Development As Communication: A Perspective on India

This book applies a systematic communication theory to the 30-plus years of development experience in India.

Never before has development been treated from a communication perspective. This perspective demonstrates that the role of communication in development is not limited to the technology of satellites or to the economics of mass media; it is a way of thinking about the interaction among all agents involved.

The empirical data describe patterns of social realities, actions, and commu­nication networks among planners, con­tact agents, and the masses in two Indian communities. The result is an analytical review of development theories and practice in India.

This study is practical as well as theoretical. The authors show how the theory of the "coordinated management of meaning" applies to large-scale social interactions. They also offer specific recommendations for Indian development planners.