The Contemporary Transformation of the International System
Professor John Wilton
Lecture 7
The impact of the global network society on the contemporary international system: technology,
inequality and social networks

Lecture 7
CASTELLS, Manuel. "Communication, Power and Counter-power in the Network Society". International
Journal of Communication, Vol. 1, 2007, pp. 238-266.
Also available along with various other resources on his web site:
http://www.manuelcastells.info/en/index.htm

                                                           Lecture 7
1)The processes through which political, economic, cultural and rights issues are transmitted
within the international system;
2)social networks (non-governmental, non-state)

Lecture 7
-rapid development and growth of ICTs has facilitated different and wider forms of international
interaction
-growth of social networks created communities operating within and across territories of states =
challenge to ability of states to order international system
-‘networks of dissent’ challenge existing social, political and economic arrangements + seek to
influence governance of international system

Lecture 7
‘Global Network Society’ (Manuel Castells, The Information Age, 3 volumes, 1996-98)
-2 main modes/forms of historical development in international system:
a) Agrarian mode/form: economic growth through increasing amount of labour devoted to production
based on the land;
b) Industrial mode/form: economic growth through wider and more efficient use of energy sources to
produce mechanisation of production + technological innovation

Lecture 7
-witnessing third mode of historical development in international system:
c) The Information Age mode/form: economic growth from generation of new knowledge as key source of
productivity
- social order in international system today based on new technological information knowledge
systems (not confined to national boundaries)

Lecture 7
-for Castells, international order today should be understood as a GLOBAL NETWORKED ORDER
-if Industrial capitalism gave rise to national economies and the nation-state
-THEN,
Informational capitalism gives rise to networks and globalisation

Lecture 7
‘Networks of Dissent’
- ‘positive networks’ (global inequality, human rights, debt cancellation)
a) transnational;
b) organised around shared values;
c) express disagreement from established systems;
d) have an influence on international system
- ‘negative networks’ (political violence, terrorism)

Lecture 7
Example of ‘Positive Network of Dissent’ and impact of ICT :
Peretti, J. (2001) ‘USA: my Nike media adventure’, The Nation, 9 April (online). Available from
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20010409&s=peretti

Lecture 7
2 further areas where networks have had a growing effect on international system through ICT
development:
a) private financial institutions;
b) military and terrorism

Lecture 7
THE ‘INTERNATIONAL’
     ____

 POLITICAL    ECONOMIC     CULTURAL     TECHNOLOGY

States-system     liberal free       identity (‘feeds’ Transmits             market
nationalism - values &
historically       or being eroded information
  specific       by cosmopolitan
INTERACTION values?) facilitates net- work growth