Social media and its influence on democratization in africa. Drawing on diverse case studies from various regions of the african continent, essays employ a range of. A delicate balance and universality professor victor massuh 67 the main elements of democracy. Twenty years of south african democracy freedom house.
For the first time south africa could call itself a democracy because everyone who was a citizen of south africa could vote in the elections. Communications surveillance and privacy in south africa was produced by the media policy and democracy project for the right2know campaign. Analysing the relationship between democracy and development. Democracy and governance in africa democratization in. The uses and abuses of social media in africa democracy. South africas media and the strengthening of democracy years of democracy before one can assess the role of the media in consolidating south africas infant democracy, one has to define what role the media should be playing in south africas particular brand of democracy. The empirical support for each element in the theory, as well as for the integrated model as a whole, is discussed in an appendix. South africas media and the strengthening of democracy. It is, nevertheless, contributing to good governance. The media and perceptions of the good and the bad 50 7. Freedom of the press 2017 expanding freedom and democracy. This stretched not only to different parts of south africa, but to the other white ruled southern african states such as presentday zambia northern rhodesia. The role of the media is vital in generating a democratic culture that extends beyond the political system and becomes engrained in the public consciousness over time. Ict usage in south africa, kenya and zambia as representatives of.
Aug 11, 2016 although the organization african media initiative with headquarters in nairobi, kenya, has advocated for a political, legal and economic framework for independent media since 2010, most countries are dominated by state run media which are often used as an organ of the government to suppress information. Cyril ramaphosa 73 democracybuilding in southeast asia professor juwono sudarsono 81 democracy. Attacks on journalists continue through physical intimidation and theres also. Global media journal african edition 2012 vol 6 1 using the internet for democracy. Global media journal african edition using the internet for. Although the organization african media initiative with headquarters in nairobi, kenya, has advocated for a political, legal and economic framework for independent media since 2010, most countries are dominated by state run media which are often used as an organ of the government to suppress information. Nov 22, 2017 questioning the media and democracy relationship. With that in mind, the speakers argued, its as important as ever to challenge constricting media laws of the sort that have been under debate in south africa. Brazil and postapartheid south africa offer examples of deliberate attempts at more substantive and participatory democratic governance including provisions for participatory budgeting, for instance. Political culture and participation in south africa.
The same theories can also give insight into the understanding of the media and the public sphere in the south, and their place in southern democracy. Overall, 56% of africans live in countries where the media is only partly free. Democracy is not a screen to hide behind while introducing extreme communism, as is happening in south africa. May 01, 2003 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 postcolonial experiences. It enables citizens to make informed judgments on the issues of the day code of ethics and conduct for sa print and online media. Pdf south africas media and the strengthening of democracy. The importance of freedom of expression the success of our constitutional venture depends upon robust criticism of the chapt er 2 exercise of power. Jul 19, 2019 digital democracy delivers a powerful read on politics and social media in africa the internet makes it possible for citizens to react to unfolding events in real time. Introduction media constitute the fourth pillar of democracy. I will then assess their applicability to south africa. The discussion forum formed part of misa south africas annual general meeting on 25 july 2008 in johannesburg.
What do we mean when we speak of media, and does the media represent south africa s widely different social interests. Digital democracy delivers a powerful read on politics and social media in africa the internet makes it possible for citizens to react to unfolding events in real time. Cyril ramaphosa 73 democracy building in southeast asia professor juwono sudarsono 81 democracy. South africas medias role in consolidating democracy, should be assessed on the basis of south africas particularly brand of democracy. March 2016 except where otherwise noted, the content of this handbook is licensed under a creative commons attribution 4. Democracy and governance in africa the national academies press. Popular media, democracy and development in africa 1st. As south africa marks media freedom day, its clear that its battle isnt over. In contrast, analysis of the role of africas media in democratization has been patchy and lacking in theoretical foundation. South african president jacob zumas personal homestead, nkandla, in kwazulu natal, using public funds. This book considers these and many other questions. Media monitoring africa has put together workshops in parts of the country in an effort to revive critical conversations about the role of. Oct 18, 2017 as south africa marks media freedom day, its clear that its battle isnt over. What is more, an important part of the apartheid states strategy was to play to the fears of south africans.
