Harold Innis overlooking a blend of ancient tablets and modern fiber optic cables.

Unearthing the Past: How Harold Innis's Ideas Shape Our Present

Jordan Keane in Culture & Society June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Rediscovering a Communication Pioneer for Today's World"

In an era dominated by digital communication and rapid technological advancements, it's easy to forget the foundations upon which our understanding of media and society is built. Harold Innis, a Canadian economic historian and communication theorist, offers a critical lens through which to examine the forces shaping our world.

Two recent publications, “Emergence and Empire: Innis, Complexity, and the Trajectory of History” by John Bonnett and “Harold Innis and the North: Appraisals and Contestations” edited by William J. Buxton, invite us to reconsider new interpretations of Innis's work and legacy. These books delve into his insights on the interplay between communication, economics, and power, revealing their enduring relevance in the 21st century.

While Innis's work can seem dense and complex, its core ideas are surprisingly accessible and profoundly insightful. By revisiting his key concepts, we can gain a deeper understanding of the biases inherent in communication technologies, the dynamics of economic systems, and the relationship between knowledge and control.

Who Was Harold Innis and Why Should We Care?

Harold Innis overlooking a blend of ancient tablets and modern fiber optic cables.

Harold Innis (1894-1952) was a pioneering Canadian scholar whose work transcended disciplinary boundaries. Trained as an economist, he developed a unique approach that integrated history, communication theory, and political economy. He's best known for his 'staples thesis,' which argues that Canada's economic and political development has been shaped by its reliance on the export of natural resources, or 'staples,' such as fur, fish, timber, and wheat.

But Innis was much more than an economic determinist. He recognized that communication technologies play a crucial role in shaping societies and empires. In his seminal work, “Empire and Communications,” he explored how different media, from stone tablets to paper, have influenced the organization of power and the dissemination of knowledge throughout history. His ideas are super relevant in today's world.

Understanding Media Bias: Innis argued that all communication technologies have a 'bias' either towards time or space. Time-biased media, like oral traditions and durable materials, tend to foster stable, decentralized societies. Space-biased media, like paper and electronic communication, facilitate the expansion of empires and centralized control.
The Dangers of Monopoly: Innis warned against the dangers of monopolies of knowledge, where control over information leads to the concentration of power. He saw this dynamic at play in both historical empires and modern media industries.
The Importance of Decentralization: Innis advocated for a balance between centralized and decentralized forms of communication and power. He believed that a healthy society requires diverse voices and perspectives.

These ideas, initially developed in the mid-20th century, resonate powerfully today. As we grapple with the challenges of social media, fake news, and the concentration of power in the hands of tech giants, Innis's insights offer a valuable framework for understanding the underlying dynamics.

Innis for the 21st Century: Why His Work Matters Now

Harold Innis's work is not just a historical artifact; it's a living intellectual resource that can help us navigate the complexities of the 21st century. By understanding his core concepts, we can become more critical consumers of media, more engaged citizens, and more informed participants in the ongoing conversation about the future of society. The challenge now is to translate his insights into accessible and actionable knowledge for a new generation of thinkers and creators.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

Who was Harold Innis, and what is the staples thesis?

Harold Innis was a Canadian economic historian and communication theorist known for integrating history, communication theory, and political economy. The staples thesis argues that Canada's economic and political development has been significantly shaped by its reliance on exporting natural resources or staples, such as fur, fish, timber, and wheat. While the staples thesis focuses on economic development, Innis also explored how communication technologies shape societies and empires.

What does Harold Innis mean by 'bias' in communication technologies, and how does it affect society?

Harold Innis argued that all communication technologies have a 'bias' towards either time or space. Time-biased media, such as oral traditions and durable materials like stone tablets, tend to foster stable, decentralized societies. Space-biased media, like paper and electronic communication, facilitate the expansion of empires and centralized control. This bias influences how knowledge is disseminated and power is organized within a society. Understanding this bias helps us recognize how different media can promote different social structures.

Why did Harold Innis warn against 'monopolies of knowledge,' and what are the implications of such monopolies today?

Harold Innis warned against monopolies of knowledge because he believed that control over information leads to the concentration of power. He observed this dynamic in historical empires and modern media industries. The implications of such monopolies today include the potential for biased information, limited perspectives, and reduced public discourse. Innis advocated for a balance between centralized and decentralized forms of communication to ensure diverse voices and perspectives, which is crucial to avoid the pitfalls of knowledge monopolies.

How can Harold Innis's ideas about time-biased and space-biased media help us understand the internet and social media?

Harold Innis's concepts of time-biased and space-biased media offer a valuable framework for understanding the internet and social media. While the internet facilitates rapid, space-biased communication that can spread information quickly across vast distances, Innis would caution us to consider the potential consequences of this bias. The speed and reach of digital media can lead to the centralization of power in the hands of tech giants and the erosion of local, time-honored traditions. Balancing these forces requires promoting diverse voices and critically evaluating the information we consume.

In the context of Harold Innis's work, how does the emphasis on decentralization relate to current debates about social media and the concentration of power?

Harold Innis advocated for decentralization as a countermeasure to the monopolistic tendencies inherent in space-biased media. In today's context, this is highly relevant to debates about social media and the concentration of power. Social media platforms, while seemingly decentralized, often consolidate power through algorithms, data collection, and content moderation policies. Innis would likely argue that a healthy society requires fostering alternative, decentralized communication networks that empower individuals and communities, rather than relying solely on centralized platforms controlled by a few powerful entities. This approach helps ensure a diversity of perspectives and prevents the dominance of a single narrative.