Communication in an Era of Global Conflicts assesses trends and issues in communication and their implications for conflicts in the African context. In doing so, the various chapters draw from culture, tradition, folklore, communication and conflict theories, principles and strategies, and from systems approach to conflict resolution. The underlying assumption of all the chapters is the pivotal role of communication--new media, traditional mass communication, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, and communication technologies--in conflict and conflict resolution. This book is unique for its multidimensional perspectives, a long overdue addition to the growing literature on conflicts in Africa.

This collection of essays originates from discussions at various fora about the need for Nigerian media scholars to analyse the country's media industry and practice. Some of the areas covered are: Socio-historical context of the development of Nigerian media; A critical analysis of state press relations in Nigeria, 1999-2005; Journalism ethics in Nigeria; and Newspapers' cartoons portrayal of human rights abuses in periods of economic deregulation in Nigeria.

Communication is changing rapidly around the world, particularly in Africa, where citizens are embracing digital technologies not only to improve not only interpersonal communication but also the state of their financial well-being. This book investigates these transformations in Nigeria’s booming communication industry. The book traces communications in Nigeria back to pre-colonial indigenous communications, through the development of telecommunication, broadcasting networks, the press, the Nigerian film industry (‘Nollywood’) and on to the digital era. At a time when Western voices still dominate the academic literature on communication in Africa, this book is noteworthy in drawing almost exclusively on the expertise of Nigerian-based authors, critiquing the discipline from their own lens and providing an important contribution to the decolonisation of communication studies. The authors provide a holistic analysis of the sector, encompassing print journalism, broadcast journalism, public relations, advertising, film, development communication, organisational communication and strategic communication. Analysis of the role of digital technologies is woven throughout the book, concluding with a final section theorising the future of communication studies in Nigeria in the light of the digital media revolution. Robust in its theoretical and methodological underpinnings, this book will be an important reference for researchers of media and communication studies, and those working on Africa specifically.

This book explores the role and place of popular, traditional and digital media platforms in the mediatization, representation and performance of various conflicts and peacebuilding interventions in the African context. The role of the media in conflict is often depicted as either ‘good’ (as symbolized by peace journalism) or ‘bad’ (as exemplified by war journalism), but this book moves beyond this binary to highlight the ‘in-between’ role that the media often plays in times of conflict. The volume does not only focus on the relationship between mass media, conflict and peacebuilding processes but it broadens its scope by critically analysing the dynamic and emergent roles of popular and digital media platforms in a continent where the semi-literate and oral communities still rely heavily on popular communication platforms to get news and information. Whilst social media platforms have been hailed for their assumed democratic and digital dividends, this book does not only focus on these positive aspects but also shines a light on dark forms of participation which are fuelling racial, gender, ethnic, political and religious conflicts in highly polarized and stratified societies. Highlighting the many ways in which traditional, digital and popular media can be used to both escalate conflicts and promote peacebuilding, this volume will be a useful resource for students, researchers and civil society groups interested in peace and conflict studies, journalism and media studies in different contexts within Africa.