Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Institut für Sozialwissenschaften

	eMail	david.fritz (at) hu-berlin.de, david.fritz (at) gmx.de
	Institution	Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences
	Office	Luisenstr. 56, Room 328
	Tel	+49 (0)30 2093 5351
	Fax	+49 (0)30 2093 5348
	Postal Address	Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin

Dissertation Title (preliminary)

The “Mediatisation” of Political Negotiations and Its Consequences – A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

The dissertation aims at identifying the effects of the so-called mediatisation on political negotiations. Mediatisation, the study’s independent variable, refers to increases in the quantity and intensity of the media’s observing, reporting and commenting activities on political events and processes which have come to challenge Western democracies in the last decades. Research on mediatisation effects on political negotiations is still in its infancy. Therefore, a theoretical model is developed that builds on New Institutionalism. It is claimed that the media forms an additional and increasingly important institutional context condition for political negotiation that is expected to affect actors’ strategic choices and maybe even preferences. Building on arguments derived from negotiation, deliberation and game theory, adaptation to the media logic on the part of political negotiation actors is expected to have both functional and dysfunctional consequences depending on which dimension of democracy is addressed (input vs. output). Two moderating factors are identified which are expected to affect the prevalence and intensity of potential effects. Starting from this broad theoretical framework, the empirical part of the paper puts a special interest on mediatisation effects on the output criterion of problem-solving efficacy. Three negotiations (cases) on social policy legislation in the German Conference Committee (Vermittlungsausschuss) that took place at different points in time during the mediatisation process are analysed and compared using process-tracing techniques.

Supervisors

Prof. Julia von Blumenthal

Prof. Ellen Immergut

Research Interests

Comparative Politics, Political Institutions, New Institutionalism, Politics and the Media.

Publications and Conference Participations

Markus Freitag, David Fritz, and Adrian Vatter, 2010: Vergleichende subnationale Analysen für Deutschland. Eine Einführung, in: Markus Freitag and Adrian Vatter (eds.): Vergleichende subnationale Analysen für Deutschland. Institutionen, Staatstätigkeiten, Politische Kultur, Münster: LIT, pp. 7-26.

Academic Education

10/2010 – Present

• PhD Candidate, International Doctoral Program, Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences, Institut für Sozialwissenschaften, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany

10/2009 – 07/2010

• MPhil, Master of Philosophy in Politics, Darwin College, Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS), University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

10/2005 – 03/2009

• BA, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Management, Department of Politics and Management, University of Konstanz, Germany

Research and Teaching Experience

10/2011 – 03/2012

• Teaching Assistant, Undergraduate Course “German Politics and Governance in European Context” Chair of German Politics (Prof. Julia von Blumenthal)
  Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany

12/2008 – 03/2009

• Student Research Assistant
  Chair of Comparative Politics (Prof. Markus Freitag)
  University of Konstanz, Germany

04/2008 – 07/2008

• Teaching Assistant, Undergraduate Course “Comparative Political Systems” 
  Chair of Comparative Politics (Prof. Markus Freitag)
  University of Konstanz, Germany

11/2007 – 07/2008

• Student Research Assistant
  Chair of Comparative Politics (Prof. Markus Freitag)
  University of Konstanz, Germany

05/2006 – 01/2007

• Student Research Assistant
  DFG-Project “Patterns of Democracy in the German Lander and their Impact on Political, Social, and Economic Developments”
  Coordinators: Prof. Adrian Vatter (Chair of Policy Analysis and Political Theory) and Prof. Markus Freitag (Chair of Comparative Politics)
  University of Konstanz, Germany
   

Work Experience

Various Internships and Freelancing Activities Mainly in the Fields of Journalism and Public Relations (Among Others: ZDF, Press Department German Embassy London, Stuttgarter Zeitung, Press Department PORSCHE AG, etc.)

Scholarships and Awards

10/2010 – Present

• Doctoral Scholarship Awarded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Funded Under the Initiative for Excellence Program of the German Federal and State Governments

10/2009 – 07/2010

• Full Scholarship Awarded for Postgraduate Study Abroad in the United Kingdom by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)

08/2009 – Present

• “e-fellows.net”-Scholarship for “Outstanding Results in Studies and Internships (Domestic and Abroad) as well as in Extracurricular Activities”

03/2009

• Ranked No. 1 of 61 in the Graduation Cohort of All Candidates who Graduated from the Bachelor Program Political Science and Management at the University of Konstanz in Winter Term 2008/2009

04/2008 – 03/2009

• Tuition Fee Scholarship for “Outstanding Performances at Academic Studies”, Awarded by the University of Konstanz

04/2007 – 06/2007

• Grant for Short-Term International Internship, Awarded by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)

Language Skills

• German (Native)
• English (Fluent)
• French (Advanced)
• Italian (Basic)