Democracy sponsored by Nafta? Mexican television in the free trade era

THESE STATEMENTS RAISE questions at the heart of this book's theme: how are political and economic changes linked in globalization processes, and what roles do national and international media play in advancing those changes? Mazza articulates a widely held belief among advocates of neoliberal economic reform that lower trade barriers would lead directly to broader popular participation, greater transparency, and increased government accountability in the Mexican political system. Transparency and accountability, attributes communicated through media, are crucial to attracting and retaining direct foreign investment. This suggests relationships among economic liberalization, democratization, and mass communication processes, but the relationships tend to fluctuate. There is little disagreement that Mexican politics has changed since the 1980s, yet interpretations vary concerning the origin, directions, and depth of change, as well as the roles economic reform and media transformations have played therein. Lawson's statement implies that Mexican mass media, also in flux, has accelerated economic and political changes in the country since the 1980s. It is a compelling argument that merits closer examination.