"This study focuses on the institutional practice of international development communication. Through a qualitative study of the Videoletters project, it examines a situated process of intervention in its complexity and analyzes how the specifics of mediation illuminate issues of proximity and dista
...
nce in the relationship between bilateral funders, the citizens of the countries that their intervention claims to assist, and the governance structures of the countries intervened. Videoletters was a media-driven intervention aimed at reconnecting ordinary people affected by ethno-political divisions across the former Yugoslavia between 2000 and 2005. Adopted by European bilateral funders for large-scale implementation, the project was categorized as a “tool for reconciliation”. The study explores how this specific intervention was initiated, implemented, circulated and evaluated in practice. Issues of ethics and accountability at stake in the process are analyzed in relation to a framework of global justice. Findings indicate that mediated communication intervention may be embraced by bilateral funders for its potential to make them look good in the eyes of Western audiences beyond discourses about its potential to do good for the citizens of troubled countries. By linking international development communication to a framework of justice, the study contributes to a critical agenda for theorization and research that takes accountability into consideration and puts citizens at the center." (Back cover)
more
"La presente publicación tiene como principal intención revisar la riqueza analítica y propositiva de la comunicación en el campo del desarrollo, en el actual contexto de “redimensionamiento” de la cultura y su relación con el cambio social; entendiendo que esta diversidad de puntos de part
...
ida reconfiguran los escenarios y competencias del quehacer de los comunicadores en la sociedad actual. Este libro nace de una preocupación pedagógica de los autores quienes construimos cada uno de los artículos que lo integran a propósito de nuestra labor docente en el marco del Seminario “Usos Socio-políticos de la Cultura en el Desarrollo”, que dictamos entre 2010 y 2012 en la Facultad de Periodismo y Comunicación de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (FPyCS – UNLP) y en la Licenciatura en Comunicación Social de la Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)." (Presentación, página 6)
more
"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 a
...
nd 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." (Publisher description)
more
"This chapter first discusses evaluation of communication for development in relation to ideas around participation and social change, before presenting the framework for evaluating communication for development and social change, and the key principles that underpin it. It then describes some of th
...
e most interesting current trends and debates in development evaluation that informed the development of the framework, and outlines some strategies for overcoming the many challenges and issues associated with implementing this alternative evaluation approach. The chapter discusses some of the aspects of systems thinking and complexity theory that informs the framework, and gives brief examples to illustrate their relevance. Finally, the chapter discusses the implications for increasing the sustainability and effectiveness of communication for development and social change." (Summary)
more
"This chapter argues that narrative can be particularly well suited to transcend the unhelpful polarizations – behavioral versus social change, diffusion versus participatory approaches – that have characterized and restricted global health communication to date. The chapter describes a series o
...
f theoretical rationales and cases that can be enlisted to support the conceptualization of storytelling for social change practices and their effects at multiple levels of analysis. Next, it considers the theoretical base and cases on narrative and narration into articulation with the “Scenarios from Africa” process. Culture has been conceptualized as a “static set of never-changing values and norms” to which individuals are subject, rather than as “a complex, dynamic, and adaptive system of meaning” that is constantly evolving under the influence of individuals and collectivities. The theory of narrative and education proposed by cultural and educational psychologist, Jerome Bruner, provides a compelling grounding for this social constructivist perspective." (Summary)
more
"This chapter will focus on the theorizing of communication and social change. It will argue that theory must enable people to know the world. It will also argue the limits to token participation and the unsustainability of "behavioral change communication'' that is theorized outside of structures,
...
power flows, and cultures. Using the Right to Information movement in India as a case study, this chapter will explore grounded meanings of "voice" and "participation'' and will argue the need for a theory of communication for social change that is informed by people's needs and struggles. If theory is a set of principles informed by and drawn from observations of everyday needs and practice, its explanatory power is bound to remain consistent over time. Theory offers us a framework for knowing the world and the validation of concepts that are critical to apprehending and making sense of reality. I argue in this chapter that the Right to Information movement in India gives opportunities to explore communication and social change theory from the bottom up." (Abstract)
more
"Este trabajo es el referente conceptual de la Maestría en Comunicación, desarrollo y cambio social de la Facultad de Comunicación de la Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios, Uniminuto. Tiene como obejtivo presentar un recrrido histórico de la construcción del campo académico de la comuni
...
