Handbook of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research

Global Insights on Navigating Today’s Complex Crises

Now in its second edition, The Handbook of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research offers a timely and comprehensive exploration of the methods, challenges, and innovations in managing present-day global crises and risks. Bringing together expert insights from across the fields of communication, public relations, and social sciences, this interdisciplinary volume examines crisis and risk communication through an international lens. Each chapter presents unique cultural, theoretical, and methodological perspectives for managing risk, mitigating crises, and fostering resilience.

Amid growing transnational issues such as public health emergencies, climate-induced disasters, and political upheavals, the Handbook emphasizes the role of communication in crisis awareness, recovery, and renewal. Contributions by leading scholars and practitioners investigate vital issues such as the impact of misinformation, digital technologies, and media dynamics in shaping public perception and policy response. This revised and expanded edition also reflects recent global threats, including climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and other cross-border crises.

Equipping readers with the knowledge and frameworks necessary to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world, The Handbook of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research is perfect for advanced graduate courses and PhD programs in crisis and risk communication, as well as crisis managers, public relations consultants, communication officers, and scholars in risk management and communication.

Andreas Schwarz is Senior Researcher in Risk and Crisis Communication at Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany, and Co-Director of the International Research Group on Crisis Communication. He served as the founding Chair of the Crisis Communication Section of ECREA. Schwarz has led multiple studies on crisis communication, including COVID-19 risk communication, and has consulted for government and nonprofit organizations.

Matthew W. Seeger is Distinguished University Professor of Communication and co-director of the Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases at Wayne State University. A prominent researcher in crisis and risk communication, Seeger has published nine books, including Narratives of Crisis: Telling Stories of Ruin and Renewal and Theorizing Crisis Communication. He has worked extensively with the CDC and WHO on crisis response and communication ethics.

Sora Kim is Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where she directs the Corporate Communication program and the CSRCom & Sustainability Hub. An expert in CSR and crisis communication, Kim has over 130 publications in leading communication and business journals. Her work explores sustainability, risk, and crisis communication across corporate and societal contexts.