New World Information and Communication Order

Definition

The New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO) was a concept proposed in the 1970s and 1980s that aimed to address the imbalance in global information and communication flows, particularly between developed and developing countries. It sought to promote a more equitable and balanced exchange of information and communication resources worldwide.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The NWICO movement was driven by concerns about the unequal distribution of media resources and the dominance of Western, particularly American, media and information flows globally.
2. Proponents of NWICO argued that this imbalance led to the perpetuation of cultural imperialism, where developing countries were exposed to and influenced by Western values and norms, often at the expense of their own local cultures.
3. The NWICO sought to promote a more equitable and balanced exchange of information and communication resources, with the goal of empowering developing countries to have a greater voice in the global media landscape.
4. Key principles of the NWICO included the right to communicate, the democratization of communication, and the recognition of cultural diversity and national sovereignty in media and information flows.
5. The NWICO movement was met with resistance from Western nations, particularly the United States, which saw it as a threat to the free flow of information and the dominance of Western media and communication systems.

Review Questions

• Explain how the New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO) aimed to address the issue of media imperialism.
  • The NWICO movement was a response to the growing concern over media imperialism, where the flow of information and communication was dominated by developed, Western nations, particularly the United States. Proponents of the NWICO argued that this imbalance led to the perpetuation of cultural imperialism, where developing countries were exposed to and influenced by Western values and norms, often at the expense of their own local cultures. The NWICO sought to promote a more equitable and balanced exchange of information and communication resources, empowering developing countries to have a greater voice in the global media landscape and challenging the dominance of Western media and communication systems.
• Describe the key principles and goals of the New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO).
  • The NWICO movement was guided by several key principles, including the right to communicate, the democratization of communication, and the recognition of cultural diversity and national sovereignty in media and information flows. The primary goal of the NWICO was to address the imbalance in global information and communication flows, particularly between developed and developing countries. This involved promoting a more equitable and balanced exchange of media resources, allowing developing nations to have a greater voice and influence in the global media landscape. The NWICO aimed to challenge the dominance of Western, particularly American, media and information flows, which were seen as perpetuating cultural imperialism and the erosion of local cultures and traditions.
• Analyze the relationship between the New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO) and the process of decolonization.
  • The NWICO movement was closely tied to the broader process of decolonization that was taking place in the latter half of the 20th century. As former colonies gained independence and sought to establish their own political, economic, and cultural systems, the NWICO emerged as a way to challenge the continued dominance of Western media and communication resources. The NWICO was seen as a means of empowering developing countries to assert their national sovereignty and cultural identity in the global media landscape, which had long been shaped by the legacy of colonial power structures. By promoting a more equitable and balanced exchange of information and communication resources, the NWICO movement was part of the broader decolonization process, aiming to dismantle the cultural imperialism that had persisted in the post-colonial era.

Related terms

Media Imperialism: The dominance of media and information flows from developed, Western nations over developing countries, leading to cultural homogenization and the spread of Western values and norms.

Cultural Imperialism: The process by which a powerful nation's culture, values, and beliefs are imposed on other, often less powerful, nations, leading to the erosion of local cultures and traditions.

Decolonization: The process by which colonies and dependencies become independent of the colonial power, allowing them to establish their own political, economic, and cultural systems.