Theorising political communication in Africa

Abstract

Political communication, traditionally has its roots in an interdisciplinary framework, from cultural studies to political science and organisational communication. As such, it is diverse and straddles a ‘scientific’, quantitative, political organisation stream and a qualitative media stream. In addition to it theoretically combining these streams it is also made up of three main elements, theory, practice and research. Theorising political communication in Africa would have to address this burgeoning field, in part or in total. This chapter therefore argues that in order to do this the context must be taken into account, and the subject and application must be decolonised. A few ways are suggested on how to go about (re)theorising about political communication in the southern African situation, including looking at alternative political communication ‘spaces’.