Suchergebnisse

Four propositions regarding democracy & social inequality are proffered & defended: (1) the very idea of democracy is inevitably intertwined with social inequality, (2) the rise of democracy cannot be understood without looking at class inequality, (3) democracy tends to have an equalizing (leveling) momentum, & (4) if democracy has a chance of deepening (ie, with greater participation & reduced inequalities), it is likely to be opposed, contained, or aborted. A definition of "really existing democracy" is suggested & the actual existence of such democracies in the contemporary world system is analyzed. It is concluded that, though democracy may seem "safe" in most Western societies, it is actually under great threat; in the US, this is evidenced by declining political participation (especially among the lower classes & minorities) & an increase in the impact of moneyed groups on politics. K. Hyatt Stewart

Four propositions regarding democracy & social inequality are proffered & defended: (1) the very idea of democracy is inevitably intertwined with social inequality, (2) the rise of democracy cannot be understood without looking at class inequality, (3) democracy tends to have an equalizing (leveling) momentum, & (4) if democracy has a chance of deepening (ie, with greater participation & reduced inequalities), it is likely to be opposed, contained, or aborted. A definition of "really existing democracy" is suggested & the actual existence of such democracies in the contemporary world system is analyzed. It is concluded that, though democracy may seem "safe" in most Western societies, it is actually under great threat; in the US, this is evidenced by declining political participation (especially among the lower classes & minorities) & an increase in the impact of moneyed groups on politics. K. Hyatt Stewart

As an increasingly popular on-demand medium, podcasts have become more professional and commercialized in recent times. This is also evident from a look at corporate communications, where many companies add podcasts into their communication mix. To align these corporate podcasts with other communication channels, the concept of corporate branding can be helpful. This approach has not been considered by empirical studies so far. Our qualitative interview study wants to investigate the role of corporate podcasts in corporate branding and examines their integration into the communication strategy of nationally and internationally operating companies. 13 experts from large companies responsible for the respective podcast have been interviewed. The research results show that podcasts are mostly integrated into the company's overarching communications strategy and incorporate company-specific branding aspects to varying degrees. Corporate podcasts are primarily used to highlight innovative and modern aspects of the brands, especially through the tone of voice. The intended impact of corporate podcasts is often a personal and emotional connection, interaction, and resonance with listeners. Increasing reputation, visibility, and conveying authenticity is also targeted. As a branding tool, podcasts are evaluated rather implicitly. The general evaluation is perceived as challenging and tends to focus on qualitative performance measurement. This study underscores the high need for research on corporate podcasts as a branding tool as well as for key performance indicators (KPIs) of podcasts.