International Broadcasting and Its Contested Role in Australian Statecraft: Middle Power, Smart Power

This book offers an insightful reappraisal of international broadcasting as discursive rather than soft power in service of democratic statecraft. Reflecting the perspective of middle power Australia,author Geoff Heriot locates the strategic utility of multi-platform international broadcasting with reference to contemporary theories of soft/hard/smart power projection and inter-cultural communication. He applies a fresh model of strategic analysis to the political history of Radio Australia,examining the various external and internal variables that resulted in its flawed success in political communication during the late Cold War period.

Format: Hardback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 14 March 2023
Publisher: Anthem Press

This book offers a fresh and timely perspective on international broadcasting, challenging its traditional perception as a tool of soft power and examining its contested role in Australia's Indo-Pacific regional statecraft. By re-evaluating the concept and utility of state-funded, multi-platform international broadcasting as an instrument of statecraft, the author aims to provide cultural representation while also serving political purposes to contest power relations. In an era characterized by concerns about transnational media, the credibility of news, and the risks associated with disinformation and information warfare, this book sheds light on the importance of international broadcasting in shaping public discourse.

The author, drawing from the perspective of middle power Australia, explores the unique circumstances and options that shape the country's engagement with international broadcasting. The book delves into the political purpose and efficacy of international broadcasting, examining its potential as an instrument of inter-cultural communication and the factors that enable or impede its effectiveness. Through extensive scholarly research and extensive professional experience in journalism, international broadcasting, and media management, the author offers insights and recommendations for the strategic analysis, application, organizational design, and operation of multi-platform international broadcasting.

The model proposed by the author is informed by an analysis that situates international broadcasting in the context of contemporary theories of soft/hard/smart power projection and inter-cultural communication. It incorporates insights from various disciplines and provides a comprehensive framework for strategic analysis, application, organizational design, and operation of international broadcasting. The author applies the model to the contentious political history and performance of Australia's international broadcaster, Radio Australia, during the late Cold War decades of the twentieth century. By doing so, he demonstrates the relevance of this approach to an increasingly media-dense but asymmetric international environment.

In conclusion, this book provides a valuable contribution to the study of international broadcasting and its role in shaping international relations. By challenging the traditional perception of international broadcasting as a tool of soft power, the author offers a more nuanced understanding of its potential and limitations. Through its comprehensive analysis and practical recommendations, the book provides valuable insights for policymakers, media professionals, and scholars interested in understanding the complex dynamics of international broadcasting and its impact on global affairs.

Weight: 582g
Dimension: 236 x 160 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839985041