cación en su relación con el desarrollo y el cambio social. A lo largo del texto se explicita por qué se asume a la comuncación como un campo académico, para luego exponer cómo este campo de la comunicación se ha hecho práctica, y, luego, cuáles son los hitos teóricos que lo han posicionado frente al paradigma dominante de la comunicación. En este tranajo no se asume una posición única sobre este tipo de comunicación; es decir, aquí se habla de la comunicación alternativa, popular, para el desarrollo, para el cambio social, y de la relación entre comunicación y desarrollo." (Página 456)
more
"To a certain extent the field's shortcomings could be the consequence of academic work increasingly trapped in the normativity of the development industry and out of touch with the variety of agents concerned with social injustice worldwide, who are deploying communication and media strategies to a
...
dvance their struggles." (Page 134)
more
"Evaluating Communication for Development presents a comprehensive framework for evaluating communication for development (C4D). This framework combines the latest thinking from a number of fields in new ways. It critiques dominant instrumental, accountability-based approaches to development and eva
...
luation and offers an alternative holistic, participatory, mixed methods approach based on systems and complexity thinking and other key concepts. It maintains a focus on power, gender and other differences and social norms. The authors have designed the framework as a way to focus on achieving sustainable social change and to continually improve and develop C4D initiatives. The benefits and rigour of this approach are supported by examples and case studies from a number of action research and evaluation capacity development projects undertaken by the authors over the past fifteen years. Building on current arguments within the fields of C4D and development, the authors reinforce the case for effective communication being a central and vital component of participatory forms of development, something that needs to be appreciated by decision makers. They also consider ways of increasing the effectiveness of evaluation capacity development from grassroots to management level in the development context, an issue of growing importance to improving the quality, effectiveness and utilisation of monitoring and evaluation studies in this field. The book includes a critical review of the key approaches, methodologies and methods that are considered effective for planning evaluation, assessing the outcomes of C4D, and engaging in continuous learning." (Publisher description)
more
"Much has been written about theatre's capacity to create social change. Theatre of Good Intentions: Challenges and Hopes for Theatre and Social Change, however, looks at some of the reasons why achieving such goals is hard; examining what theatre can and can't do. It critiques the limitations of th
...
eatre in the creation of social change, in order to engage in a productive discussion of theatre's strengths - and weaknesses - and theatre artists' opportunities to make change in an unjust world. This book focuses on theatre's impact on both participants and spectators, examining a wide range of contemporary applied and political theatre case studies, engaging with some of the most common forms of theatre used towards the goals of social change, including Theatre of the Oppressed, professional political theatre in performance, community-based theatre, prison theatre, and classroom drama. Theatre of Good Intentions constructs an argument advocating for artists and students to think strategically about the limitations and opportunities of theatre as a medium of social change." (Publisher description)
more
"The book questions whether and how young citizens in Africa engage with media and communications technologies and platforms in a desire to be included in the change processes of their societies. The theme echoes some of the claims made by disenchanted and frustrated youth and other citizens in the
...
streets of North Africa’s cities in 2011 and 2012. They were severely critical of the governance structures in their countries, mass social mobilizations took place, governments fell and, in the aftermath, the slow process of transition continued, now with one tyrant less but still with uncertain outcomes and huge challenges for the social and economic development of these countries. Youth in particular engaged massively, visibly, loudly and dramatically around demands to be involved and included in their countries’ development processes. This yearbook taps into the less visible and dramatic, but nevertheless highly dynamic and influential, process of media development and the enlargement of youth-driven, deliberative spaces which sub-Saharan Africa is currently experiencing." (Nordicom website)
more
"This issue of 'Communication Research Trends' provides a survey of the field of sustainable social change and communication in a global context. It starts with a review of introductory works and general overviews and lists some manuals, resource books, journals, and organizations, which are relevan
...
t to the field. The second section continues with definitions that circulate in the field and provides entries to materials discussing the history of development communication and related policy and rights issues. Section three reviews approaches and is structured according to dominant paradigms, such as modernization, dependency, globalization and localization, multiplicity, and participation. The final section takes a look at practices and methodologies." (Introduction, page 4)
more
"This article presents an overview of the emergence of sustainability themes in communication for development and argues that there is an urgent need for a framework of sustainability indicators for communication for development and social change projects around the world. It fills a crucial gap in
...
the growing body of literature by first synthesizing the most relevant data currently produced by global and local institutions, NGOs, UN-based organizations, academics, and professionals regarding assessment indicators for development projects, and second, produces a framework of sustainability indicators that can be used by a wide variety of people in the field to assess the sustainability of existing projects and the sustainable potential of planned ones. It then tests the framework in two representative cases." (Abstract)
more