Economic rationalism and technocracy: aspects of news discourse and politics in New Zealand, 1960-1993

Abstract

The thesis is that news discourse in New Zealand since 1984 has been characterised by the dominance of a pro-market economic rationalism, that this discourse has contributed to an increasingly technocratic form of politics and government and, that unless and until our news discourse abandons the primacy of place given to economic reason, a more democratic politics cannot be expected. Chapter One discusses various elements of technocracy theory in order to demonstrate the nature of the problem of technocracy. It is argued that the various conceptions of technocracy are mutually compatible in important respects, and that economic rationalism is central to technocracy in all the forms presented: namely, economic rationalism as an attitude leads one to a technocratic view of politics, and if implemented, a technocratic practice of politics. Chapter Two examines the nature of news as a product produced by newsworkers working in news organisations. The question addressed is 'How and in what ways does the news media structure and present "the world" to its audience, and what political impacts might the presentation of this "structured reality" be expected to have?' It is argued that in aggregate and over time, news products will probably tend to support the dominant institutions of the existing social order. Chapter Three examines aspects of New Zealand's news discourse and political economy, in order to address the questions 'Have news products presented an economic rationalist view of politics since 1984?' and 'Are politics and government in New Zealand more technocratic since 1984?' It is concluded that economic rationalist perspectives dominated news products in both the pre and post 1984 periods, and that it is likely news products have become more strongly characterised by economic rationalism since 1984. Combined with the general absence of alternative views and information in news stories from which individuals could form an alternative view of events and policies, it is concluded that news products in aggregate probably contributed to public acceptance of changes in public policy which together represented a technocratisation of government and the economy. Chapter Four extends the scope of the thesis to the early 1990s, looking at certain aspects of politics and concluding that, if anything, politics and government have become still more technocratic since the late 1980s. A case study of news debate surrounding the combined churches 1993 Social Justice Statement is presented. The study offers the chance to examine how the news media deal with an attempt to bring normatively grounded considerations to bear on politics. It is found that news products were largely hostile to the normatively grounded perspectives of the churches. Criticisms of the statement were often made on economic grounds, and sought to subordinate values based church perspectives to economic priorities.