Abstract

The relationship between sovereignty, international relations, and international media is intricate and constantly evolving. These three closely interconnected concepts significantly influence global politics and diplomacy. Sovereignty is the cornerstone of international diplomacy, while international broadcasting media remains a strategic element in international relations. Understanding the interplay between these three concepts is valuable for navigating the modern world and engaging in effective international communication. This study, anchored on Rational Choice Theory, adopted a qualitative research approach, using document review on recent cases and library research of academic literature from 1990 to 2024 as data collection methods to generate secondary data to identify randomly selected reports of international events that interrogate the nexus between the three critical components. The study found that the international media system is directly proportional to the political and economic policies adopted in various regions of the globe. Implicitly recognizing the West as the primary actor and authority in international broadcasting. It concluded that the interplay between international broadcasting, sovereignty, and international relations is complex and multifaceted. This study is relevant in understanding how sovereignty, international relations, and international media elements interact and provide valuable insights for policymakers, diplomats, and media strategists on foreign policy formulation and implementation.

Key Words: International Broadcast Media, International Relations, Politics, Sovereignty

About the Authors

* Adesegun Samson Adetola, Ph.D. ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7753-616X is a Media Officer/Farm Broadcaster with the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. His research interests encompass Development and Strategic Communication, Agricultural Communication, Media Studies, Media Technology, Digital Marketing, Public Relations, Advertising, and Journalism.

** Onyeche Elisabeth Agbiti-Douglas, Ph.D. ORCID ID: 0009-0007-7130-1221 is the Director, Nigeria Youth Future Fund, LEAP Africa, Abuja, Nigeria. Her research interests focus on the nexus between mass media and social practice, with emphasis on development, identity, culture and politics.

*** Ngozi Wellington, Ph.D., https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2771-7368 is a Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Mountain Top University, Ogun State, Nigeria. Her research interests include development communication, family communication, new media, and marketing communication.

^JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 18, No. 1, Special Issue 4, January 2026, pp. 1-13.

© Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).

Article Citation

Adetola, A. S., Agbiti-Douglas, O. E. & Wellington, N. (2026). Sovereignty, international relations and international broadcast media: Intersections and implications. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 18 (1, SP.4): 1-13.

Full Article

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