International Propaganda and Statecraft

Abstract

The accelerating flow of international commu nication has made it necessary to re-examine the assumptions applied to the analysis and understanding of interstate rela tions. With the increasing capacity for instantaneous world wide information flows, governments are rapidly losing their monopoly on communication with their constituents. The pos sibility of direct communication among world publics creates and strengthens networks of international fraternity, leads to common standards throughout the international community, and increases the influence of world public opinion, but at the same time prompts domestic discontent, frustration, and dis turbance. There will inevitably be negative reactions to the development of international culture. It will take effort to adjust to a global outlook. To avoid accusations of cultural imperialism and communication hegemony, it would be well for the United States to denationalize maximally the ownership and use of world communications facilities.