Militarisation, hegemony and the South African media 1976 - 1986

An article by Keyan Tomaselli and P. Eric Louw

Abstract
The militarisation of South Africa during the period 1976-1986 left its impact on the media as well as on other sectors of society. However, the, media were especially deeply affected by the process of rnilitarisation. One reason for the deep inroadsmilitarisation made on the media was the central place accorded to the role of communication and the media within the 'total
strategy' I WHAM (Win Hearts and Minds) theory - a theory that was influential within the military fraction of the South African state. As the influence of the militaryfraction grew within the state, so stare communication policy shifted. This, in turn, created certain tensions within the ruling hegemonic alliance. This paper will describe the relationship between Beaufrian strategic theory within the South African Defence Force, state communicationpolicy and the militarisation of the South African media. The paper will also trace out how fractional tensions andshifts within the ruling hegemonic alliance were revealed by a shifing state media policy, and by the reaction of differing sections of the media to these shifts.

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