Media and the Evolution of Political Systems in Contemporary Civilizations: A Theoretical Analysis of Media’s Role in Shaping Political and Civilizational Architectures in the Digital Era

Media have long played a fundamental role in shaping political and civilizational structures; however, in the digital age, this role has undergone a radical transformation. Digital media are no longer mere instruments of information transmission but have become active agents in the reproduction and transformation of civilizational and political relations. Transcending temporal and spatial constraints, contemporary media have unprecedentedly reconfigured processes of civilizational identity formation, power distribution, political legitimation, and the reorganization of civilizational orders. Employing thematic analysis methodology and engaging with seminal theories - including McLuhan's "global village," Castells "network society," Habermas "public sphere," Gramsci's "cultural hegemony," and McCombs & Shaw's "agenda-setting" - this study examines media's role in civilizational transformations. It demonstrates how digital media have influenced the formation of civilizational discourses, redefined intercultural and intersocietal relations, and either intensified or mitigated civilizational divides. The findings reveal that while media have fostered intercivilizational dialogue, strengthened cultural discourses, and accelerated civilizational convergence, they have also exacerbated informational inequalities, cultural imperialism, and ideological rifts. Media have thus become instruments for representing, reinforcing, and even challenging civilizational values and norms. Ultimately, while digital media have created unparalleled opportunities for interconnectivity among civilizations, they have simultaneously precipitated a reconfiguration of power dynamics and civilizational architectures that demands critical and profound scrutiny.