Description: "A new addition to the Palgrave Studies in Communication for Social Change series, this book sets the stage for subsequent books by identifying and analysing the current gaps in the field. It critically reviews the theory and practice of Communication for Social Change (CSC) with a specific accent on the role played by structures in the creation of the discourses of CSC. Thomas and van de Fliert address issues relating to the political economy of international communication and development as the context of institutions and power structures in which CSC operates, and explore the attempts made over time, many in vain, to mainstream CSC policy and strategy. They conclude by arguing how a renewed focus on communication rights can further the belief that CSC practice should serve people's right to have their voices heard and their own goals articulated and pursued"--
Review Quotes:
'Thomas and van de Fliert compose a compelling and insighful interrogation of Communication for Social Change, raising much needed and rarely seen critical dialogue on theory and practice. Positioning communication within institutional contexts and political and economic conditions, their analyses foreground power, not just in terms of deconstruction but also as a way to consider conditions through which communication might succeed. They raise pressing questions about the future of the field and the promotion of communication rights, offering engaging directions for future research.' - Karin Gwinn Wilkins, University of Texas at Austin, USA