Peace and Communication
| Author | Tapio Varis |
| Published date | 01 September 1982 |
| Date | 01 September 1982 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/002234338201900303 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Peace
and
Communication.
An
Approach
by
Flow
Studies
TAPIO
VARIS
Tampere
Peace
Research
Institute
Current
international
debate
on
international
communication
issues
as
reflected
in
the
drafting
of
media
declarations
is
primarily
based
on
recent
studies
about
the
flow
of
information.
The
background
to
these
studies
is
described
as
well
as
their
contribution
to
the
debate.
The
paper
discusses
the
problem
that
there
is
much
work
on
the
quantitative
aspect
of
the
flow
but
not
enough
qualitative
work
or
theoretical
understanding
of
the
flow.
Some
attempts
to
summarize
the
findings
are
made.
New
areas
for
research
such
as
transborder
data
flow
are
brought
into
the
picture.
As
international
policy
recommendations,
the
paper
concludes
that
flow
studies
should
be
extended
to
analyse
how
such
crucial
problems
of
mankind
as
disarmament,
peace,
development
and
human
rights
are
affected
by
the
national
media
and
the
international
flow
of
information.
The
author’s
approach
is
to
stress
the
demands
of
a
truer
and
more
perfect
knowledge
of
each
other’s
lives,
stemming
from
UNESCO’s
constitution
and
reflected
also
in
the
Final
Act
of
the
Conference
on
Security
and
Co-operation
in
Europe.
As
a
counterargument
to
the
demand
of
free
flow
of
’all
kinds
of
information’,
there
is
evidence
which
has
led
some
scholars
to
conclude
that
’the
surest
antidote
for
ignorance
and
deceit
is
the
widest
possible
exchange
of
objectively
realistic
information
-
true
information,
not
merely
more
information.’
Therefore,
the
qualitative
aspects
of
the
contents
of
the
flow
become
crucial
for
research.
We are
living
in
a
transitory
period
when
a
new
socio-economic
order
is
emerging
in
spite
of
the
various
crises,
militarism
and
arms
race.
Very
much
depends
on
the
mass
media
and
international
communication
as
to
what
will
be
the
international
political
climate
accelerating
or
retarding
such
pro-
cesses
as
detente,
disarmament,
and
peace.
Modern
communication
scholars
agree
that
in
recent
years
’creating
reality’
has
begun
to
vie
with ’mirroring
society’
as
the
slogan
to
summarize
the
role
of
the
mass
media.’
I
According
to
this
view,
by
looking
at
the
mass
media
and
public
opinion,
we
not
only
learn
to
know
what
happens
in
the
world
but
we
also
learn
to
know
what
the
societies
are
prepared
for -
peace
or
per-
haps
war.
There
is
a
considerable
and
recognized
imbalance
in
the
structure
and
contents
of
the
existing
system
of
mass
communica-
tions,
dominated
by
transnational
activities.
The
dominant
international
news
agencies,
leading
newspapers,
major
television
and
radio
companies,
and
especially
the
world
wide
advertising
network
as
well
as
the
most
modern
communication
technology
-
like
satellites,
cable
and
transborder
data
flows -
were
established
to
serve
the
needs
of
the
’old’
international
order
which
no
longer
exists.
Consequently,
both
the
United
Nations
and
Unesco
have
been
requested
to
pro-
mote
the
establishment
of
a
new
internatio-
nal
information
and
communication
order
which
would
serve
better
the
real
needs of
mankind
and
contribute
’to
the
strength-
ening
of
pearce
and
international
under-
standing’,
’promotion
of
human
rights’,
and
’to
countering
incitement
to
war’.
In
short,
the
introduction
of
the
goals
of
disarma-
ment,
development,
peace
and
human
rights
into
the
programme
of
a
new
interna-
tional
information
order
is
of
highest
im-
portance
in
the
struggle
for
democratization
of
international
communication
in
the
years
ahead.
However,
the
efforts
to
create
a
new
international
information
order
have
faced
very
strong
resistance,
mainly
by
the
estab-
lished
media
structure.
The
United
Nations
and
especially
UNESCO
have
been
under
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