"While the scholarship on communication theory has evolved over many years in Africa it is still work in progress. This discourse has been anchored in society's cultural milieu. The import of this is that the debate has evolved without incorporating the realities of Africa. Consequently, theories of... communication and of the mass media are an ill fit on the continent. As communication scholarship in Africa matures, it requires examining how the realities of the continent can contribute to the development of a theory that best matches this environment. Some of these realities include the evolution of African governance, its culture, and the progression of communication as a discipline. While this article does not make the leap to propose what such a theory would look like, it seeks to raise some of these realities as a starting point for further discussion." (Abstract)
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"This chapter reviews the historical and conceptual parameters of the international communication research area, followed by a focus on communication and development. Both parts of the chapter define the scope of the areas discussed, summarize the main theoretical approaches, and present major trend...s in research. The chapter concludes with suggestions for future research." (Summary)
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