The Correlation Between Development and Communication

It has become generally accepted that communication and development are so closely inter-connected and there can be no development without the aid of communication. It is generally accepted that communication can play crucial role in effecting community development. This acceptance is based on realization that communication is both an organic part of development and an instrument for furthering that process. The relationship between communication and development has had a long history and communication has come to be generally recognized as an indispensable tool in every effort to achieving development.  This fact is now so widely acknowledged that communication has become accepted in practically all countries as an integral part of development planning and as an instrument of policy. This recognition of the important role of communication in the development process has generated numerous policy-related and theoretical research endeavors, as well as conceptual discussions, all aimed at formulating strategies that will enhance the contributions and effectiveness of communication in the development process. In fact, no wonder the Mac Bride Commission recommended that communication should be considered a major development resource. There is evidence from many development countries that development and communication are strongly correlated.  The correlations are so strong that they provide a justification for building communication into the development process. It would rather be said that there is no longer room for uncertainty about the place of communication in development strategy and about the role it should play in economic planning and development.

A question that quickly comes to mind at this point is what are the ways in which communication performs all the above mentioned roles in community and national development? Looking at this question, one simply can say that the answer is not far fetched.  The major role of communication in effecting development is creating awareness. This is to say that it widens the knowledge of the people on a particular issue. In addition to this, creating awareness through communication is a way through which people are provided with the knowledge about the development activities. Furthermore, another way through which communication can effect development is by mobilization. Many Communication scholars have famously agreed that communication is a potent tool for mobilization and persuasion. By persuasion, people are made to believe in the existential reality of the development project. This is the essence of motivation and mobilization. They are paramount in anything that needs integrated effort. In essence, communication is used to inform people and make them accept the development plans introduced in that area.