Full Description
This timely book fills an important gap in the literature on the influence of the Internet and new media in Portuguese speaking African countries. Based on extensive field work throughout the region the author examines the influence of the Internet in the transition to democracy in Africa, and asks whether there are new possibilities for popular activism to emerge from evolving communication environments and media systems. The book analyses the different forms of democracy, the concept of development, and addresses the debate about the relationship between democracy and development and explores the influence of the media in the democratization process, the promises that digital media bring to this process and to development and the implications of the African digital divide. In certain countries in this region democracy and independent news media are in their infancy but are starting to take hold, giving an excellent opportunity to observe the dynamics of civil society and the influence of increased freedom, new voting powers and new media in particular. The book offers important insights into the roles and functions that the media in general, and the Internet in particular, can perform in the creation of a more democratic society, as well as in empowering and educating citizens in democratic values.
Contents
Introduction; Part I Media, Democracy and Development; Chapter 1 Development and Democracy; Chapter 2 Media, Information and Democratization; Chapter 3 The Role of the Internet: Hope, Potential and Reality; Part II Lusophone African Countries: Similar Past, Different Present, What Future?; Chapter 4 Similarities and Differences; Chapter 5 Politics and Media in Angola; Chapter 6 Politics and Media in Mozambique; Chapter 7 Politics and Media in Sao Tome and Principe; Chapter 8 Politics and Media in Cape Verde; Part III The Use of the Internet in the Lusophone African Countries and its Influence in Democratization; Chapter 9 Contextual Constraints for the Potential of the Internet in Lusophone African Countries; Chapter 10 Online News Media; Chapter 11 The Use of Blogs and Social Network Websites; Chapter 12 Political Parties' Websites; conclusion Conclusion;
