Latin American Communication Theories

The first English-language anthology of Latin American communication theory

Latin American communication scholarship has shaped global debates on mediation, dependency, and mediatization, yet most foundational texts remain unavailable in English. Latin American Communication Theories: From the Origins to Contemporary Approaches, assembled by a team of communication scholars based at leading universities in Spain and Argentina, translates and contextualizes key writings from six decades of regional research for an international readership.

The volume maps intellectual trajectories from development and dependency theories through mediation, cultural industries, popular cultures, and mediatization. Introductory and section-level editorial texts guide readers through the historical, institutional, and theoretical evolution of the field. Classic contributions appear alongside emerging voices, creating a structured overview that connects Latin American debates with contemporary global discussions in media and communication studies.

Readers will also find:

• A curated selection of foundational Latin American texts published in English for the first time, spanning six decades of scholarship
• Editorial framing that contextualizes each section within the broader historical and institutional development of the communication field
• Critical engagement with hegemonic paradigms from the Global North, highlighting the originality of Latin American theoretical perspectives
• Coverage of key concepts including dependency theory, mediation, mediatization, cultural industries, and popular cultures across the region
• A structured intellectual map suitable for graduate coursework in global communication theory, media studies, and Latin American studies

Designed for graduate students, doctoral researchers, and faculty in communication theory, media studies, cultural studies, and Latin American studies, this anthology provides direct access to a scholarly tradition that has remained largely outside the English-language canon while offering structured pathways through its core debates and concepts.

CARLOS A. SCOLARI is Professor of Communication at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. He served as Principal Investigator of the H2020 TRANSLITERACY project (2015–2018) and currently co-coordinates the LITERAC_ia research project (2024–2027). His recent books include On the Evolution of Media (2023) and Homo Mediaticus (2026).

SANDRA VALDETTARO is Professor at the Department of Communication, National University of Rosario, Argentina. She directs the Ph.D. Program in Communication, the Master’s Program in Cultural Studies, and the Centre for Mediatization Research at her institution.

LEONARDA GARCÍA-JIMÉNEZ is Professor at the Department of Communication, University of Murcia, Spain. She served as Affiliate Faculty and Visiting Scholar at the University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado State University between 2008 and 2023. She is currently the Principal Investigator of the FEMICOM Research Group (Female Roles in Communication Research).