Praxis, Opportunities, and Recommendations: Reflecting on Political Crisis Communication in Africa

Abstract

Studies on crisis communication have been described as Western and Asiacentric, with a heavy emphasis on China. Scholars have called for more research, particularly in the Global South. This chapter responds to this clarion call by giving an overview of African political crisis communication. In this chapter, we provide an exposition of the area by defining political crisis communication, highlight some relevant theories to argue about the paucity of literature in Africa, and provide an overview of political crisis communication in Africa. Factors such as the continent's colonial history, the traditional media's influential role, the internet penetration rate, and the role of actors such as the church as well as civil society groups may account for the uniqueness of Africa to others. We believe political crisis communication practitioners should take notice of these factors in developing their strategies. Finally, we provide a case study to highlight our arguments about the need for further theorization, methodological exploration, and expanding the scope of research. This chapter contributes to the broader discussion on crisis communication in a marginalized context.