Transnational Communications and the International System

Abstract

Observable data on the relative share of transnational vs. national transactions in trade, travel, university studies, mail, and telephone calls reveal a common pattern. First, the absolute level of such activities has increased since 1900. Second, in developed countries the international share of these activities remained constant or declined after peaking. Third, although in such areas as science and technology international transactions have become a necessity, and in other respects an important consumer good, they cannot expand indefinitely. Limiting factors include social mobilization which increases national preoccupations, communications overloads of all kinds, and greater perceived relevance of and ease of dealing with domestic matters. The outcome is a paradox : Today's world is less interdependent and international than it was 50 or 100 years ago, and yet sensitivity in some sectors to the need for international communications has increased.