Rural development and social communication : relationships and strategies

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between rural development and social communication, challenging the traditional models of development and communication that have prevailed in Latin America. It advocates a humanistic, democratic, and participatory approach in which communication functions as a process of dialogue and mutual interaction rather than persuasion. The author analyzes the structural limitations of rural communication systems, including unequal access to mass media, urban concentration of information, inadequate content for rural populations, and the lack of coherent communication planning. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for integrated communication policies and strategies that support rural development through participation, social justice, and improved quality of life.