New ways to fight a war in the information age : a study on media tactics and ICTs as a useful tool to spread a message of democracy

Abstract: The development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has forever changed the way of the world in some important areas. Understanding the ICTs superior traits when it comes to processing, storing, searching, reproducing and transmitting information is of utmost importance. The centrality of information in our society have even resulted in some declaring that we have entered into a new stage in human existence- The Information age. The ICTs' inexpensiveness provides new opportunities for resource weak and non-institutionalized organizations to organize, coordinate, network and publish/disseminate their information. The Burmese democracy movement was early in adopting ICTs and hence presents a fascinating case. This project's objective was to answer: can the ICTs function as a useful tool in assisting the Burmese democracy movement in raising international awareness and support for their cause -a free and democratic Burma? And what ICT- usage and work methods can be identified as potentially successful when it comes to transmitting the democracy groups' political message? Through qualitative interviews done at the Thai-Burma border, the study concluded that ICTs does already play an important role as a tool for communication in the Burmese Democracy movement, but that the ICT-usage could be developed significantly in using ICT as a tool for publicizing information. It was also concluded that the democracy movement could have much to gain in adopting better media skills and a greater understanding of the dynamics of the contemporary media system. The Information age's altered media sphere entails new opportunities for political groups if they learn to master the media logic. The study also concluded that the democracy movement could gain even more by actively supporting the development of a independent Burmese mass media. Thus providing the movement and Burma with an important addition - a neutral, balanced and credible sender of information and news.