1919/

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1093/isp/ekv018

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