Democràcia, comunicació i negoci. El creixement desmesurat de la concentració econòmica

Abstract

This article reviews the evolution of the concentration of cultural and communication industries, which, with the passage of time, have acquired an ever-greater importance in the political, cultural and economic life of societies, especially in the most advanced societies. The relationship which came about between democratic regimes and the mass media, especially since the 19th century in liberal countries (albeit a more restricted form of democracy at that time than that of the present day) has entered a state of crisis. Broadly speaking, the growing commercialisation of cultural and communicative activity and of entertainment has given rise to the question of whether or not the great communication and multimedia groups have an excessively important role, which should be controLled in some way by the democratic State. Though taking a general view, this article attempts to give examples of Spanish and Catalan cases.