Activism and Rhetoric
Theories and Contexts for Political Engagement

Examines the role of rhetoric in the culture of democratic activism. This book challenges the contested meanings and practices of democracy and civic engagement in global context, and the central role of rhetoric in democratic activist practices. It also considers theoretical questions that acknowledge profound voids in the rhetorical tradition.

It advocates new knowledge and practices that further promote civic engagement, social change and democracy in the global context. "Activism and Rhetoric" will be appropriate for scholars and students across disciplines, including rhetoric, composition, communication studies, political science, cultural studies, and women's studies.

Foreword: Philip C. Wander
Introduction: Seth Kahn and JongHwa Lee
Part I. (Re)Framing Rhetorical Activism: How Activists Theorize Rhetoric and Vice Versa
Chapter 1: The Only Conceivable Thing To Do: Reflections on Academics and Activism Dana L. Cloud
Chapter 2: Reflections on Activist Scholarship: The Consequences We All Have to Face Jonghwa Lee
Chapter 3: The Work of a Middle-Class Activist: Stuck in History Charles Bazerman
Chapter 4: Speaking Truth to Power: Observations from Experience Lee Artz
Chapter 5: Gadugi: Where the fire burns Ellen (Drew) Cushman
Chapter 6: Intervention and Rhetorics of War: Classical Insights for Contemporary Activists Melissa Dey Hasbrook
Part II. Contexts for Rhetorical Activism, Part One: Activism in Non-Academic Settings
Chapter 7: A Conservative Pundit in Liberal Surroundings: An Uneven Odyssey Richard E. Vatz
Chapter 8: The Role of Communism in Democratic Discourse: What Activist Rhetoricians Can Learn from the World Bank Catherine Chaput
Chapter 9: (Re) Politicizing the Writing Process: An Exhortation and a Cautionary Tale Seth Kahn
Chapter 10: "Looking for the Left in Russia" Katie Feyh
Part III. Contexts for Rhetorical Activism, Part Two: Activism within Academic Institutions
Chapter 11: Developing Activist Rhetorics on Israel-Palestine: Resisting the Depoliticization of the American Academy Matthew Abraham
Chapter 12: Democracy and the Academy: Ethnographic Articulations and Interventions for Social Change Paige Pettyjohn Edley &
Nina Maria Lozano-Reich
Chapter 13: Against Decorous Civility: Acting as if You Live in a Democracy M.J. Braun
Chapter 14: You Can't Get There from Here: Higher Education, Labor Activism, and Challenges of Neoliberal Globalization Kevin Mahoney
Part IV. Contexts for Rhetorical Activism, Part Three: Activist Pedagogy
Chapter 15: Practicing Democracy: An Experience-Based Approach Ruth Ray, Gwendolyn Gorzelsky, Stephanie Hall-Sturgis, LaWanda Dickens, Thomas Trimble, Kim Davis, Karen Keaton Jackson, Justin Vidovic, Sally Chandler
Chapter 16: BREAKING NEWS: Armchair Activists Access Their Power Shelley DeBlasis and Teresa Grettano
Chapter 17: Activism in the Ivory Tower: Finding Hope for Academic Prose Rebecca Jones
Chapter 18: Reclaiming Activism for Students Amy Pason