Communication plays a central part in the increasing global interconnectedness of contemporary societies, nations and economies. In this book Cees J Hamelink examines the political processes and decisions which determine the global communication environment. Mass communication, telecommunication, data traffic, intellectual property and communication technology have all been regulated by agreements within the international community. Examining negotiation processes and their outcomes, the author offers an analysis of the global politics of communication and its implications for specific nations, areas and communities. Underlying the analysis is a fundamental concern with communication as an issue of human rights which raises the question: Do the standards agreed on world communication address the interests of ordinary people in their everyday lives?