The thesis investigates community radio as a tool for development drawing on case studies
of Nkhotakota and Mzimba community radio stations in Malawi. The thesis employs
communication for development and ‘another’ development theories to help understand the
role of community radio in development. The research aims are firstly, to investigate the
extent and ways in which community radio is used as a tool for development through
audience participation; and secondly to examine the extent to which communication for
development in community radio in Malawi takes the form of participatory
communication. Using the case study approach (Yin, 2009), the thesis specifically
examines the functions of participation in development through community radio; whether
community radio can encourage development through enhancing capabilities and
participation even when people do not own and manage the stations; how radio listening
Clubs (RLCs) help to expand people’s capabilities; and how the programming of
community radio in Malawi is influenced by the agendas of development agencies.
Arnstein’s (1969) ladder of participation and Carpentier’s (2011) minimalist and
maximalist versions of participation are adopted as criteria for evaluating the different
levels of participation in and through community radio.
The findings show that community radio in Malawi firstly, affords ordinary people
opportunities to participate in the media and in development projects and, secondly
informs people about development initiatives from development agencies. Although these
functions overlap, the thesis finds that community radio stations in Malawi concentrate
more on the latter. The programming of the stations is influenced by the agendas of
development agents who sponsor programmes thereby reducing opportunities for
participation. However, although people’s participation in the media is low or reduced,
there are other ways in which through the media, people can benefit, enhance their
capabilities and through which development agencies can reach their goals. The thesis
argues that the radio stations fit well with an approach to development related to building
capabilities (Sen, 1992) because they sometimes give people resources to enhance their
capabilities and sometimes act as partners with development agencies and government,
facilitating a variety of development goals. The thesis concludes that community radio in
Malawi enables capabilities although very rarely through fully-fledged participation.