[acc-cca-l] CfP New Book Communications and Social Change in Africa

[Manfred Asuman]

[△EXTERNAL]


Dear Friends,
kindly find below the call for chapters for an upcoming edited collection titled "Communications and Social Change in the 21st
Century. New Perspectives from Africa"


CALL FOR CHAPTERS
Communications and Social Change in the 21st
Century. New Perspectives from Africa.
To be published by Routledge

Editors
1. Manfred Kofi Antwi Asuman, PhD – University of Western Ontario, Canada.
2. Theodora Dame Adjin-Tettey, PhD – University of Ghana, Ghana.
3. Modestus Fosu, PhD – University of Media, Arts and Communications (Ghana Institute of Journalism), Ghana.

Background and Objectives
Despite the growing body of knowledge and research in communication practice and social change worldwide, much of the research have been focused on and in the Global North (Ekdale et al, 2022a). Even from the turn of the 21st Century when research and publications on development and communications began to focus on Africa with some emphasis, they have been led by principal investigators from or affiliated to institutions in the Global North (Ekdale et al, 2022b; Ekdale, 2021, Cheruiyot, 2021). For example, an important work by Okigbo and Eribo (Eds) (2004), Development and Communication in Africa and Servaes (Ed) (2008), Communication for development and social change, although focused on Africa, have most of the contributors being non-African and/or African scholars living outside Africa. And the trend has largely persisted over the decades.
The above goes to illustrate the trudging trajectory of the academic study and profession of communications on the African continent; the growth of this field has not been all rosy. The positive role of communication in development, no matter how construed, has not been in doubt (Mohammed and Olabode, 2007). And the role of communication to either advance or inhibit development, to manipulate minds and behaviours to achieve various purposes, among others, constantly play out in human societies, not less in Africa, where the need for communication-led approaches, strategies and initiatives are regarded as avenues that can advance or negate crucial social, economic and political development (Okinda, 2009). Contemporary experience of Africa is lucid about how the media through communications has been used as a propaganda tool by political leaders, politically exposed persons and their collaborators. In other cases, mass media and communications have been used as weapons to stifle minorities and clamp down on different and opposing views (De Vreese., Esser, and Hopmann, 2022), much as they can also advance socio-political and economic transformations if properly contextualised, understood and appropriately harnessed.
This book aims to capture case studies, original research and essays on how communication has affected social change in theory and practice since the turn of the millennium (year 2000), and how it can continue to do so into the future. The book’s orientation is to provide an opportunity for African based communication researchers and academics to share their research with the African academic community, students and the global academic community generally. This book will promote the most appropriate socio-cultural contexts for the publication of research and knowledge about communications and social change on the African continent. It will also encourage a deeper appreciation and understanding of the various issues and arguments raised in the various chapters of the book, as authors and contributors will have the necessary background to address their arguments and situate them within necessary socio-cultural African contexts. This

book aims to explore the practice of communications both as a profession and as an academic discipline, thereby aiming to give credence to the theoretical motivations for the study of communications and the professional foundations for the practice of communications in Africa. Additionally, this collection aims to confront how the growing democratic political dispensation of nations in Sub-Saharan Africa is shaping, influencing and encouraging social change communications, through the training of professionals, the liberalisation of the media, the development and establishment of broadcasting enterprises and how the media is shaping how people participate in the issues and discussions that bring them development. The book will provide insights on how communities in Africa use their agency through communications to demand accountability from their leaders and elected representatives. Furthermore, the book aims to provide knowledge on how communications is practised within indigenous African contexts, how communication is taught as an academic discipline and how communications is used to stimulate change within African contexts, with a specific focus on sub-Saharan African communities, African professional settings and citizen-government relations. The book will equip university lecturers, students and researchers with a compilation of experiences, activities, case studies and essays on communication theory as well as teaching and research methodology on communication studies grounded within the ontological and epistemic realities of Africa. There are very few books on the market presently that focus on this body of knowledge in the African context even though the field of communication studies has seen an increase in scholarship globally within the last couple of years (Ekdale et al, 2022a). The book will be a valuable companion to academic or industry personnel who are interested in communications training, global media studies, African cultural studies, and anthropology.

Scope and Topics of Interest
We welcome chapter proposals in the form of case studies, essays and original research in, but not limited to the following areas of communications, society and social change. Contributions are encouraged from academics, industry practitioners as well as civil society.
1. Communications, media and gender
2. Inter-cultural communication and communication practices
3. Health communications
4. Communication and social movements
5. Peace and conflict communications
6. Indigenous knowledge and perspectives of communications
7. Theories and concepts of communications in Africa
8. Communications and multi-party democracy
9. Communications pedagogy and education in Africa
10. Language use and communications
11. Communications and public health
12. Communication and the arts
13. Ethical foundations of communication in the African context

Interested contributors are encouraged to submit a maximum 300-word abstract summarizing the chapter background, mission, and goals. The submission must also contain the names of all contributing authors, institution of affiliation, contact details and a 100-word biography of all authors.

The final chapter should be 6000 words maximum, including references, tables and figures. The chapters will be reviewed through a double-blind review process.

All submissions must be sent to the editors: s221511024 at mandela.ac.za<mailto:s221511024 at mandela.ac.za>with the subject “Communication and Social Change Book”
Deadline for submission is 28th February, 2023.

Important Dates
28th February, 2023 – Deadline for Submission of Abstracts 30th March, 2023 – Author Notifications and Author Instructions 30th December, 2023 – First Draft of Chapter Due
1st February, 2024 – Reviewed First Draft Returned to Authors 15th April, 2024 – Final Chapters Due
1st November, 2024 – Final Book Published

Kindly direct all queries to theodoradame at yahoo.com<mailto:theodoradame at yahoo.com> and modestus.fosu at gij.edu.gh<mailto:modestus.fosu at gij.edu.gh>


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