INTERNATIONAL REGIME AND THE ROLE OF THE STATE: TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIBERALISATION IN MALAYSIA - SINGAPORE

This paper explores the role of the state; Malaysia Singapore in developing communications policy after CATS (General Agreement on Trade and Services). Although there is substantial evidence that the forces of global media and international regime such as GATT/WTO and US structural power threaten the state in relations to communications and information, this paper seeks to examine what states can and cannot do in reference to Malaysia and Singapore. Certainly, states currently face changing and challenging conditions. The remarkable global expansion of media corporations, facilitated by liberalisation and privatisation of media system worldwide and the development of cable and satellite technologies, has reduced states' ability to exercise power and maintain information sovereignty. It would be unwarranted, however to conclude that the state no longer matters. Kenichi Ohmae (1996), however, proposed the idea of the end of the nation state and "nation states are dinosours waiting to die." Is that so for Malaysia and Singapore? This paper ultimately highlights how a changing regime in the telecommunications sector alters the way in which telecommunications, as an industry and in terms of policy of individual countries is developed and reshaped.