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CHAP TE R 7
The Government during the Kosovo
Crisis—The Micro Review
In the previous chapter, Western government actions and attitude
were reviewed over the 15-month period preceding NATO’s inter-
vention in Kosovo using the quantitative and coding tests, as outlined
in chapter 2. Although evidence of a connection between media cover-
age and Western government policy change in the aftermath of inci-
dents that met the media criteria for the CNN effect can be inferred,
there is no precise evidence of policy change and no direct links
between such shifts and media images and framing. To attain additional
evidence that corroborates these initial findings, a more detailed review
of policy in the immediate aftermath of these incidents is required,
including analysis of policy substance using the classifications outlined
in chapter 3 (strategic, tactical A, and tactical B policy aspects). It is also
necessary to evaluate the comments of policy decision–makers after each
of these incidents to ascertain the role of the media in any policy shift. To
this end, focus now turns to the last two tests in relation to the govern-
ment as outlined in the challenging CNN effect model—the policy
substance and linkage tests. This chapter reviews the timeframe assessed
in the previous chapter in seven different phases, as outlined below:
Phase 1 January 1 to February 27, 1998
Phase 2 February 28 to March 27, 1998
Phase 3 March 28 to September 27, 1998
Phase 4 September 28, to October 27, 1998
Phase 5 October 28, 1998 to January 14, 1999
Phase 6 January 15 to February 14, 1999
Phase 7 February 15 to March 24, 1999
Three of these periods represent the one-month period after
massacres. The other four represent the periods before and after these
phases.