The Structure of International Information Flows via Telecommunications
1978-1995

George A. Barnett
Department of Communication
State University of New York at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York 14261

ABSTRACT

Based primarily on data gathered by AT&T and published in the World's
Telephones (1978-1990) and data gathered by the International Institute of
Communication and published in TeleGeography (1991-1995), this paper reviews
research which describe the structure and changes in the flow of information
among the nations of the world via international telecommunications from 1978
to 1995. The results indicate that the network structure was relatively
stable over this time period. In the late 1970s, the system was composed of a
number of sub-groups. By 1980, it had coalesced into a single group with the
United States and the other Western economic powers at the center and the
Eastern block and lesser developed countries at the periphery. The antecedent
factors underlying the structure as well as its social, political and economic
correlates are discussed. Over time, the network slowly became denser, more
centralized, and more highly integrated. During the 1980s, the newly
industrial countries of East Asia moved from the periphery of the network
toward the center. Beginning in 1989, the former members of the Soviet block
also moved from the periphery toward the center of the system, supplanting the
wealthier countries of Latin America. Similar patterns were observed for the
structure of other international exchange systems. International policy
implications of the results are discussed.