n addition to submissions related to the conference theme the section also welcomes contributions that discuss theoretical or methodological perspectives on a variety of participatory communication research issues and specific case studies. In particular, the section invites proposals for paper presentations and panels sessions that engage with any of the following themes:
1. Participatory theory
The section calls for presentations that develop a deeper understanding of the theoretical backbones of participatory practices. Proposals that ground participatory practices in social, political and/or cultural theory, or that provide a philosophical reflection on participatory practices are most welcome. Also conceptual discussions about the nature of participation, and its related concepts, as, for instance, power, empowerment, interaction and engagement, are welcomed.
2. Transcontinental dialogues about participation
The section invites colleagues working in the field of participatory communication research to submit panel proposals (and, if possible, individual papers) that bring together scholars from different regions, continents and territories to discuss particular aspects of participatory communication (social phenomena, theoretical and paradigmatic approaches, methods, …). Also comparative research and multi-regional case studies that are discussed in individual papers, is called for. The section believes that an intellectual exchange between different parts of the world would strengthen our work on participatory communication.
3. Regional-communicative perspectives on participation and CDSC (communication for development and social change)
The section invites practitioners as well as academics working in the field Communication for Development and/or Social Change (CDSC) to critically reflect on the role of regional communication, and on its participatory dimensions. What are the similarities and differences in how CDSC is conceived and practiced across the globe? Who are the changemakers, what are their goals and challenges, and how do they articulate and enact processes of change? What is the role of participation in these contexts? And how does the transformation of social, cultural and political territories influence and/or function as a pretext for their work? The section welcomes presentations and studies of a broad spectrum of initiatives, ranging from institutionalised actors such as governments, NGOs, or INGOs, to civil society-driven platforms and social movements.
4. Civil society participation: Critical voices
The increased democratic deficit in our host country (USA) has raised crucial questions about the role of civil society, in the US, and in all other countries in the world. The PCR Section wants to tackle these issues head-on. Is there still space for critical civil societies with its alternative forms of participation in the economic, social and political systems, within the USA and beyond? Whether in sparse and spontaneous events, or embedded in more organized and strategically designed movements, alternative forms of democratic participation have not disappeared, but have in many cases and places even gained prominence. How do they relate and react towards the local and global threats of authoritarianism? Are they part of an empowering, awareness-driven, critical discourse, are they part of a media-staged scenario, or do they have material consequences in the daily lives of communities? Can they be truly critical? How to they emerge, survive, or disappear in the vortex of contemporary existence? What powers do they subvert or create? How do they relate to the state? What are issues for academic research and why are they relevant?
5. Methodological challenges in participatory communication research
The section calls for presentations that focus on the methodological challenges that we meet as researchers in participatory communication, with specific regard to the sustainability concept. Relevant questions are here: How do we as participatory researchers work towards sustainability? What do we do to ensure sustainability, if anything, in the ways we conduct participatory communication research? Is sustainable action required for doing participatory communication research? How do we construct our identities as researchers, and negotiate our positions towards research participants and other stakeholders in a sustainable fashion? How do we design the analytical process, and implement criteria for validating our findings? How can we present and implement our work in more interactive, participatory and sustainable ways? Submissions to this subsection are preferably grounded in concrete research experiences within participatory communication. All research traditions are welcome, including quantitative, qualitative, ethnographic, arts-based, action-oriented, etc.
6. Participation and the private sphere
The section calls for theoretical or research-based individual paper and panel proposals, from researchers or media practitioners working on participatory communication projects dealing with thematics that challenge the traditional split between public and private spheres. It welcomes innovative proposals that emphasise the importance of discourses of participation and power in areas of social life which are traditionally considered private; or free from political or institutional interference. The section is interested in proposals dealing with participation in the economic sphere (including advertising, branding, etc.), but also in proposals that extend the discourses of the political beyond performativities of gender, sexuality and moral behaviours socially defined as ‘conventional’ and ‘normal’.