Chapter 1: Development Communication

1. Chapter 1: Development Communication

2. Development Communication • The process of intervening in a systematic manner with communication, media, or education for the purpose of creating positive social change • The change could be economic, personal, as in spiritual, social, cultural, or political

3. Changing Area and Focus • Focuses on Southern Hemisphere or Third World issues • Lack of telephone service for many • High rates of illiteracy • Few indigenous media successes • Cost of Internet access • Impact of spread of HIV/AIDS

4. Globalization • Not all see the same benefits from the global economy. Western, industrialized nations benefit most • Benefits of globalization are not evenly shared by all. India and Brazil leading calls for change • Some concern about US hegemony

5. Coercive Democracy • Where the US is combining post Cold War military power with its hegemonic economic power to set conditions on foreign aid or international treaties that at times further cripple weak nations or regions. Unequal power relationships • Most of the benefits go to the industrialized nations and their farmers and corporations

6. President Harry Truman’s Inaugural Address “Since the end of hostilities, the United States has invested its substance and its energy in a great constructive effort to restore peace, stability, and freedom to the world.” -Harry Truman “Fourth, we must embark on a bold new program for making the benefits of our scientific advances and industrial progress available for the improvement and growth of underdeveloped areas.” – Harry Truman

7. Stop Communism • US foreign policy clear • Cold War framed external efforts by the US and other industrialized nations • Good vs. Evil, Freedom vs. Communism • No compromises or middle ground • Tension lasted until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989

8. Modernization • Radio was viewed as being central to improving the economic and social lot of the poor in the southern hemisphere • Questions of aid, to whom, how much, methodologies, and the role of communication within these border policy questions has a long history

9. The Modernization Theory • Elements of economic determinism • Also a parallel drive to expand democratic concepts and practices • Sociologists, economists, anthropologists, political scientists, psychologists, social workers, media scholars and others – touched on aspects of modernization approaches. Generally failed

10. Liberation Theology • Three fairly distinct phases and was originally connected with the Catholic church • It has now expanded to other religions as well; called prosperity theology • The first phase started in 1891 • Second phase began in the 1950s • Third phase began in the 1980s and spread to other religions and continues

11. Chapter 1 Conclusion • Historical roots of development comm. • Focusing post World War II activities, President Truman & Point 4 • A strong current of economic determinism with aid efforts undertaken by industrialized nations • Modest signs of globalization occurring in some regions of the southern hemisphere