A Multilevel Analysis of News and Communication Influences on Political Engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract Research shows that access to public affairs information can enhance political engagement, yet studies have paid less attention to how variations in country attributes may shape the relationship between information and political engagement in the global south. Drawing on a differential gains framework, this study examines associations between news use, political discussion, and political engagement across 30 African countries (N = 42,684) varying in their level of democratic and economic development. While political talk positively predicts diverse forms of political engagement, the relationship between news use and engagement is more nuanced. Multilevel analyses show weak positive and negative moderating effects of country-level variables. Findings contribute to the growing research and theorizing about political engagement in sub-Saharan Africa and suggest areas for further exploration.