Capitalism's Safety Net: News Media and The Far-Right

Mass media significantly impacts public opinion and societal norms, but it is important to recognize that news coverage has contributed to the growth of far-right beliefs in various countries. This coverage has made conservative, nationalist, and authoritarian ideas more acceptable to the public and increased support for specific political figures. It is crucial to examine whether the capitalist media encourages the development of far-right beliefs and, if so, how. To investigate the relationship between the dominant ideology and news organizations’ role and influence in society, I use a political economy approach to analyze the power dynamics between politics, media, and economics. My research reveals how news organizations can influence other beliefs, such as anti-socialism, racism, sexism, and political apathy. I explain how liberalism and post-fascism aim to maintain and promote capitalist social structures, often working together to achieve this goal. Through my analytical framework, I show how the capitalist media uses the “safety net” as an ideological tool to support far-right groups and undermine radical left-wing political parties and movements during capitalist crises. This makes the “safety net” an institutional mechanism with significant power and resources to reinforce conservative beliefs. My project goes beyond analyzing commercial media and offers a critique of the capitalist mode of production.