[Commlist] cfp: 17th Global Communication Association Annual Conference 2025 - The digital postcolony: AI, communication, and the global South

https://www.globalcomassociation.com/call-for-papers.html

CALL FOR PAPERS
17th Global Communication Association Annual Conference 2025
THE DIGITAL POSTCOLONY:
AI, COMMUNICATION, AND THE GLOBAL SOUTH
Al Akhawayn University, Ifrane, Morocco 28-30 May 2025
Submission Deadline: 15 December 2024 Submission Link: 
https://forms.office.com/r/aGA1TRYGFW

The Global Communication Association (GCA) invites proposals for papers, 
panels, and workshops that speak to the conference theme, The Digital 
Postcolony: AI, Communication, and the Global South. We are excited to 
convene at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco, nestled in the 
mid-Atlas Mountains, close to historic locations of Fes and Meknes, with 
a distinct heritage as a colonial garden city.

We are especially interested in proposals that address emergent and 
enduring issues in the political, epistemic, aesthetic, and cultural 
economies of digital media and communication, with a view to 
reconfiguring the field of study, research, and practice in response to 
the experience and particular challenges of the postcolonial global 
south (understood as a composite of historical, epistemic, cultural, and 
geopolitical relations shaped by colonialism, fascism, and neoliberalism).
Our premises are as follows:
(1)	that the digital revolution didn’t begin with nor shall end with 
Artificial Intelligence, hence a responsible assessment of AI and its 
impact on our world must track histories of communication, narrative, 
and technologies
(2)	that technologies of communication and the scientific and legal 
advances they corral, or are nourished by, require us to think about 
power and knowledge, theory and practice, in ways that are responsive to 
economic, social, historical, cultural, and geopolitical realities 
rather than as autonomous abstractions
(3)	that in considering the digitalization of knowledge and society, we 
have to understand the uniqueness of the global south including, but not 
limited to the unique pedagogical role media and communication practices 
play in these societies, so that we can understand the wider challenges 
and possibilities it poses for production and circulation of knowledge 
and ideas, and for sustainable economic activity in societies with young 
and growing populations
(4)	that the global south urgently needs an agenda around media and 
communication that is updated to the trends in machine learning and 
generative AI, which requires scholars and practitioners to come together

Suggested topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

●	AI, digital technologies, and communication practices in the Global South
●	Possibilities and propositions for crafting a policy related to AI 
centering the Global South
●	The “digital promise” and its fulfilment in marginalized communities
●	Digital literacy and local populations
●	The economics, politics, and ethics of digital technologies and AI in 
the Global South (including the extraction of resources)
●	Democratization, cultural preservation, and entrepreneurial innovation 
in relation to digital platforms
●	Diversity, equity, inclusion, and digitalization
●	The intersections of AI, communication, and sustainable development 
goals (SDGs)
●	Challenges and opportunities in the digital transformation of the 
communication, media, and cultural industries
●	The role of digital communication in political activism and social 
movements
●	Innovations in AI-driven health communication
●	Crisis communication and reputation management
●	The future of work: AI, automation, and labor
●	Economic deregulation, digital surveillance, and data privacy
●	Intercultural and intercivilizational communication and the 
local-global divide
●	Legal and cultural issues in the governance of the “global digital 
revolution”
●	Paradigms of intellectual property and digital communication
●	Media narratives of the digital postcolony, in war and in peace
●	Memory, narrative, and digitalization
●	Relationships between AI, communication, and the media landscape
●	Digital platforms and the rise of fascism
●	AI and the public-private divide
●	The role of journalists, artists, filmmakers, and storytellers after AI
●	Institutional and organizational strategy for digital communication
●	The role and influence of social media in transformation public 
relations as a field
●	Interpersonal, stakeholder, and interorganizational communication in 
issue-based campaigns
●	AI communication as a platform for civic engagement and social leadership

Submission Guidelines for Proposals
deadline 15 December 2024,
decisions communicated by 10th January 2025,
commitment to present and registration for presenters due by 25th 
January 2025 completed proposals due by 1st April 2025
Proposals require,
(1)	Title and abstract of 250-400 words, signaling original research or 
practice, method/process, and interlocution with other forms of 
scholarship. Final proposals include the title page, abstract, 
references, and appendices, and should be shared no later than 1st April 
2025.
(2)	For a poster presentation on ongoing research, title and abstract of 
250-400 words.

(3)	For full or partial panels or roundtables, a description of 500-750 
words including abstracts for each component and full contact 
information of panelists.
(4)	For workshops, a description of 750 words including abstract, 
rationale, target audience, and learning outcomes.
(5)	All proposals should adhere to The American Psychological 
Association (APA) style manual. For details, visit 
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/0
(6)	The Global Communication Association at GCA utilizes the following 
link for submissions: https://forms.office.com/r/aGA1TRYGFW

We encourage proposals spanning individuals from different institutions.

Contacts:
Hamdi Echkaou, Fatima Matousse, Zain Saeed (GCA Conference Steering 
Committee Co-Chairs) Prof. Zain Saeed: (Z.Saeed /at/ aui.ma)
Dr. Asma Abbas (Dean), School of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities, 
Al Akhawayn University: gca- (conference2025 /at/ aui.ma)
For questions about the Global Communication Association contact Dr. 
Yahya R. Kamalipour (yrkamal /at/ gmail.com).
WWW.GLOBALCOMASSOCIATION.COM
PUBLICATION:
Conference proceedings may be published at a later date in print and/or 
online form.
CONFERENCE LOCATION:

The conference will take place on the beautiful campus of Al Akhawayn 
University (AUI) in Ifrane, Morocco, from 28-30 May 2025. https://aui.ma.

Al Akhawayn University is a distinguished institution, known for its 
liberal arts curriculum and state-of-the-art facilities. Located in the 
tranquil town of Ifrane, AUI offers a unique educational environment in 
the heart of the Middle Atlas Mountains. The university follows an 
American-style educational system and is committed to fostering a global 
perspective among its students. Its scenic campus features modern 
architecture, world-class

academic buildings, and a vibrant student life. AUI plays a pivotal role 
in shaping future leaders with a focus on intercultural understanding 
and sustainable development, making it an ideal setting for this global 
conference.

IFRANE:
Ifrane, often referred to as “Little Switzerland,” is known for its 
scenic beauty, distinctive European-inspired architecture, and serene 
environment nestled in the Middle Atlas Mountains. Visitors can enjoy 
the tranquil atmosphere, clean air, and a variety of outdoor activities 
such as hiking and skiing.
TRANSPORT:
By Air: The closest major airports to Ifrane are:

1.	Fes-Saïss Airport (FEZ): Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from 
Ifrane by car.
2.	Rabat-Salé Airport (RBA): About 2 hours and 30 minutes from Ifrane.
3.	Mohammed V International Airport (CMN), Casablanca: 3 hours and 30 
min by car.

Airport Transfers: Private car hire and taxis are available from Fes, 
Rabat, and Casablanca to Ifrane. You can also use services like CTM 
buses or Supratours for transfers.
By Train: From Rabat or Casablanca, take the train to Fes, and then a 
taxi or bus to Ifrane. For bus information, visit CTM or Supratours.




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