Thesis (D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)) / This study is broadly conceived within the case study format, as is
exemplified by the focus on the exploration of the orientations and
operational contexts of a single media-support organisation, the Open
Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA).
Within that research approach, the thesis examines the historical and
ideological designs of OSISA, the rationale for its existence, and its interlocking
linkages with international and Southern African-based media civil
society organisations.
The study argues that OSISA was formed in response to the evolving
political situations in parts of Southern Africa in the mid-1990s, which
include the collapse of apartheid in South Africa, and the crumbling of
many authoritarian regimes on much of the rest of the sub-continent. With
all these events taking place in a relatively short space of time, the
initiators of OSISA saw a window of opportunity for supporting and
influencing the political and social transformation processes, as well as
spreading the ideology of social ‘openness’.
As such, the thesis approaches OSISA as an institution that forms a part of
the movement towards democracy or Westernisation. The study therefore
documents and analyses the theoretical antecedents that contributed to the
evolution of open society ideals, and their transplantation to Southern
Africa. Thereafter, the study explores the nexus between OSISA and local
civil society groups. This exploration is done from the theoretical
assumption that no financial aid is given without strings attached.
The study thus concludes that although locally based civil society
organisations try to negotiate their operational spaces, in the final analysis,
such groups are all embedded in (and expected to play a role within) the
9
modernisation project, of which OSISA is just one of many instruments in
that grand global venture.
Finally, the study proposes a few areas for additional investigations which
could enhance our understanding of the global forces at work in Southern
Africa. / Communication Science
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/2681 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Phiri, Samson Pharaoh |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (425 leaves) |
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