Transforming global communication research with a view to the margins

Abstract

This commentary makes the case for keeping marginal perspectives and experiences in clear view as we try to decenter the West/North in the field of global communication and social change. Otherwise, we risk replacing current blinders with new ones. To be truly relevant, we need to take into account the experiential reality of people who have historically been marginalized, but also those who continue to become marginalized by current economic and political forces, including neoliberal policies and practices. In addition, it will be useful to build upon existing bases of knowledge in the South within academia but also residing within marginalized communities. Such a grounded and reflexive approach promises to challenge our current perspectives and theories, harkening toward new paradigms.

Keywords:

• margins
• subaltern studies
• internationalization
• de-Westernization

Acknowledgments

I would like to give sincere thanks to Terry Flew for inviting me to participate in a roundtable on “Transformations in Global Communication Research” at the ICA convention in 2015 and then inviting participants to submit commentaries for this journal, building on ideas shared at the roundtable.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rashmi Luthra

Rashmi Luthra is Professor of Public Communication and Culture Studies at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She has published several articles on gender, media and culture; postcolonial feminisms, media and culture; and women and development communication. Her work has been published in Women’s Studies in Communication; Communication, Culture and Critique; Knowledge: Creation, Diffusion, Utilization; Gazette: International Journal for Mass Communication Studies; Feminist Formations; Feminist Issues; Communication Yearbook; Journalism and Mass Communication Educator, and in several edited collections. She was also honorary editor of the theme “Journalism and Mass Communication,” in The Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems, published by UNESCO.