[Commlist] Call for Chapters: Interdisciplinary Communication Studies from the Periphery - Ways of Being and Doing

*Call for Chapters: Interdisciplinary Communication Studies from the 
Periphery - Ways of Being and Doing*

This edited volume seeks contributions from scholars whose subject 
matter, methods, or researcher identities resonate with what might be 
considered peripheral in communication studies. We aim to explore how 
diverse perspectives—often shaped by specific contexts, marginalized 
identities or cases, or alternative approaches—can challenge, expand or 
be an alternative to traditional paradigms, perspectives and cases in 
the field. The concept of the periphery is not defined here as a rigid 
geographic or socio-political category, nor is it a simple counterpoint 
to the North or Western paradigms. Instead, we understand the periphery 
as a space where various ‘ways of being’ and ‘ways of doing’ emerge, 
offering insights into communication processes and practices. We define 
the periphery in three interconnected ways. First, it can reflect 
geographic and contextual realities rooted in specific locations and 
their challenges. Second, it may describe the researcher's identity, 
which, while often tied to context, can stand apart from geographic 
definitions. Third, it relates to the subject matter and theoretical 
gaze, especially when these are understudied, overlooked, challenge 
dominant paradigms, or offer alternative epistemologies. The full call 
text is available here 
<https://c0b4ef5b-1e38-48c3-877e-954a10182397.filesusr.com/ugd/a95ec1_20dad66c26f44b9484ad6d418bba3a4b.pdf>.

We welcome submissions that address, but are not limited to, the 
following themes:

*Researcher Situatedness and Methodology*

- Reflections on how researchers’ contexts, identities, or 
positionalities influence their approaches, perspectives, and 
contributions to media and communication studies.

- Explorations of methodologies that embrace situatedness, such as 
autoethnography or reflective practices, as a means to deepen our 
understanding of communication phenomena.

*Diverse or Transgressive Communication Spaces and Practices*

- Analyses of how communicative practices—particularly in less 
conventional or transgressive spaces like digital sex work, hacktivism, 
or grassroots art movements—shape identity, expression, and community.

- Studies highlighting understudied or alternative communication 
practices, including those rooted in indigenous knowledge systems, oral 
traditions, and embodied performances, to enrich the field.

*Expanding Theoretical Boundaries in Communication Studies*

- Contributions that challenge, extend, or reimagine dominant theories 
in media and communication studies, informed by peripheral perspectives.

- Theoretical insights from underrepresented regions or traditions, such 
as Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, or Latin America, that shed 
new light on established debates.

- Understudied areas of communication, including theories or methods 
from other disciplines—such as ethics, political science, or 
performative arts—that bring fresh insight into the field.

​​*Non-Human Subjectivity and Communication*

- Investigations into the role of non-human subjectivities (e.g., 
animals, plants, or artificial intelligence) in communication processes 
and how these subjectivities challenge traditional human-centered 
paradigms, especially in non-Western contexts.

- Analyses and case studies of embodied, non-verbal, or other-than-human 
communicative practices that engage with human-animal, human-environment 
relationships, or offer theoretical and practical implications of 
decentering the human gaze.

*Beyond the Digital Turn*

- Explorations of non-digital communication spaces and practices—such as 
those in architecture, urban spaces, theater, or other embodied 
forms—and their contributions to the discipline.

- Research that revisits non-digital media to expand the understanding 
of communication in a digital-first world.

*Economic Class and Communication*

- Inquiries into how economic class shapes communication practices, 
representation, and access in varied contexts.

- Perspectives that place economic inequality at the forefront of 
communication studies, offering alternative ways of thinking about class 
and media.

*Knowledge Production in Communication Studies*

- Discussions on the structural biases in academic publishing and 
scholarship that influence which voices and perspectives are elevated or 
marginalized. Implications of working in authoritarian contexts.**

- Critical engagements with global and local knowledge hierarchies, 
offering alternatives to reductive binaries and promoting diverse 
epistemologies.

*Perspectives and Challenges of Early-career Scholars*

- Considerations of the experiences of early-career researchers in 
regard to academic and professional challenges, particularly in 
peripheral or undervalued contexts.

- Innovations in methodology or theory that arise from the unique 
perspectives of early-career scholars.

*Submission Guidelines and Contributions Sought*

*We aim to hold an online (closed) workshop on March 22, 2025 (subject 
to change) in order to facilitate discussion among the potential 
authors.*The workshop will be a medium for the authors to debate their 
argument with each other as well as making themselves familiar with 
other contributions through informal paper presentations. The target 
publisher (e.g. Springer, Brill Books, Routledge, Lexington Books) will 
also be decided during the workshop. After the workshop, the authors 
will have 4 months to finalize the contributions. Full chapters will be 
around 6,000 words including the bibliography.

*You can send the abstracts around 500-600 words (including the 
references) and a 100-word author bio to **(cansu.koc04 /at/ bilgiedu.net)* 
<mailto:(cansu.koc04 /at/ bilgiedu.net)>*by January 20, 2025.*The abstract 
should clearly outline the theoretical framework, specific context(s), 
and the broader implications of the proposed chapter for communication 
studies. The authors will be notified about the selection results by 
February 20, 2025.

*Editors:*Cansu Koç (Istanbul Bilgi University), Ezgi Altınöz (Istanbul 
Bilgi University), Yusuf Yüksekdağ (Istanbul Bilgi University)

This project is stemming from the Interdisciplinary PhD Communication 
Conference series at Istanbul Bilgi University. The previous edited 
collection, Collaboration in Media Studies 
<https://www.routledge.com/Collaboration-in-Media-Studies-Doing-and-Being-Together/Irmak-Kocak-Sesigur-Haydari/p/book/9781032486277>, 
was published by Routledge in 2024.

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