Majid Tehranian - Communications Policy for National Development

Volume 13

COMMUNICATIONS POLICY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

A Comparative Perspective

Edited by
Majid Teheranian, Farhad Hakimzadeh and Marcello L. Vidale

First published in 1977

by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd

This edition first published in 2016

by Routledge
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and by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

1977 Iran Communications and Development Institute

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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-1-138-93903-5 (Set)
ISBN: 978-1-315-67052-2 (Set) (ebk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-94154-0 (Volume 13) (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-95963-7 (Volume 13) (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-67043-0 (Volume 13) (ebk)

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Communications Policy for National Development

A Comparative Perspective

EDITED BY
Majid Teheranian
Farhad Hakimzadeh
Marcello L. Vidale

ROUTLEDGE & KEGAN PAUL
London, Henley and Boston
in association with the Iran Communications and Development Institute and the International Institute of Communications

First published in 1977
by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd
39 Store Street,
London WCIE 7DD,
Broadway House,
Newtown Road,
Henley-on-Thames,
Oxon RG9 1EN and
9 Park Street,
Boston, Mass. 02108, USA
Photoset in Times by
Weatherby Woolnough, Wellingborough, Northants
and printed in Great Britain by
Lowe & Brydone Printers Limited, Thetford, Norfolk

Iran Communications and Development Institute 1977

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except for the quotation of brief passages in criticism

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Communications policy for national development.

I. Mass Media - Political aspects 2. Underveloped areas - Mass Media

I. Teheranian, Majid II. Hakimzadeh, Farhad
III. Vidale, Marcello L. IV. Iran Communications
and Development Institute V. International
Institute of Communications
380.3'09172'4 P92.2

ISBN 0-7100-8597-4

To Reza Ghotbi

For his vision of the future, Inspired by his patriotism, Tempered by his humanity.

The innovator makes enemies of all those who prospered under the old order, and only lukewarm support is forthcoming from those who would prosper under the new ... because men are generally incredulous, never really trusting new things unless they have tested them by experienceNiccol Machiavelli (1469-1527), The Prince

I am certain that in 300 years historians will say that in our times we were attempting to accommodate democracies as they have evolved with the old direct democracy of Athens. Pericles could speak directly to the people of Athens: a phenomenon that disappeared for over 2,000 years is finally coming backAndr Malraux, Newsweek interview, 1974

The leisurely tempo that characterized traditional societies in the past made it inevitable as well as appropriate that the diffusion of new ideas and technologies proceed at a comparable leisurely pace. Innovation and change tended to come about through evolutionary means, and hence were gradual enough to be assimilated and accepted by the people involved.

In rapidly developing countries this time scale has had to be greatly accelerated. The rate of change has been such as to strain people's capacity to cope with the process of change inherent in the concept of national development. Various resources are being brought into play by governments concerned about smoothing the difficult yet requisite transitions; among these, the mass communication media loom large.

In the west it took several centuries before the first industrial revolution turned into a second one characterized by the application of information technology to all aspects of life. In developing countries, both revolutions are occurring in a single historical period. The role played by mass communication media in this context is of critical importance. In socio-cultural development mass communication media are affecting beliefs, behaviours and skills. In the field of economic development they serve to mobilize human resources by raising expectations and propagating knowledge. In political development they provide those subtle ties of common national identity and interest that are essential for the formation of a nation-state and for the promotion of participatory democracy. In educational development they are becoming an increasingly indispensable tool for improving both the quality and reach of formal educational opportunities. In technology and management they are setting a fast pace in technological transfer and managerial innovations. Finally, in the field of international relations they help to break down national boundaries and establish a community of world interests and world culture.