ABSTRACT
The internationalization of press associations began in the 1890s. All of these organizations dealt with labor issues, but their core concern was to define, implement, and protect freedom of expression in a globally connected world. Although a libertarian interpretation prevailed until the 1930s, a growing number of fascist and communist journalist unions questioned whether liberalism was indeed universally suited to represent journalists. The question became even more pronounced after World War II, leading the movement to split on the socialist-capitalist divide. The process of decolonization ushered in a third alternative, which again tried to recalibrate the balance between absolute freedom from the state and a state-regulated global flow of information. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the libertarian interpretation regained prominence, but continued to be challenged from the Global South.
