Theoretical Perspectives: Towards a Zambian Political Economy of Communication

Abstract

This article outlines the trends and issues of the political economy of communication as they relate to the Zambian media system. The political economy approach has broadened in its application to include an extensive range of issues related to politics, economy and society in general. It has especially grown in importance as an analytical tool for interpreting media and communications systems. However, it appears that when a Third World country uses political economy as an analytical tool, it becomes embroiled in a global “one size fits all” framework which fails to address specific intricacies of the region. Drawing on the conceptualisation of the political economy of communication by scholars, this article argues that the approach is too Western oriented. Some scholars have problematised the implications and proposed to “de-westernise” or “internationalise” media studies. However, this paper specifically suggests that the debate on political economy in media and communication studies could inform a more rigorous discussion if located in regional and national contexts such as Zambia in this case. This article therefore, goes beyond the present domination of the Western conceptualisation of the political economy and draws on the country’s distinctive experiences and interprets the Zambian media system within a more responsive and fitting framework.

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