Communication, Culture and Change in Asia – serie

This book focuses on the tensions between and conflict resolution processes concerning minority ethnic groups in Myanmar’s rural areas and the State. It covers topics such as relations and communication between the central government, the Kokang Chinese community and the Kachin State; the impact of cyclone Nargis on remote settlements in the Ayeyarwady Delta; the impact of depletion of mangrove forests and Yangon’s fuel needs on a Karen minority group; and the collapse of a community forestry project in a Pa-O village in Shan State. Written by young scholars from Myanmar, some of whom belong to minority groups, the book provides firsthand reporting and scholarship that, for the past sixty years, have not been available. Offering in-depth, unique insights into minority change issues in the interior and at the periphery of Myanmar, as seen from local perspectives, it offers a valuable resource for academics, students and researchers in the fields of sustainable development, social and political studies, and development communication in Asia.

This book presents research that focuses on Sustainable Development in Asia. Chapters are extended works of papers presented at Communication/Culture and The Sustainable Development Goals (CCSDG): Challenges for a New Generation, an international conference held in Chiang Mai University in December 2015. The chapters address assessments of Millennium Development Goals in several Asian countries and the region as a whole. The book also identifies and discusses the changes and potential improvements in the transition from Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) to Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030). Areas that are covered in the book, which are illustrated with case studies, include Corporate Social Accountability, Information and Communications Technologies, and Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The book serves as a useful resource for academics, scholars, students, and policymakers, interested in Development Studies.

This book features research papers that examine a host of contemporary issues in Thailand. Coverage includes culture, gender violence, tourism, human trafficking, environmental and ecological issues, sustainability and the sufficiency economy, the (mis)handling of elephants, and more. It features a sociological and anthropological perspective with a dash of communication for sustainable social change.The papers investigate the various phases of communication technology and its impact on cultural change in the country. They explore the use of social networks and privacy issues as well as ethical journalism in the contexts of Thai Buddhism, Thai culture, and other enabling environmental factors. The contributors focus on documentary research of both quantitative and qualitative data on Thai social change as a consequence of globalization and digital technology. They first provide a generaloverview of social media and communication in the country. Next, the authors go on to explore the specifics of digital communication. This includes a look at its impact on the various ways of Thai communication given politico-economic and religious influences.

This book explores how the traditional Chinese culture and business ownership influence corporate social responsibility in China. By comparing state-owned enterprises, private companies and multinational companies, it shows how corporate social responsibility is perceived and practiced at the corporate level in these companies. It also studies how intertwined company practices and the Chinese culture are, and how this relationship affects the business environment in China. Further, it highlights the value of economic factors in corporate social responsibility, and the influence of Chinese philosophy on corporate ethics. It is a valuable tool for researchers and academics wishing to understand the dynamics of corporate social responsibility in China and discover the significant influencing factors in China's business arena.

This book focuses on the influence of social media on Chinese society. The respective chapters present research by top-tier communication scholars from prominent Chinese universities and offer revealing findings on the interplay between media / social media, economics and politics. To that end, both qualitative and quantitative methods based on classical theories of communication and economics are drawn upon. The book explores four main areas: the challenges and opportunities for Chinese journalism and communications, changes in Chinese economic development, influences and forecasts for Chinese politics, and the impacts on Chinese culture. As the chapter contributors hail from diverse regions within China and represent three generations of communication scholars, the book offers a comprehensive guide, helping readers understand the impact of social media on China’s development from a broad range of perspectives, and sharing insights on its impacts around the world.

This book offers comprehensive insights into the cultural and ecological values that influence sustainable development across Asia, addressing the cultural, religious and philosophical moorings of development through participatory and grassroots communication approaches. It presents a range of contributions and case studies from leading experts in Asia to highlight the debates on environmental communication and sustainable development that are relevant today, and to provide an overview of the positive traditions of ecological sensitivity and cultural communication that may find common ground between communities. This well-researched guide to the dynamic and complex terrain of communication for sustainable development offers uniquely practical perspectives on communication, environment and sustainable development that are of immense value for policy makers, media scholars, development practitioners, researchers and students of communication and media studies.

