Recent discussion of democratization in Africa has focused
primarily on the reform of formal state institutions: the public
service, the judiciary, and the legislature. Similarly, both
scholars and activists have shown interest in how associational
life -- and with it a civil society -- might be enhanced in the
countries of the African continent. Much less concern, however, has
been directed to the communications media, although they form a
vital part of this process. Media and Democracy in Africa provides
the first comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the role of
the media in political change in sub-Saharan Africa.
The central argument of the volume is that while the media may
still be relatively weak compared to their positions in liberal
democracies, they have come to play a much more important role than
ever before since independence. Although they have not yet
demonstrated sufficient effectiveness as public watchdogs and
agenda setters, they have succeeded in creating new communicative
spaces for people who have previously been intimidated or silent.
Building on this the contributors argue that a different
conceptualization of democratization than the mainstream currently
uses may be necessary to capture the process in Africa where it is
characterized by contestation rather than consolidation.
This volume shows that the media scene in Africa is diverse. It
stretches from the well-developed and technologically advanced
situation in South Africa to the still fledgling media operations
that are typical in sub-Saharan Africa. In these countries, print
media as well as television and radio are just beginning to take
their place in society and do so using simple and oftenoutdated
technology. The volume also examines how these growing outlets are
supplemented by informal media, the so-called radio trottoir, or
rumor mill whereby the autocratic and bureaucratic direction of
public affairs are subject to private speculation and analysis.
Media and Democracy in Africa is organized to provide a
historical perspective on the evolution of the African media,
placing the present in the context of the past, including both
colonial and post-colonial experiences. It will be of interest to
Africa area specialists, students of media and communications,
political scientists and sociologists.
General
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