COMMUNION-COMMUNICATION: AN ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION APPROACH FOR HUMAN AND TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT

Communication and development

International, regional and national authorities are willing to integrate communication, environment in development policies; a lack of psychosocial dynamism exists however, and many gaps persist in the practical implementation of these efforts, not only because of the conflict of rationalities between an individual/community and government/donors, which would either slow down or even block territorial development. Communication plays an important role here, as it is an inescapable means of linking the involved protagonists. It is therefore necessary to look for a communicative alternative to improve awareness, leading to human and territorial development, based on the concept of communion in communication, given that the idea of “fihavanana” is already an existing cultural substratum among the Malagasy. Hence the question: “How can communion-based communication (communion-communication) improve human and territorial development? The objective consists in identifying the important variables of communion-based communication for the goals. Therefore, comes the following hypothesis: communion-based communication improves information and interpersonal communication, thereafter, ensuring better human and territorial development. A survey was carried out among three groups of 99 people in the Ambohidratrimo district, specifically in Ambohidratrimo town itself and one of its Rural Commune: Mahitsy. It was supplemented through participant observation to gather nuances of responses. The results of the statistical tests, that were carried out, revealed that communion-based communication is not put into practices, although it is strongly desired. It has the potential to balance communication, creating an environment of authentic interactions, harmonious relationships and enhanced social cohesion, conducive to human and territorial development.

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