This book focuses on the tensions between and conflict resolution processes concerning minority ethnic groups in Myanmar’s rural areas and the State. It covers topics such as relations and communication between the central government, the Kokang Chinese community and the Kachin State; the impact of cyclone Nargis on remote settlements in the Ayeyarwady Delta; the impact of depletion of mangrove forests and Yangon’s fuel needs on a Karen minority group; and the collapse of a community forestry project in a Pa-O village in Shan State. Written by young scholars from Myanmar, some of whom belong to minority groups, the book provides firsthand reporting and scholarship that, for the past sixty years, have not been available. Offering in-depth, unique insights into minority change issues in the interior and at the periphery of Myanmar, as seen from local perspectives, it offers a valuable resource for academics, students and researchers in the fields of sustainable development, social and political studies, and development communication in Asia.

This book presents research that focuses on Sustainable Development in Asia. Chapters are extended works of papers presented at Communication/Culture and The Sustainable Development Goals (CCSDG): Challenges for a New Generation, an international conference held in Chiang Mai University in December 2015. The chapters address assessments of Millennium Development Goals in several Asian countries and the region as a whole. The book also identifies and discusses the changes and potential improvements in the transition from Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) to Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030). Areas that are covered in the book, which are illustrated with case studies, include Corporate Social Accountability, Information and Communications Technologies, and Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The book serves as a useful resource for academics, scholars, students, and policymakers, interested in Development Studies.

This book focuses on the influence of social media on Chinese society. The respective chapters present research by top-tier communication scholars from prominent Chinese universities and offer revealing findings on the interplay between media / social media, economics and politics. To that end, both qualitative and quantitative methods based on classical theories of communication and economics are drawn upon. The book explores four main areas: the challenges and opportunities for Chinese journalism and communications, changes in Chinese economic development, influences and forecasts for Chinese politics, and the impacts on Chinese culture. As the chapter contributors hail from diverse regions within China and represent three generations of communication scholars, the book offers a comprehensive guide, helping readers understand the impact of social media on China’s development from a broad range of perspectives, and sharing insights on its impacts around the world.

This book offers comprehensive insights into the cultural and ecological values that influence sustainable development across Asia, addressing the cultural, religious and philosophical moorings of development through participatory and grassroots communication approaches. It presents a range of contributions and case studies from leading experts in Asia to highlight the debates on environmental communication and sustainable development that are relevant today, and to provide an overview of the positive traditions of ecological sensitivity and cultural communication that may find common ground between communities. This well-researched guide to the dynamic and complex terrain of communication for sustainable development offers uniquely practical perspectives on communication, environment and sustainable development that are of immense value for policy makers, media scholars, development practitioners, researchers and students of communication and media studies.

This book features research papers that examine a host of contemporary issues in Thailand. Coverage includes culture, gender violence, tourism, human trafficking, environmental and ecological issues, sustainability and the sufficiency economy, the (mis)handling of elephants, and more. It features a sociological and anthropological perspective with a dash of communication for sustainable social change.The papers investigate the various phases of communication technology and its impact on cultural change in the country. They explore the use of social networks and privacy issues as well as ethical journalism in the contexts of Thai Buddhism, Thai culture, and other enabling environmental factors. The contributors focus on documentary research of both quantitative and qualitative data on Thai social change as a consequence of globalization and digital technology. They first provide a generaloverview of social media and communication in the country. Next, the authors go on to explore the specifics of digital communication. This includes a look at its impact on the various ways of Thai communication given politico-economic and religious influences.

This book explores how the traditional Chinese culture and business ownership influence corporate social responsibility in China. By comparing state-owned enterprises, private companies and multinational companies, it shows how corporate social responsibility is perceived and practiced at the corporate level in these companies. It also studies how intertwined company practices and the Chinese culture are, and how this relationship affects the business environment in China. Further, it highlights the value of economic factors in corporate social responsibility, and the influence of Chinese philosophy on corporate ethics. It is a valuable tool for researchers and academics wishing to understand the dynamics of corporate social responsibility in China and discover the significant influencing factors in China's business arena.

