Rethinking environmental communication beyond the Western paradigm: Perspectives from Malaysia and Indonesia
Keywords:
Environmental communication, global south views, western paradigm, Malaysia, IndonesiaAbstract
This paper discusses the need to rethink environmental communication beyond Western frameworks, with a specific focus on Malaysia and Indonesia as case studies. It examines how traditional Western models of environmental communication may not fully address the unique cultural, political, and social contexts of these Southeast Asian countries. By exploring how environmental communication practices in Malaysia and Indonesia differ from Western approaches, the paper highlights the importance of adapting strategies to local realities. Robert Cox's work on environmental communication and the public sphere was analyzed to emphasize the need for frameworks that accommodate diverse voices and perspectives. This paper argues that adapting Cox’s framework to account for resource disparities between the Global South and developed regions, while balancing immediate economic needs with long-term environmental goals, is essential for supporting more effective and inclusive environmental discourse. Conflicts between the economy and the environment are particularly pronounced in developing countries, where the environment often loses out. Therefore, communicating environmental issues in Global South countries requires a cost-benefit analysis to gain the trust of the community. Based on the argument, this study underscores the necessity of developing more inclusive and context-sensitive communication frameworks to effectively address environmental issues in diverse settings.
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