The Role of Media in Shaping Nationalism: An Analytical Study
Research Scholar, Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, Barkatullah University, Bhopal (M.P.)
WitWaves Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, Volume 2, Issue 8, 2025, 3b066ca1-a937-4b39-aec3-ba89f38c0146
https://doi.org/10.64175/wjmr.vol.2.issue8.6
Published: 27 September 2025
Abstract
No idea is independent in itself instead it's shaped by many things such as: time, condition, environment, information, knowledge level of society and many more. Media- throughout the history, in its various forms - has impacted the society and people and how they think, what they think, to what extend would they think that what they think is right or wrong. Media is the main force behind the perceptions of people for their nation. The relationship between media- electronic, print or digital - with the nationalism is very complex. It is believed that in contemporary state of affairs that media has become the tool for the politics of right wing populism and authoritarianism. The politics of 'homogeneous' culture, language, identity, has significantly increased and it has become a dangerous for society having cultural diversity. This homogeneous culture is significantly popularized by media through marketization of national pride. So the question is that in the diverse country like India what would be the consequences of these types of generalizations. Conventional mass communication channels such as radio, print journalism and television were crucial in disseminating news to the masses. However, the current landscape has undergone a significant transformation with the rise of digital platforms, social networks, and innovative technologies, enhancing the availability of information without any filtration. By using secondary sources along with thematic based study this paper will critically analyze the role of media and how they are playing a significant role in creating a false perception of 'nation' in the minds of people.
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