Chapter 11: Summary and Conclusions

1. Chapter 11: Summary and Conclusions

2. Reviewing Chapter 1 • Looks at the early phases of development communication, particularly radio • Development communication was marked as important by US President Harry Truman’s call in his inaugural address, following World War II. Driving the interest was a fear of the global spread of communism • Over the next two decades this concern manifested itself through a theory of modernization which led to many development communication projects across the southern hemisphere

3. Reviewing Chapter 2 • The second chapter examined three major theories which sought to replace the economically driven modernization theory • The three were: Cultural imperialism, participatory communication, and entertainment-education • The critics of modernization sought a more bottom up and culturally sensitive approach • Empowerment communication has its theoretical framework based in participatory and development communication. It is specifically geared towards fostering research agendas that facilitate social transformation, economic gains, as well as promoting justice

4. Reviewing Chapter 3 • Chapter 3 looks at the various activities of the United Nations as well as a number of its specialized agencies • The UNDP, UNESCO, the ITU, WIPO, activities are detailed • World Social Forum (WSF) was outlined and is a voice for anti-globalization forces • A frequent complaint about the UN is that they provide development communication aid funds to military and authoritarian regimes with little follow up as to where the funds actually go. In far too many cases the aid winds up being distributed to the family and friends of the corrupt regimes

5. Reviewing Chapter 4 • Examines the influential role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) • The plethora of NGOs has resulted in greater competition for volunteers, funds, and media attention • All NGOs are not created equal. Some are much more sophisticated and professionally sophisticated in terms of media savvy which often translates into enhanced fundraising and recruiting ability. Getting “face-time” on CNN or the BBC is invaluable

6. Reviewing Chapter 5 • The new NGO, the International Network for Cultural Diversity (INCD), and UNESCO are promoting a new global cultural convention. It seeks to protect both culture and indigenous languages. The WTO, particularly in terms of its future attempts to include cultural or audio-visual industries in its future trade agreements stands in opposition to the INCD and UNESCO • A growing number of nations are fearing that their culture, and in some cases language, are threatened by a homogenous global culture evolving from the media domination and hegemonic power of primarily American communication conglomerates • The US is actively pushing the WTO to move toward including cultural industries in future trade agreements. Companies like Disney, CNN, Wal-Mart, and MTV hope the WTO’s position prevails

7. Reviewing Chapter 6 • Renee Houston and Michele Jackson focus on development efforts that use information and communication technologies for educational purposes in developing nations • The oppositional nature of the various approaches to development makes constructive dialogue among these perspectives difficult • Focusing on assumptions about technology and contexts brings new understanding of each perspective and fosters much needed dialogue across the perspectives. Technology is not neutral. It carries values

8. Reviewing Chapter 7 • Mitchell Rice examines information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the global digital divide. He discusses determinants and conditions that have contributed to the digital divide • An important discussion in this chapter is whether there is a convergence, or absolute convergence, or divergence, or relative divergence, in the application and diffusion of ICTs between the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere and, if so, which of these conditions will continue in the long run • The WSIS also focused on the digital divide

9. Reviewing Chapter 8 • Luz Estella Porras and H. Leslie Steeves examine the significant and historically under-researched area of the role of women in development projects, in general, as well as communication/media, in particular • The authors discuss the material and historical constraints that hinder the possibility and potential for women to control, use, own, produce, and work for the media within communication development projects. Their potential needs to be taken into account

10. Reviewing Chapter 9 • The Sonagachi Project examines a HIV/AIDS intervention program undertaken in a red light district of Calcutta, India • The Project was started in 1991 to ascertain and arrest the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS among sex workers in and around the Sonagachi district in Calcutta • The Sonagachi Project involves participation-based communication intervention that is undertaken at three concurrent levels - community, group, and individual. It is a case-study of a successful participatory communication project

11. Reviewing Chapter 10 • Eva Szalvai attempts to seek and to better understand the hegemonic process of globalization. She outlines a case-study in Europe, which was funded by the Soros Foundation • Due to power differences, globalization results in differential advantage and disadvantage for the involved nations and cultures. In some cases the advantage is with the NGOs or Foundations • Analyzing cross-cultural participatory communication, the Roma projects explores the use of “interlocalization” as a tool in the creation of global practices for sustainable development