ISSN 1027-0353
African Journal of Political Science ISSN 3461-2165 Vol. 15 (5), pp. 001-010, May, 2021. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
UN discourse and information power: An illustration via HIV/AIDS news in Uganda
Tara Das
198 Wilson St. Apt. 5D Brooklyn, NY 11211 USA. E-mail: [email protected]. Phone: 1-201-452-4036.
Accepted 26, April 2021
Abstract
International organizations disseminate vast amounts of information on social problems. To what extent does this dissemination manifest in discourse and information power? That is to say, how do country-level actors respond to international information on HIV/AIDS? This paper addresses this question using Uganda as case study and examines how actors adopt, modify, or ignore information disseminated by UN organizations. Using news content analysis, it is discerned that while international information is influential, country actors exercise agency. They identify and adopt specific international information that accord with their particular objectives and situations. With respect to national adoption of international information, the extent to which country policy actors adopt international information derives from country experiences and relations with the international community. International information is not imposed on blank canvases; it intersects with domestic politics. Regional information on HIV/AIDS has also developed on issues like donor fraud and government corruption, traditional medicine, and access to antiretroviral treatment.
Key words: UNAIDS, World Bank, Uganda, HIV/AIDS, discourse, power, international organizations