This book summarizes the important and promising emerging theories of human communication that go beyond received traditions. It includes essays on emerging theories of communication and culture; relational communicative competence; conflict communication; communication and peace; agenda setting and the role of mass media in democratic political processes; new rhetoric and new social movements; and communication and management of public-sector competitiveness.

Contributors to this volume include Deborah Blood, Dudley D. Cahn, Donal Carbaugh, Ron B. Cullen, Donald P. Cushman, William A. Donohue, Timothy Gibson, Gerard A. Hauser, Trudy Milburn, Hiroshi Ota, Jiro Takai, Susan Whalen, John M. Wiemann, Mary O. Weimann, and Jian H. Zhu.