The global village
and the search for peace

Bill Kovarik, Ph.D.
School of Communication, Radford University

notes and links from a lecture for
Introduction to Peace Studies  / PWSS 200

 

Marshall McLuhan predicted in the 1960s that we would be living in a "Global Village"
But what does that mean?  The technological revolution is obvious, of course. But what are the social implications?
Does communication automatically bring understanding and peace?  Or are all the usual village rivalries now playing out on a global stage?

To put it in a way McLuhan would appreciate -- If we do more shouting, does that mean we do less shooting?

Issue Highlights: 
  1. Unbalanced international news and the American public
  2. Press freedom and ideals in conflict
  3. Peace journalism
  4. Information Intervention
  5. Technological adaption NWICO and WSIS

"If great enmities are ever to be really settled, we think it will be not by the system of revenge and military success, and by forcing an opponent to swear to a treaty to his disadvantage, but when the more fortunate combatant waives his privleges, to be guided by gentler feelings, conquers his rival in generosity and accords peace on more moderate conditions than he expected."

The world's first war correspondent, Thucydides,
around 400 BCE:

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