Jun 17, 2014 the media in south sudan and zambia, for example, has recently been downgraded to not free. The media policy and democracy project mpdp is a joint collaborative research project between the department of communication science at the university of south africa unisa, and the department of journalism, film and television at the university of johannesburg uj. The media institute of southern africa misa south africa hosted a discussion forum aimed at identifying strategies to enhance citizen participation in collecting, reporting and disseminating information. Popular media, democracy and development in africa examines the role that popular media could play to encourage political debate, provide information for development, or critique the very definitions of democracy and development. In kenya, new media may have the potential to monitor and mobilise political activity and encourage political engagement. Should the media in fact be obliged to play an active role in consolidating democracy, or is this role adequately filled by the objective reflection on events, protected by press freedom. May 07, 2017 a key takeaway from the 20 papers presented at the symposium was the tension between the successful application of social media to strengthen advocacy for democracy in africa and the challenge of ensuring that social media users are genuinely digitally empowered. Augustine university of tanzania a critical overview of media research in south africa. The role of media in democratic governance in africa robert a. In this paper i make instead a limited observation of africa s democratic process by focusing on the role of the media as a way of taking the body temperature of africa s democracy in the 1990s. Media freedom day in south africa marks the day in 1977 when the apartheid government banned two newspapersworld and weekend worldand a church journal, pro veritate, along with 18 black. Many have heralded the dramatic explosion of private media in the past two decades as a boon for peace, democracy, and economic development in africa.
For many the degree to which the mass media function as a public sphere, representative of the citizenry and accessible to all, serves as a key barometer of democracy within a polity. Theorizing the mediademocracy relationship in southern africa. Dec 16, 20 democracy is not a winner takes all and destroys what the losers have built up situation, as we are increasingly experiencing in south africa. The supposed and the real role of mass media in modern. In south africa and nigeria, there are significant challenges to introducing egovernance. Attacks on journalists continue through physical intimidation and theres also the threat of new laws. The mass media and the struggle for democracy in africa.
South africa s media s role in consolidating democracy, should be assessed on the basis of south africa s particularly brand of democracy. Seven contributors, representing divergent interests, explore the complex interface between the media and democracy in the south africa today. Crisis of confidence in the south african police service 40 5. Drawing on diverse case studies from various regions of the african continent, essays employ a range of theoretical and. The uses and abuses of social media in africa democracy in. A southern view of media and democracy can benefit from the insights produced by theories of media and development. Oct 24, 2018 media monitoring africa has put together workshops in parts of the country in an effort to revive critical conversations about the role of media in a democracy and good governance. Reasons to vote or continue to vote anc in 2014 6062 list of diagrams 1. Democracy and the individual will professor hieronim kubiak 57 democracy. Media is supplying the political information that voters base their decisions on. Global media journal african edition using the internet. Democracy is not a winner takes all and destroys what the losers have built up situation, as we are increasingly experiencing in south africa. Communications surveillance and privacy in south africa.
The constitutional assembly was constituted with the task of drawing up a constitution to represent the interests and needs of all the people of south africa. Bottomup suggestions to get voice and representation 4647 6. South africas medias role in consolidating democracy, should be assessed on the basis of south. Criticism has been voiced that government and society are gradually transforming in south africa, but not the media and that they are in fact obstructing democratisation. New media and democracy in africa a critical interjection. In a democracy, government is only one thread in the social fabric of many and varied public and private institutions, legal forums, political parties, organizations, characteristics of democracy an educated citizenry is the best guarantee for a thriving democracy. In each area, todays south africa presents a paradox. South africas news media has become, in the post1994 democratic era, among the most concentrated in the world, affecting the quality of its content and the sales of its newspapers. Debating media and democracy in africa democracy in africa. The role of the news media in south africas democracy presents a paradox, a historically created conundrum. It will be of interest to africa area specialists, students of media and communications, political scientists and sociologists. In this paper i make instead a limited observation of africas democratic process by focusing on the role of the media as a way of taking the body temperature of africas democracy in the 1990s. The development of icts varies across different countries in africa.
In terms of political culture, south african society played a key role in achieving democracy through its widespread opposition to the apartheid regime. The mass media and the struggle for democracy in africa 185 manners of misrule meted on the african population by indigenous military leaders and in some cases in conjunction with western imperialist class. The media in south sudan and zambia, for example, has recently been downgraded to not free. These highlight critical political questions on the reach of media, its content, state control, alternative media, journalists and public participation, and ultimately the impact of the media. A study of south africa, kenya and zambia aletta h janse van rensburg abstract for the first time since democracy in the classical greek sense became practically impossible. The africa media quickly took up the responsibility and constituted itself in. The media, civil society and democracy in south africa. Their freedom provides for independent scrutiny of the forces that shape society, and is essential to realising the promise of democracy.
Social movements, media practices and radical democracy in. In the end, the question of democracy and media in the south also needs to be understood in relation to democracy and media in global terms. Then and now the shifts in anc media policy ambivalence 2. Adekunle 7 precolonial political system 7 colonialism, democracy, and change 8 independence and nascent democracy 140 the genocide and political change 141 media freedom 142 corruption, culture, and change 144 economic freedom 145 religious freedom 146 women in politics 148. Democracy, human rights and rule of law in south africa 10.