Conclusion

Abstract

This chapter provides a retrospective overview of the three main arguments presented in the book: first, that conflict cannot be completely eradicated—even more so, that conflict is a feature of democratizing processes; second, that African democracies, and the media’s role within them, is not a one-size-fits-all system; and third, that media ethical values and practices are best thought of as collaborative and dialogic. It summarizes the issues discussed in the various individual chapters, recaps the key concepts and debates pertaining to democratization conflicts in Africa, and restates the key idea of an “ethics of engagement” as centered on listening and reciprocity.