The Revolution Will Be Televised

Ah, the terrible television. America’s once favorite glowing box is being steadily replaced by computer screens, and has been linked to societal ills from aggression to obesity. So when we read a recent article in Foreign Policy extolling the virtues of the boob tube, we nearly did a double take. Development economist Charles Kenny argues that television has led to significant social change in developing countries like Indonesia and Brazil.

It’s not just educational programs or public service announcements that get the praise. Soap operas and American idol-style contests give average Afghanis and Indians a glimpse into other worlds, where women stand up to their husbands and have the power to become national stars. Charles Kenny joins us from New York with more on television as a tool for social change.

Foreign Policy: Revolution in a Box

Times Online: How TV is Making The World a Better Place

(Photo by Oluniyi Ajao via Flickr/Creative Commons)