Year of Manifested Global Networks

04 April 2011 | 21:47 Code : 10883 General category

By Dr. Hosein Salimi, professor in international relations at Allameh Tabatabai University

IRD: In my opinion, the year of 1389 can be termed as the year of global consciousness and the manifestation of globalization. This globalization was formed in information and communication networks, and also in the global consciousness. So, I think that the eruption of global consciousness was the most important event in the last year and it manifested itself in different forms.

With a quick look at the political and international developments, it can be said that the developments and popular protests in North Africa and Middle Eastern countries was the most notable event of the past year. But I think those changes, by themselves and autonomously, could not cause such effects, but the link between the developments and international information and communication networks that caused the protests lies within those communities, enabling them to flourish and to make changes.

Thus, it is notable that for years, in some countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Bahrain, there was a hidden opposition. The dominant governments that had had domestic resources at hand, developed international links and turned to strategic alliances with great powers that prevented the emergence of objections to their rule that did not catch the eyes of analysts. But the link between the protests and global information and communication networks caused the impact of the protests to be greater.

Previously, Egyptian protestors had demonstrated and gathered in various areas but they were never that noticeable and their actions led to no changes. The protests of the Egyptian people, especially in Tahrir Square, broadcast in the global network twenty four hours a day with many cameras of tens of satellite channels, and the youths’ access to global information and communication networks, particularly social ones, caused not only a consensus of thought inside the country, but also a manifestation of social movements that forced politicians to follow the protesters step by step, and coordinate their positions with the protests.

Thus, the emergence of global networks and an aspect of globalization manifested in practice and policy, are the most important changes in the last year.

Although the major incidence of that global consciousness in politics was in the Middle East, it emerged in global networks, too. For example in the field of economics, some aspects were seen whose result was the link between the policies of economic powers in the global arena and the solutions that various countries pursue due to the economic crises. This caused them to help each other and to prevent the rise of economic crises in various countries. Examples could be seen in Greece, Portugal and Spain.

These are other aspects of global integration and networking in the world. Thus the rise of many of these network changes referred to is the major event of the year of 1389.

Naturally, that fundamental transformation affected the nature of political phenomena, their type and effectiveness, and social identities in various fields. Social and political identities are formed by bringing different thoughts together and global manifestation stimulated fundamental developments not only in affected states and the Middle East, but also in the global arena.