New NCA Resource on Addressing Authoritarianism
The National Communication Association (NCA) is proud to introduce a new online resource, “Addressing Authoritarianism: A Resource Library,” an active scholarship repository addressing authoritarianism and fascist concerns.
This archive, created as a volunteer project led by Marina Levina PhD., Editor of NCA’s Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies and chair of the Critical and Cultural Studies Division, will be a living document created over time through submissions by NCA members and non-members who are scholars.
“Addressing Authoritarianism” provides resources to enable successful pedagogical, research, creative, and administrative interventions into authoritarianism and fascism. Available to all, this public resource features theoretical, historical, and pedagogical resources on authoritarianism and fascism for scholars and educators to use in their teaching and writing.
The library contains theoretical and historical texts in communication and beyond, as well as college-level and K-12 lesson plans, and extensive media databases aimed at promoting critical interventions into authoritarianism and fascism. The library addresses authoritarianism and fascism as a global phenomenon with an emphasis on different regions, globally
Since “Addressing Authoritarianism” is an open document, the resource is designed to evolve and become more nuanced as new scholarship emerges, allowing the academic community to have access to timely and relevant scholarship.
“The work was driven by a deep conviction that we possess an immense power of education, and that we need to put it to good collective use,” Levina said. “I hope that this library can serve as a resource to enable thinking, writing, and teaching about authoritarianism and fascism. It is also my profound hope that this is the beginning of collaborations across different fields, pedagogical praxis, and institutions.”
NCA leadership emphasized, in particular, the significance of the project in achieving NCA’s goal of enhancing research and education in communication.
“This effort reflects the passion and knowledge of NCA members who are dedicated to creating resources that further critical inquiry and engage scholars in a variety of fields,” NCA’s Executive Director Justin Danowski stated. “The project is part of NCA’s continuous initiative to promote collaboration, increase access to research work, and equip communication scholars with information and research aimed at important issues confronting society and communication studies.”
“Addressing Authoritarianism” will remain regularly updated as more material is suggested and considered by scholars who are members of the academic community. In addition to being a valuable resource for scholars, the resource will serve as a useful teaching tool for educators interested in exposing students to research on authoritarianism and fascism, as well as their impact on communication practices, media, politics, and culture.
Scholars and researchers can submit additional resources via the Resource Submission Form.
