For all of the readers who think I only cite research from HBS, today's post was inspired by a story in Big Think about research at Ohio State University. Researchers at OSU found that frequent viewers of the Al Jazeera cable network identified themselves more often as Moslems rather than as Arabs or by country of birth or residence. The report states:
"Because networks like Al Jazeera are transnational – focusing on events of interest across the region rather than those in any one country – they may encourage viewers to see themselves in broader terms than simply residents of a particular nation, the researchers said."
While I have not seen the raw data, I think the researchers may have drawn a less insightful conclusion. I do not think that Al Jeezera "encourages" viewers towards a transnational self-image. I think that Al Jazeera is intentionally positioned as transnational and therefore attracts such viewers. In other words, Al Jazeera is not transforming the image of its viewers but rather addressing the need of the transnational audience. With the increase in peer to peer social relationships, the growth of mega-cities, increased globalization and a host of other factors, we should all probably be considering whether we are transnational.
Another point from the report is worth mentioning. The report states:
“If there’s a growing transnational Muslim identity, the United State will have to reevaluate traditional foreign policy strategies that are currently based on dealing with individual countries,” Nisbet said. “It will make diplomacy more complex.”
Hopefully the diplomatic strategies of the U.S already incorporate the increasing trend toward transnationalism and recognize that this trend extends beyond simply the Middle East and the Moslems.
