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*Media and Democratization: The African Experience
Call for Chapter Submissions*
Editors: Anthony A. Olorunnisola & Aziz Douai
Abstract Submission: April 15, 2010; Notification to Authors: May 1, 2010;
Final Paper Submission: August 30, 2010
*Introduction*
Though the terms are independent and often conjoined, the media in Africa
have always played an important role in democratic and non-democratic
states. African countries under autocratic dispensations have witnessed
media collaboration with civil society to resist and oppose as well as to
confirm prevailing public and political views on issues of the day. As well=
,
media in African nations transiting from autocracy to democracy have focuse=
d
on politicians, diplomats, activists and others who worked toward completio=
n
of political transformations. As institutions, the mass media have also bee=
n
objects of scrutiny particularly when they are controlled by government
and/or are run by major businesses and when editorial policies are either
impacted by partisanship or by profit margins; both of which stir
controversies. Communication researchers, in particular those whose work
focuses on the mass media and political institutions in Africa, have
extensively treated foregoing issues using competing paradigms and differen=
t
methodological approaches.
*Objective of the Book*
Editors seek innovative authors of chapters focused on media and
democratization in Africa by assessing the successes and challenges with a
shift in analytical orientation. Especially, we are interested in chapters
that problematize the consistencies/inconsistencies between principles and
institutions of western democracy vis-=E0-vis African political cultures.
Recent events in Kenya, Mauritania, Nigeria, Niger, and in Zimbabwe raise
deep concerns about the viability of democratic governance and of
libertarian media in Africa, although they have received little attention.
Relatively crises-free political transitions and continued media freedoms i=
n
Ghana and South Africa appear encouraging when juxtaposed with occurrences
elsewhere in Africa but leave unquestioned answers. While autocratic
syndromes in the form of stringent media regulations and sit-tight
leadership are not all defeated, backsliding on media reforms even in
=93transitioning=94 African democracies persist. Simply put, the implementa=
tion
of democratic reforms in Africa=92s political systems have had mixed outcom=
es
and impacts on media freedoms; the time is ripe for a book volume that take=
s
stock of these developments. The proposed volume aims to fill this gap.
*Sample Approaches*
Interested authors could approach media and democracy in any of the African
countries from historical and critical perspectives; by conducting
meta-analyses of existing research; as well as by presenting new empirical
studies (comparative or otherwise) that contribute to theory building. All
theoretical, empirical, and methodology approaches are welcome from
cross-disciplinary approaches. Themes to be considered could include but ar=
e
not limited to::
- Contextualized reviews concerning the state of African media and
democracy research from a historical perspective;
- Innovative analyses that seek to establish common denominators amongst
concepts and/or are able to capture culturally diverse media and democra=
tic
systems on the African continent;
- Conceptual and methodological challenges posed by attempts to
understand and/or implement =93free press=94; =93democratic principles=
=94;
=93democratic institutions=94 in the culturally distinct (from the West=
; that
is) African contexts;
- Conceptually- and/or theoretically-informed evaluation of what African=
s
have done to/with media and democracy as well as what =93free media=94 a=
nd
=93democracy=94 (as derivatives of western cultures) have done to/for Af=
ricans;
- Conceptually- and theoretically-informed evaluation of the
intersections between media and democracy from citizens=92 perspectives;
- Case studies assessing media reforms and/or the role of the media in
democratic transitions in Africa;
- Assessments of how (and whether) new media are empowering African
citizens vis-=E0-vis the state;
- New empirical evidence that contributes to theory-building or
challenges established theories;
- Other approaches that resonate with aforementioned areas of focus and
orientations.
* Submission Requirements and Deadlines*
Respondents to this call for competitive chapters should send an abstract o=
f
no more than 500 words and a short bio to the Editors=92 email addresses by
April 15, 2010. Authors of accepted abstracts will be notified by May 1,
2010 and asked to submit a full chapter of no more than 8,000 words by
August 30, 2010.
Authors are invited to propose and later submit well-researched
chapters that provide enriching insights into the subject matter. Chapter
proposals, preferably products of original works which have not appeared,
nor are under consideration, in other venues are especially welcome.
Authors should follow the American Psychological Association (APA)
style manual and submit abstracts and chapters in MS Word. All submissions
should be sent as email attachments to the Editors at (axo8 /at/ psu.edu) and
(aziz.douai /at/ uoit.ca). Manuscripts of full chapters will be peer-reviewed by a=
n
international corps of readers.
