The field of development
for communication addresses the contributions of communication to national and
local development in rapidly changing societies. It operates at two levels of analysis
examined in the context of globalization: one is the macro-social level of the
state efforts and the other one is the middle-range level of community and
regional social change efforts initiated through projects such as literacy
education, public health programs, or other public information campaigns.
This course provides an overview of the historical roots, political influences, institutional arrangements, and cultural considerations that have shaped the field of communication for development. The course covers the “classical” literature on communication and modernization (including Daniel Lerner, Wilbur Schramm, and Everett Rogers), critiques of classical literature in dependency theory and post-colonialism (e.g. Arturo Escobar) and more contemporary work, starting with early literature on participatory communication (e.g. Paolo Freire) and including recent world conferences.
The participants are therefore immersed in key readings and engage in a range of activities designed to foster a theoretical and critical understanding of the selected areas and issues covered in communication for development and social change (e.g. health, education, gender, environment).
In the process, we will especially be concerned with questions of equity and social justice.
- Enseignant: Alina Thiemann