The Many Futures for the Media in South Africa

Abstract

Political scientists have been for a considerable time engaged in debate over the political future of South Africa. Various options ranging from a continued authoritarian society to racial war have been propounded. In considering the control of power in a future society, little has been written about one of the most important power resources - the media. This article attempts to forecast the role of the media in the given political options. In none of these possible scenarios, however, does the media obtain the status and the freedom associated with liberal-democratic media.