Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

“Development” refers to the process of social change that has as its objective the promotion of physical and material progress (→  Development Communication ). The “silent engine” that drives this development endeavor is communication. In the developed world, development communication is geared toward addressing the dysfunctions of physical and material progress. In the developing world, it is concerned with the provision of physical and material infrastructure. But it is also concerned with social change in the form of inspiring hard work, eliciting self-help, and providing education, health facilities, and other critical conditions. Africa is one of the regions in the developing world where development seems to be occurring slowly. As a result, there has been great concern about how to stimulate development and social change. The act of exchanging views, opinions, and ideas on how to bring about this stimulation of development is the key thrust of development communication. Although it is often not engaged as such by governments, this process works best through the →  participatory communication processes critical to substantive social change. However, the way this exchange of views for the purposes of community improvement is done and the underlying cultural and philosophical base that give effect to such exchange differ from society to society. In traditional Africa, communication ... log in or subscribe to read full text