Toward a media-centric theory of geopolitics R A N D O L P H K L U V E R T E X A S A & M U N I V E R S I T Y

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Randolf Flynn
5 years ago
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1 Toward a media-centric theory of geopolitics R A N D O L P H K L U V E R T E X A S A & M U N I V E R S I T Y

2 The Big Picture

3 What is driving this effort? Mediatization of public life, and especially geopolitical affairs Change of agency: from nation-states to non-state actors, individuals, and organizations Slaughter: if the combatants do not answer to a government, they will not stop fighting when a government says so. Narratives Emphasis on soft power a theory of cultural impact with no understanding of media

4 The context The rise of new media has transformed politics, economics, and societies. But, media/new media studies as a field ignores the geopolitical issues associated with the rise of new media technologies Lots of emphasis on politics and the internet, but little on the relations between states Arab Spring -events occur, but the focus remains primarily on a domestic context Likewise, traditional IR theory focuses primarily on elite level strategy, and doesn t have the tools to account for publics

5 Gilboa s taxonomy of the role of media in international relations Type of Role Activity Context Concept Controlling Actor Replacing Policy makers Humanitarian military intervention CNN Effect Constraining Actor Constraining policy makers Decision making Real Time Policy Intervening Actor Becoming mediators International Mediation International political brokerage Instrumental actor Promoting negotiations Conflict resolution Media Diplomacy Source: E. Gilboa, (2002) Global communication and Foreign Policy

6 Insufficiency of that model Geopolitics could be replaced by anything, without substantive change. Posits a traditional mass comm view of what communication is Where is the audience? passive reality, that sometimes serves as a check. Media is an organization, not a process Focus on just news media (the foreign correspondent), ignores all other types of media construction of geopolitical reality Media is not just an element in a mix, it is the primary source of reality

7 Theoretical foundations Price: Media Sovereignty Nye s Soft Power Castells Network Society/Communication Power Space of flows Network building/switching Network programming Norris and Inglehart Cosmopolitan Communications Firewall model Strategic Narratives (Miskimmon, O Loughlin, and Roselle)

A networked and mediated globe Main provocative statement: Technological networks have re-configured the globe Political identity will be shaped more by your membership in networks than your

8 A networked and mediated globe Main provocative statement: Technological networks have re-configured the globe Political identity will be shaped more by your membership in networks than your geography The overwhelming importance of media means that narratives overwhelm policy The spread of information networks is forming a new nervous system for our planet. When something happens in Haiti or Hunan, the rest of us learn about it in real timefrom real people. US Sec of State Hillary Clinton, 2010

9 A media-centric theory of international relations Two types of power Network Power Narrative Power Tools of influence Switching-introduction into new networks or removal from existing networks Programming/reprogramming

10 Major global shipping trade routes ( ) Green: Dutch Yellow: British Red: Spanish

11 Major telegraph lines (1891)

12 British Undersea cables (1901)

13 The network society (2006)

14 So what does the world look like today?

15 The App Gap, or why platforms matter Apps, or platforms, are displacing the web because of their unique communicative capacity Platforms as communicative capital Network engagement Status Access Platforms as dominance

16 A new bi-polar world? Top global social media, by number of users

17 What do we do with it? Indexing of global communication power? Nation States Non-state actors Other orgs Projections of geopolitical influence? Policy orientations What mechanisms does a city/state/region/nation take to strengthen communication power/mitigate incursions?

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