Is There a Best Pick?

In reviewing this past week’s lecture/readings I find myself swarmed by a multitude of different opinions on the theories of international communication – which perspective would benefit the country the most? Is there a best option? Etc.

Specifically, I see modernization theory as an aloof perspective that is neither in touch with its country of origin nor those it is trying to modernize. Thussu states that “in the 1970s, modernization theorists started to use the level of media development as an indicator of general societal development” (44). I hardly believe that a countries societal development can be gauged by their degree of media development. This statement presents media as a liberator or savior to a country. While I don’t discount the benefits of new advances in technology, I cannot necessarily see communication technology as a savior. I think there is both pros and cons to the issue. I think we run the risk of homogenizing Western culture with other distinct cultures of the world. Western culture possesses an extremely black or white opinion of modernization – as Thussu also states “one major shortcoming of the early modernization theorists was their assumption that the modern and the traditional lifestyles were mutually exclusive…” (45). All I am saying is, how can we be sure we’ve got it right? We can’t begin to impose upon another until we’ve walked in their shoes.

On the ideas of dependency thoery, I wish to take a different standpoint. I think it's inevitable that a certain degree of hierarchy emerges among countries - just as it does throughout the food chain. The more powerful countries are going to come forth as dominant in all sectors and are therefore able to delineate the 'rules of the game'. As is the case with a chain of command or hierarchy, it would make sense for Western culture to want to maintain thier position as powerful and keep third world countries dependent.

I feel as though we experience facets of both perspectives today. With the current amount of third world debt, it would seem as though many countries clearly owe a lot to the more developed nations. At the same time, there are many international situations in which I feel Western culture has butted it's way into when it should not have necessarily done so. This leads me to believe that we cannot narrow down international communication to a few different theories. If any theory is to take the place of the 'best pick' I feel it would be an amalgamation of all of them.