Decision-Making in the International Telecommunication Union: The Nature and Role of the New Third World Majority

摘要

The project's primary purpose was to determine the perceived needs of the more influential Third World Countries concerning the structure and functions of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). To obtain this information, eight interviews were carried out with delegates from non-aligned countries to the ITU's World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC) held in Geneva in the fall of 1979. These interviews reveal a number of areas of concern of the new majority that conflict with the more traditional needs of the developed countries. The secondary purpose was to explore the possibility of developing a model of influence for a technical international organization such as the ITU. To attain this goal, a number of independent variables were identified dealing with general influence of states, influence in the field of telecommunications, and areas which illustrate influence in international conferences. Three components of actual influence in WARC 79 were also identified--reputational, positional, and behavioral. Tests were run to determine the correlations between these variables. Based on results, a simple correlation model was developed which demonstrates some of the basic relationships between the major factors involved in WARC 79. The research plan, testing and building of the model, interview results, and conclusions are included.