African Media and the Digital Public Sphere examines, from theoretical and empirical perspectives, the claims that new information and communication technologies (ICTs) are catalysts of democratic change in Africa. Contributors do so from optimist, pragmatist-realist and pessimist stances through analyses of words and deeds of various political actors and organizations or institutions, from government units to political parties and party leaders to civil society organizations and minority groups. It is the first such publication contributed to by various African and Africanist scholars, based in Africa and around the world, whose research and/or practice activities focus on the relationship between new digital media and democracy on the continent.
Author(s): Okoth Fred Mudhai, Wisdom J. Tettey, Fackson Banda
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 260
Cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 6
List of Tables......Page 8
Preface......Page 10
Notes on Contributors......Page 14
1 Introduction: New Media and Democracy in Africa—A Critical Interjection......Page 18
2 Implications for Africa of E-Gov Challenges for Giants South Africa and Nigeria......Page 38
3 “Misclick” on Democracy: New Media Use by Key Political Parties in Kenya’s Disputed December 2007 Presidential Election......Page 58
4 Repression, Propaganda, and Digital Resistance: New Media and Democracy in Zimbabwe......Page 74
5 Democractic Process, Civic Consciousness, and the Internet in Francophone Africa......Page 90
6 Use of the Internet by NGOs to Promote Government Accountability: The Case of Egypt......Page 106
7 ICTization beyond Urban Male Elites: Issues of Gender Equality and Empowerment......Page 122
8 ICTs, Youths, and the Politics of Participation in Rural Uganda......Page 142
9 Transnationalism, the African Diaspora, and the Deterritorialized Politics of the Internet......Page 160
10 Globalization from below? ICTs and Democratic Development in the Project “Indymedia Africa”......Page 182
11 New Public Spheres: The Digital Age and Big Brother......Page 200
12 Popular Music, New Media, and the Digital Public Sphere in Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria......Page 220
13 News Media Use of ICTs amidst War, Violence, and Political Turmoil in the Central African Great Lakes......Page 240
14 Conflict Coverage in a Digital Age: Challenges for African Media......Page 256
C......Page 272
E......Page 273
I......Page 274
N......Page 275
R......Page 276
Z......Page 277
