The importance of real-time transmissions in International Relations

Today we live in technology-dominated world where rapidly changing media and real -time communication plays a significant role in every aspects of our lives.

We keep in touch with our friends, family and relatives easily via Skype calls, Social media platforms or micro-blogging. It does not matter how many miles separate you with your family, no matter where you are right now, your family is always one phone call away!

First of all, we can define real-time transmission as one where the applications make specific quality of service demands to the communication network such as maximum delay, maximum loss rate, etc.; and a network once it accepts connection guarantees the requested service quality. (Lee 1997)

Real-time applications are important because they are wide spread and cost effective way of live communication.

International Relations and Politics is one of the fields that real-time transmission is of paramount importance. Not only worldwide globalization, but also the development of new media technologies and real-time transmissions are blurring the economical and political boundaries between nations.

Economically, it means separate industries that had developed around each of these technologies are combining to service the new multimedia environment through a series of corporate mergers and alliances.

Politically, global communication is undermining the traditional boundaries and sovereignties of nations. Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) is violating national borders by broadcasting foreign news, entertainment, educational, and advertising programs with impunity. Similarly, the micro-media of global communication are narrow casting their messages through audio and videocassette recorders, fax machines, computer disks and networks, including the Internet and the World Wide Web. (The Economist, 1995)

There has been a social turn in world diplomacy and International Relations with the development of new media technologies and social media platforms. The presidents of countries and politicians have Twitter and Instagram accounts and they lead a modern day diplomacy.

The United States is one of the first countries that used Social media platforms in politics. The president of the country Barack Obama and Mitt Romney run campaigns on social media during the presidential elections in 2012 in order to get their messages across and appeal to voters.

According to Pew Research Center (L.Rainie. A. Smith. K. Scholzman 2012 ) , the usage of real-time transmission applications, social media platforms such as Youtube, Facebook and Twitter is becoming a feature of political and civic engagement for many Americans.

New survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project found these following statistics:

- 38% of people who use SNS (social networking sites) use it to promote materials related to politics or social issues.

-35% social media users have used the tools to encourage people to vote or post their ow opinions or comments on political issues or foreign affairs.

-20% of social media users have used the tools to follow elected officials and candidates for office.

The United States is not the only country that knows the importance of real-time transmission applications. In August 26 2013 tens of thousands of protesters gathered in the Philippine capital to voice outrage to corrupt politicians, in a modern day “People Power” rally fueled in social media (Khaleej Times 2013)

With the help of live chats, social media and messaging the entire country was aware of what was happening in the country via social media sites. Not only international relations but politics within a nation realizes the importance of real-time transmissions and internet communication tools.

Reference list:

A. Clingiroglu. S. Lee. (1997) Real-time communication. University of Maryland Institute for Advanced computer studies.

Ganley, Gladys D. 1992. The Exploding Political Power of Personal Media. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.

L. Raine., A.Smith., K.Lehman., H. Brady., S. Verba. (2012) Pew Research Center. Internet, science and tech.

J. Wortham. (2012) The presidential campaign on Social Media. The New York Times.[Online] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/10/08/technology/campaign-social-media.html?_r=0

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