African Regional Media System in Post-Bipolar Era

Abstract

This paper examines the development of African regional media system development in the period after Cold War, including contemporary situation, both from political perspective. It is characterized primarily by the fact that Africa ceased to be an arena of confrontation between the communist and capitalist worlds, but instead it became a place for international competition for the influence on the continent between the “old” and “new” global players, mainly, between the USA, Europe and China. This struggle is manifested in high level of attention for the creation and support by main actors of various channels of influence on African audiences by mass media (both traditional — foreign broadcasting by radio and television, and Internet platforms — websites, online broadcasting, social media). Secondly, there is an attempt by the African media environment to create Pan-African media, which, being guided by commercial needs and operated in conditions of liberalized information space, are quite successful, unlike the failed projects that took place during the Cold War, being politically motivated and existed in a largely undemocratic environment. Authors argue that there are distinct sub-regional media systems that coincide with the borders of the former colonial empires. Their existence is both colonial legacy (common language, cultural ties, etc.), and a result of contemporary of media influence of the former metropolises.