Information to users

and the Evolution of US Foreign Information Policy
Chapter I
The United States is the leader in global information
and communications. Therefore, its foreign information policy should reflect the complex world in which 1) the nature of international relations is changing toward
increasing interdependence and 2) there is a need to better understand the impact and characteristics of global
information and communications flows on policy making.
There is an obstacle to understanding these
relationships: when US policymakers discuss foreign
'information" policy, the definition of information is, on the whole, situation- and institution-specific. More
importantly, those who are discussing information policy do not understand and use the concept in ways that encourage cooperative policy making efforts.
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There are two levels at which discussions about
information policymaking take place: principles and
practices. During much of the past century, both the
principles and practices have remained, on the whole,
unchanged. The thesis of this dissertation is that in order to continue to rely on these principles, US policymakers need to adapt practices to reflect the changing nature of global interactions.
There are overriding principles that have guided US
policymakers who address information and communication issues. The first is that information is free flowing, even if there are innumerable ways to affect its content and interpretation. That is, information flows should not be hindered, let alone stopped, by external (i.e., political, economic) means. The second principle is that attempts to control information are a de facto part of politics, global interactions and simply living in the world. Controlling information bestows 'power" on the controller.1 And third, information issues can best be addressed through a
capitalistic approach. That is, information-oriented goods and services should be part of interactions in an open market.
1 The tensions between free flows of information and those
who desire to control it will be discussed later.