The Role of Media Discourse in Fostering Patriotism among Political and Non-Political Affiliates

Abstract

The research aimed to identify differences in patriotism between political party members (PPMs) and non-political party members (NPPMs) in Sudan, examine the impact of media on patriotism, compare patriotism level(PL), and explore how demographics and political beliefs influence these differences. This study employed a quantitative field methodology using an independent samples t-test to compare the impact of media discourse on PL between PPMs and NPPMs in Sudan. Participants were 380 educated male and female individuals engaged with media, selected from all 18 states. The researcher collected data using an electronic questionnaire, distributed it through email, Facebook, and WhatsApp, and analyzed it using IBM SPSS software. Inferential statistics showed NPPMs accounted for 52.6%, with PPMs at 47.4%. PPMs exhibited significantly higher PL (mean = 52.53) than NPPMs (mean = 32.46). NPPMs had a considerable standard deviation (11.60 vs. 2.80), indicating higher variability. Levene's test (p = 0.000) indicated unequal variances. The independent samples t-test confirmed significant differences (t (224.48) = 23.73, p = 0.000), affirming that media discourse significantly influenced PPMs patriotism compared to NPPMs. Conclusively, the study showed that media discourse effectively impacted patriotism. It explained variations in patriotism between PPMs and NPPMs. PPMs exhibited higher PL compared to NPPMs. Improving education and media can instill patriotic values. The independent sample t-test highlighted significant differences, demonstrating the media's role in shaping social values.