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صفحه اول » منابع درسیGlobalism, Challenges and Solutions
By: Professor Hamid Molana
Keywords: Predominant doctrine, opportunities, challenges, mass media, internationalisation, telecommunications, substructure, infrastructure.
Summary: Countries of the south are finding themselves in the process of globalisation influenced by the predominant doctrine of the north led by the United States. Some Latin American and Middle Eastern countries have managed to develop their media in such way that they supply their neighbouring countries with TV programmes. One such example is Mexico who supplies fellow Spanish speaking neighbours with TV Programmes.
Today, the countries of the south, meaning those on the fringe of the predominant doctrine of the north led by the United States, find themselves in the process of globalisation that are with opportunities and challenges. The answer to this subject especially about modern mass media can be given in four areas: 1) the racialisation of the mass media, 2) the development of alternative internal and local media, 3) the planning of media propaganda 4) the internationalisation of the media in the southern countries.
The southern countries see power process and mechanism of today’s world in information technology and the media and those countries that cannot compete effectively in the communications and information technology circus shall see damages inflicted to their economy and culture. Indonesia who sent its own telecommunications satellite in the 60s is a classic example. To strengthen its communications substructure, Indonesia made use of satellite technology, and its aim was to reduce the negative effects of broadcasted western TV programmes. Despite taking huge steps in privatising the media industry, however these steps were not effective in the democratisation process, and the situation became escalated and visible in 1998.
The globalism process is going to transform the nature of communications in the traditional media consumer societies. The new substructure of the communications on the minds of the countries of the north such as the United States and Western Europe has not taken into consideration the special characteristics of the countries of the south. These countries have become hopeless and disheartened by not being allowed to play in the global mass media games. Of course the replies and reactions of the countries of the south about the globalisation of the mass media is contradictory. Historical experiences, the communications substructure level, and the political and cultural doctrine of each country on ways of approach to the globalisation of the mass media plays an important role. Over the recent years, a compilation of important changes have taken place in the countries of the south, and quite possibly this fact may influence in the behaviour of these countries and have rooted effects on this global phenomenon.
One of the recent developments is the racialisation of the mass media against globalisation. This process is usually unique to the industrial countries of the north, who are hosts to the immigrant workers of the countries of the south. The immigrants try to keep their unity and solidarity in the host countries; however they are affected by political, social and cultural elements of the host countries. Therefore the mass media should take into consideration the needs of these groups of people. Of course globalisation of the mass media gives the opportunity for immigrants to set up communication with individuals and media outside of the country. One example is the international “T.R.T.” network for the Turkish immigrants in Germany. In short different races have shown resistance to the dominant local media and they tune into TV and radio stations inside and outside the host countries which conform to their language and culture.
The second change in the process of globalisation of the media is the development of alternative internal and local media. For the purpose of accessibility of some media companies some countries move towards investing more for the promotion of local national media programmes. This process is very apparent and particular in Latin American countries. There are restrictions on importing foreign media TV productions and the networks are asked to set a specific portion of their schedules to broadcasting local productions. This level varies from country to country, anywhere from 20% to 60% of airing time. Most of the programmes are produced by non-governmental non-profit organizations and they promote the meaning of the term “civil society”. The appearance and empowering of alternative media shows the strengthening of societies of the countries of the south to view their opinions and needs by using the new up-to-date technologies.
In Islamic countries such as Iran traditional media such as the Friday Prayer, mosques and Husseiniehs can all play a key role in resisting forceful global media. In fact it can be said that the historic and cultural conditions of Iran and many Islamic countries traditional and classic media have always been seen as a legitimate and the most effective mass communications medium for today’s society. Without a doubt if developed they can be the most fundamental information provision bases for society and play an important in today’s society. On top of this the traditional and classic Islamic media with public and new policymaking and programming gives this opportunity for the society to take control of the running, management and leadership for the modern mass media. They set a new example against today’s press, commercial and state radio and television.
The third change is the planning of the media propaganda. The speed and the way in which globalisation is happening have made the countries of the south to deliberate the media programming policies in adopting methods of action for the masses against information provision. For example the Islamic Republic of Iran took giant steps towards this since the revolution. The same can be said about the media in India. Although over the years through pressure has increased for the privatisation and commercialisation of the mass media, but in mass media policies the emphasis on self-sustainability and avoiding losing to the international import-export formula for media programs is firm. This policy is achieved through organization, investment and programming. The contents of the media are locally produced programmes and the information and programmes are made independently from the cultural, historical and public resources and not from the viewpoint of the giant international profit seeking media moguls.
The fourth change is the internationalisation of the media in the countries of the south. The dependence of the countries of the south to foreign companies products is apparent in the way that the important part of the basis of national decision making is done from outside the country. To repair this situation and the regeneration of reliance on resources and infrastructures of the countries of the south, some Latin American and Middle Eastern countries have managed to develop their media discipline, and provide regional neighbouring countries with their TV programmes. For example Mexico supplies other Latin American countries with TV programmes. The cross border activities of the media in particular Arab countries of the Middle East are very visible. Countries rich in natural resources such as oil have been able to implement the substructure for merging and absorbing new communications technology and the use of satellites. For example in the last two decades London has been transformed into a main centre for a number of Arab daily publications and magazines. The Aljazirah TV network has attracted a large viewing audience in the Arab countries.
Based on what has been said here, the complex globalisation process is facing with different individual, cultural and nations reactions. These challenges are related to the balance between laws for economic development and the communication integration and cultural independence and the changing face of governments and politics.