Journalism, Mass Media and Communication: Lee Thayer Paper - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages Checking the growth of communist influence was the prime concern of U.S. Moscow, and Beijing, though they directly did not interfere in the internal affairs of any country they kept the line of communication with the countries in which their ideological interest was at stake. They sponsored arms deals and provided funds to the anti-imperialist movements. Other NATO countries followed the policy of U.S. and interfered in various countries. Embargo against Cuba after the 1959 Cuban Revolution is the case in point. The type of politics they practiced was without established political principles and suited their own interests. Though former colonists were democratic countries, they supported dictatorships in Third World countries, to prevent them from being aligned with the Communist bloc, in preference to the “Free World.” U.S. foreign intervention Styles of intervention and communication were chosen as per the demands of the international policy, but the strategies and tactics varied. For example, in Chile the CIA spent 3 million dollars to influence the outcome of the 1964 Chilean Presidential Election. The U.S. favorably disposed of to the installation of Augusto Pinochet and overthrowing of Allende. CIA played the overt and covert roles in human rights abuses and in the assassination of political opponents. U.S. intervened to change the political set up of any country that was not favorably disposed to it, on one pretext or the other. In 1983 U.S. invaded Grenada and in 1989 invaded Panama, and overthrew Manuel Noriega, stated to be a drug lord according to U.S. In Indonesia, U.S. supported Suharto’s dictatorship. Impact of colonialism and colonization Notwithstanding the hard stance of the colonial powers in relation to political developments, there are positive and negative aspects of colonialism. Attitudes of the colonial era continue to impact the present day lives of majority of the people in the world, and the old wounds have not completely healed. Mutual suspicion in communication in different areas still persists. Superiority complex of a particular race and inferiority complex attributed to the other race, are reflected in the areas of education, employment, etc. Notwithstanding the negative experiences of colonialism, technological advancements and internet revolution have contributed to cement the relations transcending the barriers. Due to trade expansion, and with the arrival of new gadgets, more people come into contact with each other. Many issues have been internationalized, and efforts are being made to find solutions at the highest level, transcending the national barriers. Advancement in Communication systems is unstoppable In societal terms progress of communication is unstoppable. At a given time, a society is at the receiving end or at the giving end. It is never stable and stationary. The impact of cultural traffic was never one way. When independent channels of communications were opened due to advancement of communication technology, many people in the West got an opportunity to make study of the deep and profound aspects of culture of Asian countries like India and China and they got an opportunity to study Sufi Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Many gave up Christianity and got themselves converted to other religions. Religious and social organizations contributed to the free movements of ides from the East to the West. The non-Western world benefited from absorbing, adapting and adjusting technologies to suit the local requirements and at ...Download file to see next pagesRead More