Risk and Crisis Communication in the Developing World

Over the last 50 years, risk and crisis communication research has been dominated by a developed world bias. Most of the research published on ‘crisis communication’ between 1953 and 2015 focused on the United States, though in the last ten years, there has been a meaningful increase in research for Europe and parts of Asia (e.g., China). However, there has been a dearth of research in English-language journals on risk and crisis communication focusing on Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. The objective of this special issue is to target research about and from those regions.

There are three aims of this special issue:

  • Reduce the ‘Western’ and developed nations bias in risk and crisis communication research
  • Support and promote risk and crisis communication research in and about Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia
  • Identify theoretical developments based on diverse cultural experience in risk and crisis communication

Indicative list of themes and key features of the Special Issue

While there may be some room for Covid-19 related studies, the intention of this special issue is to develop a broader research agenda related to developing nations; therefore, we would encourage researchers to submit pieces that look beyond the pandemic.

  • Knowledge transfer of non-English language research in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa (e.g., systematic review of non-English language research in the regions)
  • Theory development and application in risk and crisis communication in developing nations
  • Case studies in risk and crisis communication in developing nations
  • Critical challenges and opportunities in crisis planning and crisis response in developing nations
  • Intercultural dimensions of risk and crisis response in developing nations
  • Leadership and risk and crisis communication in developing nations
  • Employee risk and crisis communication in developing nations
  • Media, ethics, and crisis communication in developing nations

Submission information

The special edition submissions site will open online on 8 July, 2021 and will close on 15 October, 2021. All submissions will be double-blind reviewed and should conform to CCIJ’s author guidelines (see https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/ccij?id=CCIJ#author-guidelines for more details).

Submit your papers to: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ccij

Questions about the special issue, contact the Guest Editor – Dr. Audra Diers-Lawson at audra.lawson@leedsbeckett.ac.uk