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Political Economy

The Political Economy Section examines the role of power in the production, distribution and exchange of mediated communication. Drawing from the rich history of political economic theory, Section members study social relations in their totality, consider how they have developed historically, evaluate them according to standards of social justice, and intervene to bring about a more just and democratic world.

Chair: Helena Sousa (*) [Contact]
Vice-Chair: Rodrigo Gómez [Contact]
Vice-Chair: Janet Wasko [Contact]

(*) Section Head

This Section examines the role of power in the production, distribution and exchange of mediated communication including the study social relations in their totality, how they have developed historically, evaluating them according to standards of social justice, and intervening to bring about a more just and democratic world. Section members have been rethinking political economy in the light of developments in various parts of the world including the relationship between globalisation and localisation; the production of goods and services by firms in China; commodification and commercialisation; liberalisation and neoliberal policies, ideology and culture and how these issues influence control over the news and politicians. They are also concerned with issues around democracy including the challenges of limited funds available to alternative media outlets; linguistic issues, organisational issues and political insecurity.

Members of the Political Economy Section.

IAMCR 2012 - Political Economy Section Call for Papers

IAMCR Durban 2012

Annual Conference of the
International Association for Media and Communication Research
Durban, South Africa, July 15-19

Theme: ‘South-North Conversations’

The Political Economy Section looks forward to the next IAMCR Conference and invites submissions (both individual proposals and collective panels) for the 2012 conference to be held at the Howard College Campus of the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) in Durban, South Africa, 15-19 July.

The conference will be held under the general theme, 'South-North Conversations'. The theme reflects the asymmetry of global communication flows, but without implying the negatives that usually accompany discussions of the 'digital divide'. The theme also calls for balanced and empowering narratives that do not regard those in ‘the South’ as victims primarily in need of handouts from the more affluent.