Communication and Society journal (50) Call for papers: ‘Communication and Conflicts’

The Communication  and Society journal (50) is currently accepting submissions on the theme of “Communication and Conflicts” until 31 January 2026( extended deadline).

Thematic editors: Teresa Ruão (CECS, University of Minho, Portugal), Inês Amaral (CES, University of Coimbra, Portugal) and Iván Puente (University of Vigo, Spain).

To speak of ‘conflict’ is to discuss a reality that, far from being restricted to the military or diplomatic sphere, manifests itself in multiple spheres of social life. We refer to the political, social, cultural, technological or even interpersonal domains of conflict. And “when neighbours quarrel, lovers argue or nations go to war, the predictable remedy prescribed by the voices of reason is communication” (Krauss & Morsella, 2000, p. 144).
In fact, communication — in all its forms and media — seems to be capable of generating, mediating, amplifying or mitigating tensions through its influence on perceptions, human behaviour and outcomes, thus playing a central role in the genesis, escalation and resolution of these tensions. The media shape perceptions, construct narratives of legitimisation or demonisation, and act as catalysts for social mobilisation. Social networks amplify marginalised voices, but also enhance phenomena of polarisation and misinformation. At the same time, institutional actors and organisations use communication strategies, from crisis management to public diplomacy, to influence internal and external audiences.
In this context, communication is not merely a vehicle for transmitting information, but rather an interactive process of constructing meaning, negotiating meanings and managing emotions. The media, journalistic discourse and social networks function as privileged channels of framing, where narratives of victim and adversary crystallise or challenge each other. Organisational, institutional, and community communication uses mediation, conciliation, and public diplomacy to ease tensions, using active listening, structured feedback, and reframing techniques. Many other communication phenomena can be observed in conflict contexts.
It is therefore appropriate — even in today’s global geostrategic context — to deepen our understanding of the communication processes underlying contemporary conflicts. This edition of the journal Comunicação e Sociedade invites researchers to explore, with theoretical and methodological rigour, the multiple interfaces between dialogue and antagonism. We welcome collisions of ideas and interdisciplinary approaches that analyse, for example, the use of victim and aggressor narratives, the dynamics of empathy and dehumanisation, the effectiveness of media literacy practices in contexts of tension, or the role of journalism and the impact of transnational disinformation campaigns.
In addition, comparative studies and regional research revealing how cultural, historical and political specificities shape conflict discourses will also be welcome in this volume.
By bringing together diverse contributions—empirical and theoretical, quantitative and qualitative—we aim to offer a comprehensive picture of communication dynamics in conflict situations, as well as clues for the formulation of more effective mediation practices and policies. The scientific community is therefore invited to submit papers that challenge conventional views, propose new analytical tools and contribute to a deeper understanding of communication processes in conflict contexts.

Thematic areas (non-exhaustive):
• Mediation and framing of conflicts in the media;
• Crisis narratives and conflict rhetoric;
• Social networks, filter bubbles and polarisation;
• Organisational communication in the context of labour disputes;
• Public diplomacy, propaganda and disinformation;
• Crisis management and risk communication;
• Intergenerational, ethnic or cultural conflicts and communication practices;
• Ethics and social responsibility in journalistic coverage of conflicts;
• Opinion makers, international conflicts and the social construction of reality.

Proposal submission period (full texts): 22 October 2025 to 15 January 2026
Publication period: continuous edition (July to December 2026)

LANGUAGE
Articles may be submitted in English or Portuguese. Articles selected for publication will be translated into Portuguese or English, respectively, and will be published in full in both languages.

EDITING AND SUBMISSION
Comunicação e Sociedade is an open access academic journal, operating in accordance with the demanding standards of the peer review system and using a double-blind review process. Each submitted work will be distributed to a minimum of two reviewers who have been previously invited to evaluate it, according to its academic quality, originality and relevance to the objectives and scope of the theme.
Manuscripts should be submitted via the journal’s website. If you are accessing Communication and Society for the first time, you must register in order to submit your article (instructions for registering here).

The author guidelines can be found here.

For further information, please contact: comunicacaoesociedade@ics.uminho.pt

References
Krauss, R. M., & Morsella, E. (2000). Communication and conflict. In M. Deutsch, P. T. Coleman, & E. C. Marcus (Eds.), The handbook of conflict resolution: Theory and practice (pp. 144–157). Jossey-Bass.

[Posted:22-10-2025]