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The Telegraph – an Instrument of Peace?

By Søren Frilander
"It is impossible that old prejudices and hostilities should longer exist while such an instrument has been created for the exchange of thought between all nations of the earth", Charles Briggs wrote in 1858.


From its birth the telegraph was hailed as an instrument of peace. It was imagined that the telegraph would unite the nations of the world in one global community where ideas, attitudes, and feelings could be freely exchanged. More communication meant better communication. Many thought that in the global society of the future there would be no room for demagogues, tyrants, and dictators. The telegraph became a symbol of a world created according to western model in which the telegraph would at the same time enlighten and create prosperity and peace.

<F>Dream and Reality
The dream was peace. But in reality the telegraph made it possible to keep direct control over even the remotest parts of countries and empires to a much higher extent than before. In time of war defence and attack could be coordinated over long distances, and the telegraph thus became a weapon used by states to fight each other with. Paradoxically, the telegraph, originally hailed as a herald of peace, was also used for repression, control and to wage war on people.

The global communication that followed in the wake of the telegraph did not create a more peaceful world. Instead, the telegraph found its place among the many inventions that may be used in as well a positive as a negative way and which could not prevent the 20th century from becoming the most bloody in world history so far.

The Internet and Peace in the 21st Century
In 1997 the Danish writer Tor Nørretranders described the internet as " a system tying the entire planet together in a gigantic network which it is not unlikely that posterity will regard as the most efficient, peace-keeping measure in history".

The dream that peace may be obtained through communications is still alive. However, it is no longer in the telegraph we trust, but in another global means of communication, i.e. the internet. Many people believe that free access to and spreading of information via the internet will eventually lead to spread of democracy, peace, and freedom. The vision is the same as 150 years ago.

Out of Control
There are many similarities between the telegraph network of the 19th century and the internet of today, but also some conclusive differences. The most important may be that the internet is a far less controllable medium than the telegraph ever was. The telegraph services of the different countries were most often owned or controlled by the state which had the power of censoring or even closing them down. Something similar is simply not possible with the internet. All kinds of information can be downloaded or given anywhere and at any time – by those who have access, of course.

It has therefore become much more difficult even for the most suppressing states to deny their populations access to information. But the question remains how access to information may lead to peace. After all you can download information about everything from savage nationalism and terrorism to production of poison gas and other weapons of mass destruction from the internet. These forms of communication do not promote peace and understanding. Therefore the internet is probably not a peace-making factor in itself. As it was the case with the telegraph, it is more likely a tool which can be used for good and bad.

Post & Tele Museum has published the thematic book "The Great Sea-Serpent – pictures from the infancy of telegraphy" based on unique material which was collected for the temporary exhibition "ONLINE – 150 Years on the Net". The book contains 90 richly illustrated pages and is available from the museum shop at the price of DKK 140 (+ postage).





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