Press freedom and armed conflicts

Although scholars have explored a wide range of socio-economic and political effects of press freedom, little is known about how the freedom of mass media affects internal violent conflicts. We posit that media freedom reduces the likelihood of armed conflicts by enhancing the credibility and legitimacy of the state, while also positively contributing to economic conditions and governance. In countries without free media, people face significant challenges in accessing accurate and independent information. The information they receive is often censored by the state, and journalists experience harassment or imprisonment for their reporting. The fear of repercussion discourages people from criticizing the government, voicing their grievances, and engaging in open discussions. We expect these conditions to increase the likelihood of armed conflicts. To model the relationship between civil conflicts and media freedom, we utilize cross-national data from 1970 to 2014. Results from the analysis denote that governments that allow mass media to operate freely and independently are less likely to experience violent conflicts. We also find evidence revealing the negative impact of armed conflicts on press freedom. Overall, this study underscores that freedom of the press is both a ‘powerful force’ for domestic peace and an ‘unfortunate casualty’ of violence.