This book presents the perspectives of some of the main players, both academics and professionals, in communication for sustainable development and social change so as to provide valuable lessons for future generations of change agents. It places emphasis on both the theoretical foundation and practical applications and ethical concerns in communication for development and social change. Most of the available historical accounts in development communications make a distinction between the modernization paradigm, the dependency paradigm and the multiplicity or participatory paradigm. These historical accounts have been dominated by framing developments within these paradigms, as the logical offspring of the Western drive to develop the world after colonization and the Second World War. The subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union in the late eighties, together with the rise of the U.S. as the only remaining ‘superpower,’ the emergence of the European Union and China, the gradual coming to the fore of regional powers, such as the BRICS countries, and the recent meltdown of the world financial system has rendered disastrous consequences for people everywhere. This book responds to these changes and challenges in presenting a rethinking of the “power” of development, and consequently the place and role of communication in it. It is aimed at both emerging research students, policymakers and social research practitioners who are interested in the history of communication for development and social change and the role and place of mayor players in it. This is most applicable to the political and educational sector, as well as scholars of history, social work, and human rights. The book will provide valuable insights for beginners in these fields who are not yet familiar with the increasingly important and emerging field of global social change.

This book presents the perspectives of some of the main players, both academics and professionals, in communication for sustainable development and social change so as to provide valuable lessons for future generations of change agents. It places emphasis on both the theoretical foundation and practical applications and ethical concerns in communication for development and social change. Most of the available historical accounts in development communications make a distinction between the modernization paradigm, the dependency paradigm and the multiplicity or participatory paradigm. These historical accounts have been dominated by framing developments within these paradigms, as the logical offspring of the Western drive to develop the world after colonization and the Second World War. The subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union in the late eighties, together with the rise of the U.S. as the only remaining ‘superpower,’ the emergence of the European Union and China, the gradual coming to the fore of regional powers, such as the BRICS countries, and the recent meltdown of the world financial system has rendered disastrous consequences for people everywhere. This book responds to these changes and challenges in presenting a rethinking of the “power” of development, and consequently the place and role of communication in it. It is aimed at both emerging research students, policymakers and social research practitioners who are interested in the history of communication for development and social change and the role and place of mayor players in it. This is most applicable to the political and educational sector, as well as scholars of history, social work, and human rights. The book will provide valuable insights for beginners in these fields who are not yet familiar with the increasingly important and emerging field of global social change.

This volume focuses on indigenous knowledge in analyzing the traditions and communication processes within various communities of Northeast India. It deals with the historical and theoretical trajectory of communication for social change as a discipline, bringing together a series of interesting case studies from the sphere of meaningful learning where individuals and communities engage in a cooperative and dialogic environment to promote change at multiple levels. The case studies cover a range of media - radio, video, ‘forum theatre’ - and considers both practitioners and audiences. The authors’ focus on narration, diversity, participation, and interaction is timely, and expands knowledge relating to these areas by linking them in new ways. It is of interest to an academic audience as well as practitioners researching and working in areas of education, communication, community development, and social work.

This volume focuses on indigenous knowledge in analyzing the traditions and communication processes within various communities of Northeast India. It deals with the historical and theoretical trajectory of communication for social change as a discipline, bringing together a series of interesting case studies from the sphere of meaningful learning where individuals and communities engage in a cooperative and dialogic environment to promote change at multiple levels. The case studies cover a range of media - radio, video, ‘forum theatre’ - and considers both practitioners and audiences. The authors’ focus on narration, diversity, participation, and interaction is timely, and expands knowledge relating to these areas by linking them in new ways. It is of interest to an academic audience as well as practitioners researching and working in areas of education, communication, community development, and social work.

This book explores the nexus between social media use among young people and political participation in Vietnam, which presents a novel case example for examining whether social media can expand the public sphere to become involved in everyday politics. With an estimated 72 million Vietnamese on Facebook, the country is the seventh-largest user base in the world. This social media platform alone has created a virtual public sphere outside of and beyond the scope of the ruling Communist Party and its state-owned media outlets. The authors analyse the paradox of a complicated balancing act of digital participation in an authoritarian state, promoting a new understanding of social media in non-Western societies. The book generates a considerable body of empirical findings relating to political engagement amongst the youth in the digital age, and develops the theory of the public sphere beyond Habermas within this context. In its examination of the role of social media in society and in political communication generally, and the role of social media in authoritarian states, specifically, this book is of interest to students and scholars researching social media, political communication, and media theories. It is also relevant to those studying the intersection of media and politics in Southeast Asia, and in authoritarian states globally.

