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NIXON AND THE FREE PRESS: GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DOMESTIC ASSAULT
Author(s) -
Belle Douglas A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
southeastern political review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1747-1346
pISSN - 0730-2177
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-1346.1998.tb00517.x
Subject(s) - presidency , globe , political science , free press , political economy , economic history , development economics , law , history , law and economics , sociology , economics , psychology , politics , neuroscience
New data compiled on the number of free press countries in the world since 1948 show a steady upward trend except during the presidency of Richard M. Nixon. During Nixon's presidency, and only during Nixon's presidency, the number of free press countries around the globe declined steadily. The coincidence of Nixon's unprecedented attacks on the US news media and this decline in the number of free presses around the globe is difficult to ignore. Though no causal link is tested, several mechanisms that might explain how Nixon's policies might have had a global impact are suggested, along with outlines of what is needed for rigorous exploration and testing.