GCSC Celebrates 20 Years
In 2026, the ICA Global Communication and Social Change (GCSC) Division marks an important milestone: 20 years of scholarship, collaboration, and community-building. Since its founding, GCSC has played a central role in advancing critical research and dialogue on communication and social change across global contexts.
To celebrate this anniversary, ICA 2026 featured a dedicated panel and reception that brought together long-standing members, emerging scholars, and the wider community.
Anniversary Panel: Reflecting on the Past, Looking to the Future
The anniversary panel, “Global Communication and Social Change at 20: Lessons, Reflections, and Futures,” took place on Friday, 5 June 2026 (12:00–13:15) at C2F2 Daisy (CTICC2, Level 2).
Chaired by Wenhong Chen and Dani Madrid-Morales (University of Sheffield), the session brought together leading voices in the field:
- Karin Wilkins (University of Miami)
- Silvio Waisbord (George Washington University)
- Florence Madenga (Boston College)
- Radhika Gajjala (Bowling Green State University)
- Jack Qiu (Nanyang Technological University)
The panel offered a space to reflect on the intellectual history of GCSC, revisiting key debates, theoretical contributions, and methodological developments that have shaped the division over the past two decades. At the same time, panellists engaged in a forward-looking discussion on the future of the field—highlighting emerging priorities, challenges, and opportunities for global communication and social change research.
Importantly, the session fostered dialogue across generations of scholars, encouraging participation from both long-time members and those newer to the division.
20th Anniversary Reception
The celebrations continued at the GCSC 20th Anniversary Reception on Sunday, 7 June 2026 (19:00–21:00) in the Watsonia Room (CTICC 2).
As the division’s main anniversary event during ICA 2026, the reception provided an opportunity to:
- Reconnect with current and former members
- Celebrate the division’s collective achievements
- Welcome new scholars into the GCSC community
The event underscored the strong sense of collegiality and shared purpose that has defined GCSC over the years.
Looking Ahead
As GCSC enters its third decade, the anniversary events served not only as a celebration of past accomplishments, but also as a reminder of the division’s ongoing commitment to critical, inclusive, and globally engaged scholarship.
The conversations sparked during the panel and the connections renewed at the reception point to a vibrant future for the division and the broader field of global communication and social change.