This book explores the nexus between social media use among young people and political participation in Vietnam, which presents a novel case example for examining whether social media can expand the public sphere to become involved in everyday politics. With an estimated 72 million Vietnamese on Facebook, the country is the seventh-largest user base in the world. This social media platform alone has created a virtual public sphere outside of and beyond the scope of the ruling Communist Party and its state-owned media outlets. The authors analyse the paradox of a complicated balancing act of digital participation in an authoritarian state, promoting a new understanding of social media in non-Western societies. The book generates a considerable body of empirical findings relating to political engagement amongst the youth in the digital age, and develops the theory of the public sphere beyond Habermas within this context. In its examination of the role of social media in society and in political communication generally, and the role of social media in authoritarian states, specifically, this book is of interest to students and scholars researching social media, political communication, and media theories. It is also relevant to those studying the intersection of media and politics in Southeast Asia, and in authoritarian states globally.

This book studies China’s Internet in the 2000s, with a focus on the challenges and dilemmas of the authorities and the battles between the authorities and the newly networked society in the cyber space, which has been a critical centerpiece in the Chinese authorities' struggle for political stability. The book also examines the distinct technological means and political/legal regulations/restrictions used for Internet control, unique characteristics, and the implications of their influences on the political change and social transformation of the world’s most populous country. It illuminates the fierce competition between the authorities and the newly networked Chinese society by looking at how Chinese netizens make every possible effort to gain access to the Internet for truth and make their voices and views heard, while how the authorities use whatever possible means to prevent that from happening. The in-depth analyses of how these challenges, dilemmas and battles have been affecting and changing China’s political system, the ruling communist ideology, the public’s access to information as well as the expression of the public’s discourse are relevant to policymakers and analysts in both business and government sectors, as well as scholars and researchers with an interest in Asian Studies, Chinese Studies, communication, new media, political science, and sociology.

This book studies China’s Internet in the 2000s, with a focus on the challenges and dilemmas of the authorities and the battles between the authorities and the newly networked society in the cyber space, which has been a critical centerpiece in the Chinese authorities' struggle for political stability. The book also examines the distinct technological means and political/legal regulations/restrictions used for Internet control, unique characteristics, and the implications of their influences on the political change and social transformation of the world’s most populous country. It illuminates the fierce competition between the authorities and the newly networked Chinese society by looking at how Chinese netizens make every possible effort to gain access to the Internet for truth and make their voices and views heard, while how the authorities use whatever possible means to prevent that from happening. The in-depth analyses of how these challenges, dilemmas and battles have been affecting and changing China’s political system, the ruling communist ideology, the public’s access to information as well as the expression of the public’s discourse are relevant to policymakers and analysts in both business and government sectors, as well as scholars and researchers with an interest in Asian Studies, Chinese Studies, communication, new media, political science, and sociology.

This book provides an account of how local government units in the Philippines engage marginalized and geographically isolated communities in taking part in pre-disaster communication efforts. The book focuses on communities classified by the government as Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) on the culturally rich island of Mindanao, Philippines. The focus is centered on GIDA communities because they are assumed to receive less information and help in relation to their circumstances. This book accounts for the disaster preparedness communicative conditions of people living in GIDAS and identifies synergies and tensions in the engagement process. As such, specific branches of enquiry focus on how information-seeking and sharing experiences of GIDA communities inform the current practice of community engagement. In taking this research approach, this book deliberately gives voice to these marginalized and often silenced communities. In general, the study examines otherpossibilities (or variables) in the pre-disaster risk communication process that truly engage geographically isolated and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).Considering the existing methodologies used to engage local communities in DRRM, this book looks at ways in which bottom-up and top-down approaches could be melded together for a transformational level of engagement in these communities. The novelty of addressing issues concerning geographically isolated communities in a developing country is a research track worthy of being investigated by academics. The book is of interest to students and in development communication and disaster risk communication as well as community engagement practitioners specializing in DRRM. The framework proposed in this book for engaging isolated communities is helpful to practitioners in designing, planning, and implementing pre-disaster communication and community engagement programs.