Communication and Social Change: A Citizen Perspective

by Thomas Tufte

How do the communication practices of governments, NGOs and social movements enhance opportunities for citizen-led change? In this incisive book, Thomas Tufte makes a call for a fundamental rethinking of what it takes to enable citizens’ voices, participation and power in processes of social change. Drawing on examples ranging from the Indignados movement in Spain to media activists in Brazil, from rural community workers in Malawi to UNICEF’s global outreach programmes, he presents cutting-edge debates about the role of media and communication in enhancing social change. He offers both new and contested ideas of approaching social change from below, and highlights the need for institutions – governments and civil society organizations alike – to be in sync with their constituencies. Communication and Social Change  provides essential insights to students and scholars of media and communications, as well as anyone concerned with the practices and processes that lead to citizenship, democracy and social justice.

256 pages, Hardcover

Published June 26, 2017

Reviews

[Sarah Darrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read this in graduate school. Dry and academic to the point of irony. Author made good points but was surprisingly disconnected from the average person he wanted to empower both in language and in directive.

[Merve Nur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introductory book doing a good job in defining terms around communications and social change. The social movement examples chosen for the book are recent and politically important