Cosmopolitan Communication Studies: Toward Deep Internationalization
Bielefeld: transcript Verlag (2025), 318 pp.
Series: Edition Medienwissenschaft, 118
ISBN 978-3-8376-7677-8 (print); 978-3-8394-7677-2 (pdf)
"This book aims to contribute to a “deep internationalization” of media and communication studies by offering insights and guidance on how to integrate a cosmopolitan perspective in our discipline. Building onthe debates on de-Westernization and cosmopolitanism in the decades since the 2000s, the book advocates for the inclusion of both global and local perspectives and context-led approaches in communication studies. We argue that acknowledging and incorporating epistemologies, topics, and methodologies from diverse regions, contexts, and backgrounds will enhance the comprehensiveness and relevance of our discipline and foster a more inclusive and meaningful understanding in communication studies.
This book is the main outcome of the research network Cosmopolitan Communication Studies, which was set up in 2019 and was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) from 2021–2025. It comprises both established and emerging scholars located mainly in Germany who are campaigning for a deep internationalization. The network has provided a mapping of the research and teaching landscape in communication studies in Germany, pointing to its lack of internationalization.It has published policy and debate papers and organized several conferences and PhD workshops. This book is the product of multiple rounds of discussions among network members and associated authors, aiming to contribute to the debate about internationalization and advocating a cosmopolitan turn in communication studies. Although the network was set up within a German-speaking context, we recognize that the topics and challenges addressed in this book go far beyond the German-speaking research community. Thus, the primary aim of this work is to foster the connection of research communities from different parts of the world to advance the cosmopolitanization of communication studies." (Introduction, pages 7-8)
This book is the main outcome of the research network Cosmopolitan Communication Studies, which was set up in 2019 and was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) from 2021–2025. It comprises both established and emerging scholars located mainly in Germany who are campaigning for a deep internationalization. The network has provided a mapping of the research and teaching landscape in communication studies in Germany, pointing to its lack of internationalization.It has published policy and debate papers and organized several conferences and PhD workshops. This book is the product of multiple rounds of discussions among network members and associated authors, aiming to contribute to the debate about internationalization and advocating a cosmopolitan turn in communication studies. Although the network was set up within a German-speaking context, we recognize that the topics and challenges addressed in this book go far beyond the German-speaking research community. Thus, the primary aim of this work is to foster the connection of research communities from different parts of the world to advance the cosmopolitanization of communication studies." (Introduction, pages 7-8)
Cosmopolitan communication studies. Toward deep internationalization. An introduction / Carola Richter, Melanie Radue, Christine Horz-Ishak, Anna Litvinenko, Hanan Badr & Anke Fiedler , 7
Historical trajectories of entanglement and ignorance. German, French, and Brazilian communication studies in dialogue / Stefanie Averbeck-Lietz, Lisa Bolz & Otávio Daros, 27
Global media and communication ethics. The tension between universalism and cosmopolitanism / Barbara Thomass, 53
Diversity within the media. Cosmopolitan perspectives on social positions and structures in Germany / Christine Horz-Ishak, 67
Beyond mediatization. The importance of non-mediated political and social communication in international comparative research / Kai Hafez & Anne Grüne, 89
A context-led approach to media systems research / Melanie Radue, Johanna Mack & Carola Richter, 115
From media to AI governance studies. Decentering established patterns through cosmopolitan critique / Sarah Anne Ganter, 131
Reimagining risk and crisis communication research through a cosmopolitan lens / Pauline Gidget Estella, Martin Löffelholz & Yi Xu, 151
Prefix journalisms. Selected concepts and their cosmopolitan potentials and pitfalls / Melanie Radue, Thomas Eckerl, Oliver Hahn & Beate Illg, 169
Cosmopolitanization of war coverage research. Empowering non-Western narratives / Kathrin Schleicher & Aynur Sarısakaloğlu, 187
Cosmopolitanization of journalism research in the era of artificial intelligence. Bridging the global divide in algorithm-driven journalism / Aynur Sarısakaloğlu, 205
Fact-checking. Broadening the research horizon with Latin American perspectives on the fight against misinformation / Regina Cazzamatta, 227
The industry known as ‘media development’. Analyzing media assistance from a cosmopolitan perspective in mass communication / Susanne Fengler, Ines Drefs, Mira Keßler, Michel Leroy, Johanna Mack, Fabíola Ortiz dos Santos, Viviane Schönbächler, Stefan Wollnik & Roja Zaitoonie, 247
Challenges and possibilities of context-specific differences in international journalism training / Mira Keßler with contributions from Kefa Hamidi & Beate Illg, 267
International research collaborations and networks. Challenges and solutions to assembling and working in international research teams / Sophia C. Volk, 289
Historical trajectories of entanglement and ignorance. German, French, and Brazilian communication studies in dialogue / Stefanie Averbeck-Lietz, Lisa Bolz & Otávio Daros, 27
Global media and communication ethics. The tension between universalism and cosmopolitanism / Barbara Thomass, 53
Diversity within the media. Cosmopolitan perspectives on social positions and structures in Germany / Christine Horz-Ishak, 67
Beyond mediatization. The importance of non-mediated political and social communication in international comparative research / Kai Hafez & Anne Grüne, 89
A context-led approach to media systems research / Melanie Radue, Johanna Mack & Carola Richter, 115
From media to AI governance studies. Decentering established patterns through cosmopolitan critique / Sarah Anne Ganter, 131
Reimagining risk and crisis communication research through a cosmopolitan lens / Pauline Gidget Estella, Martin Löffelholz & Yi Xu, 151
Prefix journalisms. Selected concepts and their cosmopolitan potentials and pitfalls / Melanie Radue, Thomas Eckerl, Oliver Hahn & Beate Illg, 169
Cosmopolitanization of war coverage research. Empowering non-Western narratives / Kathrin Schleicher & Aynur Sarısakaloğlu, 187
Cosmopolitanization of journalism research in the era of artificial intelligence. Bridging the global divide in algorithm-driven journalism / Aynur Sarısakaloğlu, 205
Fact-checking. Broadening the research horizon with Latin American perspectives on the fight against misinformation / Regina Cazzamatta, 227
The industry known as ‘media development’. Analyzing media assistance from a cosmopolitan perspective in mass communication / Susanne Fengler, Ines Drefs, Mira Keßler, Michel Leroy, Johanna Mack, Fabíola Ortiz dos Santos, Viviane Schönbächler, Stefan Wollnik & Roja Zaitoonie, 247
Challenges and possibilities of context-specific differences in international journalism training / Mira Keßler with contributions from Kefa Hamidi & Beate Illg, 267
International research collaborations and networks. Challenges and solutions to assembling and working in international research teams / Sophia C. Volk, 289
