[Commlist] CFP: History of Communication Studies in the Portuguese-Speaking World

# Symposium: History of Communication Studies in the Portuguese-Speaking 
World

Dates: 11 and 12 December 2025

Venue: Virtual

Organizers: Filipa Subtil, LIACOM/ESCS-Politécnico de Lisboa, Portugal 
and Rafiza Varão, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil

Portuguese- and Spanish-language version of the call are available here:

https://hms.mediastudies.press/pub/mundo-de-lingua-portuguesa 
<https://hms.mediastudies.press/pub/mundo-de-lingua-portuguesa>

## Call for Papers

Communication and media studies have historically been narrated or 
recounted from canons centered on the Anglophone world, especially the 
USA, erasing intellectual traditions, voices, and contexts that have 
grown up outside of and challenged this hegemony. This symposium will 
give participants an opportunity to map, critique, and celebrate the 
histories of communication studies in the Portuguese-speaking world - 
including Portugal, Brazil, Portuguese-speaking African countries 
(PALOP), East Timor, Macau, and the diasporas - by inquiring into how 
the dynamics of colonialism, post-colonialism, dictatorships, and 
globalization have shaped the field. We have a twofold commitment: to 
decentre dominant narratives, highlighting epistemologies, institutions, 
and marginalized figures; and to connect the multiple 
Portuguese-speaking world traditions, exploring transatlantic dialogues 
and tensions and resistances. We encourage papers that explore 
connections among Portugal, Africa, Brazil, East Timor, and Macau, as 
well as connections with other countries and regions in the “Global South.”

We invite proposals that address, but are not limited to, the following 
topics:

1. Field Genealogies

* National or regional histories of communication and media studies in 
Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, São 
Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, and Macau;

* Influential figures, forgotten pioneers,(e.g. women and members of 
other marginalized groups), as well as intellectual networks;

* The role of universities, associations, and scientific journals in 
establishing the field.

2. Colonialism, dictatorships and resistances

* Communication as an instrument of power during Portuguese colonialism 
and the dictatorships of the 20th century;

* Communication theories and practices developed in contexts of 
anti-colonial struggle and post-independence;

* The place of the portuguese language as a vehicle of domination and/or 
emancipation.

3. History of the transatlantic dialogues and hegemonies

* The influence of Anglo-Saxon, French, and German traditions on the 
Portuguese-speaking world;

* Circulation of ideas between Brazil, Africa, Asia and Portugal: 
appropriations, adaptations, and resistances;

* The myth of the “universality” of North American models and their 
local critiques.

4. Alternative epistemologies

* Decolonial, feminist, and anti-racist perspectives in Portuguese 
language studies;

* Indigenous, Afro-diasporic, and community knowledge in the history of 
communication research;

* The impact of social movements (e.g. land struggles, Indigenous 
rights, Black feminisms) on communication theory.

5. Contemporary challenges

* The place of the Portuguese-speaking world in global debates in the 
history of communication;

* Digitalisation, platforms, and new forms of exclusion/epistemocide;

* Pedagogical proposals for decolonizing communication education.

In this way, we hope to contribute to a broader global understanding of 
the history and traditions of communication research in the 
Portuguese-speaking world as well as to foster new opportunities for 
collaboration between researchers and academics from different parts of 
the world.

### Organization

This symposium is an initiative of LIACOM/Escola Superior de Comunicação 
Social, Politécnico de Lisboa, ICNOVA and the Faculdade de Comunicação, 
Universidade de Brasília, in partnership with Associação Portuguesa de 
Ciências da Comunicação, Associação Moçambicana de Ciências da 
Comunicação e da Informação, Sociedade Brasileira de Estudos 
Interdisciplinares da Comunicação, and with the scholar-run US journal 
History of Media Studies. Our aim is to strengthen critical research 
networks in the Portuguese-speaking community.

### Calendar

Extended abstracts (3.000 characters including spaces and excluding 
bibliography) must be sent in Portuguese, English or Spanish by 30 July 
2025 to:

(historia.dos.estudos.de.com.pt /at/ gmail.com) 
<mailto:(historia.dos.estudos.de.com.pt /at/ gmail.com)>

Decisions will be announced by 30 September 2025.

Registration for the symposium will run from 1 October to 15 November 
2025. To help with the costs of simultaneous translation and the 
organisation of the event, a symbolic registration fee will be charged 
(20 euros/120 reais). If the participant does not have institutional 
support, he/she/they should contact the organization in order to assess 
a possible waiver from the registration fee.

Papers must be sent to the organizers by 30 November in order to be 
circulated among commentators.

### Other relevant information

Potential publication in History of Media Studies journal:

http://hms.mediastudies.press <http://hms.mediastudies.press>

Selected papers may be considered for publication in a special issue of 
the open access, scholar-run journal History of Media Studies. The 
deadline for submitting full articles for peer review will be 30 May 2026.
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