Trends in World Communication: On Disempowerment and Self-Empowerment Cees Hamelink Published by Southbound and Third World Network ISBN: 983-9054-06-6 168 pages 14x21.5cm US18.00

"....a valuable guide to understanding an increasingly vital, and rapidly changing sector of social activity....outlines the mechanisms and institutions by which most of the world's population has been disempowered, while at the same time illuminating the key political, economic and technological interests that have produced precarious condition worlwide.... does not flinch from presenting developments that powerful interests do their best to conceal or cosmeticize...."
Herbert I. Schiller

"This is the most up-to-date and...the best guidebook to the bewildering world of communication....It traces the history of globalization, names corporations which pull the multi-billion dollar strings, and explains the technological developments whic h make it possible. It is a book packed with facts and insights."
Michael Traber

"....a timely challenge to the uncritical false optimism of the deterministic economic and technological advocates of globalization and international consumerism. Many of the myths associated with 'technological progress' particularly with regard to t he Third World are exposed and rarely considered damaging cultural implications spelt out."
Prof. James Hailoran, Centre for Mass Communication Research, University of Leicester.

CONTENTS

Chapter One
A Global Village

How global is global?
The Intermediaries
The market place
Consolidation
Commercialization
The right to remain ignorant
Common information future
World communication and disempowerment
Human rights and disempowerment
Empowerment and self empowerment
Notes
References

Chapter Two
On the History of World Communication

World Politics
Cold War: disinformation
Cold War: propaganda and psychological warfare

Cold War: the expanding intelligence community

Spying
Warning systems
Vulnerability

Cold War: the mulitarization of outer space
The North/South confrontation
Transnationalization
Interlocking interests
Capital intensity
Ownership structures: institutional investors and tycoons
Concentration
Economic significance of the industry
Techological innovations
Computer technology
Telecommunication technology
Summary
Notes
References

Chapter Three
Trends in World Communication

The trend towards digitization
The digital guardians
Damage
The trend towards consolidation
Impact
Diversity
The trend towards deregulation

Impact

Universal service
Market access
Commercialization

The trend towards globalization

Technological development
Financial markets
The enormous growth of trade
Politics

Impact

Fragmentation
McDonaldization
Piracy

Summary
Notes
References

Chapter Four
World Communication and Self-empowerment

World communication and local space
World communication and disempowerment
Digital technologies
Access to knowledge
Cultural production

Empowerment

The regulatory approach
The educational approach
The alternative approach
The access and participation approach
The technical assistance approach

Limits to empowerment
Self empowerment

People's media
People's network
The revolt of civil society

Summary
Notes
References

People's Communication Charter

Preamble
Objectives
Scope of application
Definitions

Guidelines

General standards
Protective standards
Accountability and liability
Education and development
People's responsibilities

Enforcement of the charter

General provisions
Institutional provisions
Function of the commission

Procedures
Annexe

Index

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