資訊時代國際關係理論與實務之研究

International Relations in the Information Age: Theory and Practice

國內有關資訊科技對人文社會衝擊的研究逐漸受到學界的觀注，然而在國際關係研究領域仍不多見，美國國際政治學界不約而同地在一九九八年陸續針對資訊時代對國際關係影響發表專論，對國家角色、權力、外交決策、非政府組織角色運作皆有初探性的分析。作者以為資訊科技紀然已經對人類社會構成模式的徹底改變，國際關係學者似乎也可以嘗試從政治溝通理論，探索資訊科技如何影響到外交決策係統的溝通流程，本論文為一初探性研究，撰寫的目的在於一方面檢視目前研究的趨勢，同時探討社區〈Karl Deutsch〉的決策溝通流程在資訊科技時代的適用性，並嘗試提出部分修正作為解釋網際網路對政府決策溝通流程的影響。

The Information Revolution has changed the way people communicate with each other. Rapid, virtual communications hardware and software have provided individuals easier access to real time information, a privilege which used to be exclusively available to government officials only. Information flows regarding the foreign policy making process is turning out to be a force for change in international relations. Electronic mail and Internet technology has made public diplomacy an alternative tool for the practice of formal diplomacy. The information revolution and globalization have made transnational and transgovernmental interactions no less an important issue in international politics. This paper is a preliminary study of evolving international relations in the information age. A cascade model of communication flow in foreign policy as preferred by Karl Deutsch is examined and the model is rebuilt to accommodate for the instantaneous communication effect of the internet.