The noosphere presents information in terms of an expanding realm where the emphasis is on the ideational and organizational dimensions, without ignoring the technological one. Therefore, it makes it imperative to pay attention to the role of ideas and values that come into play in noosphere. With this new idea the contents of this sphere become more important than the medium itself.
It asks for a shift from realpolitik, which deals in hard power like technology, to this new politik that deals in ideas and is open not only to nation-states but non-state actors like Al-Qaida too. After 9/11 the battle for ideas is being fought in the noosphere and it is going to determine shape diplomacy and politics across the world. The noopolitik means that besides fighting terrorism on the war-front, it has to be confronted on the level of ideas too for which dynamics of diplomacy has to be changed.
Terrorist organizations like the Al-Qaida has also access to this new sphere of information which offers a new challenge. Terrorists respond to policies of nation-states by terrorism and putting across their 'ideology' in this new sphere. The most recent example is Osama Bin Landen's audio message which was aired by Al-Jazeera TV to own the abduction of French nationals in Niger in retaliation for France's 'anti-Muslims' policies.
So, the terrorists are making use of this noosphere, why should not the nation-states and global civil society?
I am agree with you Faizullah. But I would like to say that additionally to the battle in the public sphere there is a psychological battle that is very important in the battle to get the support of the public opinion. I am not sure if was Bismarck who says that the mind of any individual is like a congress, with representatives of different positions of the spectrum. That it is probably an interesting metaphor to look the ways in order to craft the majority support from inside the individual and, then, the individuals, meanings the public opinion.
ReplyDelete