The Role of Communication in Nation-Building: A Theoretical Framework for South African National Unity

Abstract

Communication plays a crucial role in the formation of a nation and its identity. It is apparent that the government of South Africa has previously started nation-building initiatives, but it is unclear how much the public is involved in the design and implementation of these campaigns. In this study, the contemporary literature on communication in the context of nation-building was critically engaged to clarify the role that communication plays in nation-building. The study concludes that the two-way symmetrical model is the best as it emphasises honest information exchanges between the public and the government through interactive communication. In order to effectively communicate with both internal and external target audiences and advance the agenda for nation-building, the South African government should employ communication techniques that will create and maintain enduring relationships with the public based on mutual trust by implementing participatory communication approaches to nation-building.