Free Flow of Information

Free Flow of Information Theory

This is the idea that media proprietors should have complete agency and have the right to sell and advertise their goods wherever and to whoever they wish. This free market ideology came into being as a result of a few key developments beginning in the cold war era after world war 2. The push for capitalism by Western powers, specifically the U.S., meant a push for free markets and international communication had the primary function of promoting democracy, freedom of expression and market freedom. As opposed to Marxists, who were proponents for state regulation on communication and media outlets, the concept of free flow of information reflected the Western capitalist belief that markets should not be controlled or censored. It is not surprising that the state felt this way. Due to the fact that most of the world's media resources were concentrated in the West, Western governments, media proprietors, and business communities had the most to gain from such a free flow market. Therefore, free flow markets served both economic and political purposes and more regulated policies involved in communism and Marxism were actually bad for business. Regulated media markets reduced the ability of Western media organizations from advertising and marketing their goods and services in foreign markets and therefor, reduced capitol gain and market share.

Capitol and monetary gains were not the only thing at stake in the cold war era. Ideological battles with communist Soviet union also factored into the equation. The U.S. wanted to spread it's influence in other countries around the world, thereby strengthening it's global position in the eyes of foreign nations. Western dominance was indeed achieved as a result of saturating the foreign entertainment media market with Western ideals such as individualism and capitalism.