This paper critically reviews participatory communication in the communication for social change (CFSC) tradition in the Global South, following its development from radical origins—grounded in Freirean pedagogy and grassroots action—to its co-optation within neoliberal development frameworks. Through a comparative analysis of Latin America, Africa, and Asia, the paper questions the enduring gap between rhetoric and practice while observing how participatory action is usually caught between donor agendas, state regulation, and structural social hierarchies. Conceptually, the paper thematizes tensions around power, voice, and epistemic justice, contending that real participation necessitates more than technical participation; it needs the redistribution of communicative agency and a critical attention to the politics of voice, listening, and representation. In conclusion, the article urges a rethinking of participatory communication as a locally specific, contested practice grounded in local epistemologies and collective struggle that can promote social transformation in the face of persistent structural inequalities. The paper also contributes to ongoing efforts to rethink communication theory from Global South perspectives within contemporary media and communication scholarship.
Vinod Pavarala (Tue,) studied this question.