Biography

Colin B. Grant graduated with First Class Honours in Modern Languages from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh. Having developed strong interests in the relations between state and art in the German Democratic Republic, he took a PhD in Literary Theory in the GDR in the Erich Honecker years. Questions of reception, codes of production and modes of interaction emerged strongly from this project in the mid-1990s at which time he had been appointed to a Visiting Associate Professorship at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (1994-1998), where he worked in the Institute of Philosophy and Social Science and in Modern Languages. He was awarded two DAAD-CAPES postdoctoral fellowships to develop his work in constructivism and communication theory at the University of Siegen under the mentorship of Siegfried J. Schmidt. He returned to Heriot Watt University to teach European Studies and develop his research interests. He was awarded a personal professorial chair in 2004 before joining the University of Surrey in 2005. He has served as Head of Department, Culture, Media and Communication (2005), and Head of School (Executive Dean) of Arts, Communication and Humanities (2005-2007).

Professor Grant was Dean of International Relations from 2007-2009 and has been Pro Vice Chancellor (International Relations) since then.  He has institutional responsibility for: 

• international strategy
• internationalisation of the curriculum
• University Global Partnership Network:  North Carolina State University, Universidade de Sao Paul, Seoul National University, University of Cape Town
• South-East India Partnership Network (with the Indian institute for Science Education and Research, Pune)
• Surrey International Institute, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics

Research Interests

Communication and Social Theory. Interdisciplinary approaches to logic, epistemology and sociology. Critiques of Habermas and Luhmann. Realism/Constructivism/Contextualism debates.
Mass media representations and receptions.
He is currently preparing a new monograph entitled provisionally Critique of Intersubjectivty and is editing the collection of essay Beyond Universal Pragmatics.
He is also series editor of Interdisciplinary Communication Studies (Oxford: Peter Lang).

Publications

Books

Forthcoming
Grant, C.B. (ed.), Beyond Universal Pragmatics
Grant, C.B. and Tino Meitz (eds) Worlds of Communication.  Interdisciplinary Transitions, by Siegfried J. Schmidt, Peter Lang:  Oxford, ca 2010.

Published
Grant, C.B. (ed.) Beyond Universal Pragmatics.  Studies in the Philosophy of Communication, P. Lang:  Oxford 2010 (with S.J. Schidt, L. Leydesdorff, J. Valsiner, J. Salgado et alii)
Grant, C.B. Post-transcendental Communication. Contexts of Human Autonomy. Lang: Oxford, 2008 ISBN: 978-3-03911-032-2 (186 pp).
Grant, C.B., Uncertainty and Communication. New Theoretical Investigations. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke UK, 2007 ISBN: 978-0-230-51762-2 (205pp.)
Grant, C.B. (ed.), Rethinking Communicative Interaction: New Interdisciplinary Horizons, 2003 (John Benjamins). ISBN 90 272 5358 7 (320pp.) with H. Stam, B. Torode, L. Leydesdorff, S.J. Schmidt, A. Babrow, I. Marková.
Grant, C.B. (ed.). Language – Meaning – Social Construction. Interdisciplinary Studies. Rodopi: Amsterdam/ New York, 2001 ISBN: 90-420-1448-2 with B. Torode, S.J. Schmidt, T. Williamson, I. Marková.
Grant, C.B. Functions and Fictions of Communication. Oxford/Bern/Berlin/Bruxelles/ Frankfurt am Main/New York/Wien: Peter Lang (179pp.), 2000 ISBN3-906758-40-0
Grant, C.B. (ed.). Ränder der deutschen Literatur. Eine Einführung in die Literatur der DDR der 80er Jahre und danach. Stadtlichter Presse: Berlin, 2000. (63 pp.)
Grant, C.B. (ed.). Literatura contemporânea alemã. Ensaios Críticos. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (184pp.), 1999 ISBN 85-900939-
Grant, C.B. Literary communication from consensus to rupture. Theory and Practice in Honecker’s GDR. Amsterdam/Atlanta: Rodopi (244pp.), 1995 ISBN 98-5183-785-2

Special journal devoted to the work of C.B. Grant:
Die (Un) der Kommunikation (= Siegener Periodicum zur Internationalen Empirischen Literaturwissenschaft, Jg. 26 (2007), with essays by S.J. Schmidt, D. Baecker, E. Von Glasersfeld et alii (published 2009).

Articles and chapters
In preparation
Grant, C.B. “Variant Semantics, Radical Contextualism and Noise: communication-philosophical investigations”

Forthcoming
Grant, C.B. “Response to my critics” in: Siegener Periodicum zur Internationalen Empirischen Literaturwissenschaft – special issue on C.B. Grant, “Intersubjektivität ohne Kommunikation”.
Grant, C.B., “Detranscendentalising the Universal” in: Grant, C.B., Beyond Universal Pragmatics.

Published
Grant, C.B., “Without a Name: Kurt Drawert and the Dislocated Self” in: Dislocation and Reorientation. Exile, Division and the End of Communism in German Culture and Politics, GOODBODY, Axel, Pól Ó DOCHARTAIGH and Dennis TATE (Eds.), Amsterdam/New York, NY, 2009: pp. 291-302.
Grant, C.B. “Radical Contextualism vs. Universal Pragmatics” in: Grant, C.B., Beyond Universal Pragmatics. Studies in the Philosophy of Communication, P. Lang: Oxford, 2010: pp. 201-230.
Grant, C.B., “Introduction” in: Grant, C.B., Beyond Universal Pragmatics. Studies in the Philosophy of Communication, P. Lang: Oxford, 2010: pp. ix-xx.
Grant, C.B., “Kommunikation ohne Intersubjektivität” in: Die (Un)möglichkeit der Kommunikation (= Siegener Periodicum zur Internationalen Empirischen Literaturwissenschaft, Jg. 26 (2007): pp. 3-29 (published 2009).Grant, C.B. “Information overload, globalisation and risks of the dialogical self” in: Oles P.K. & Hermans H.J.M. (eds.), The dialogical self: Theory and research. Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL, 2005: 27-41. isbn 83-7363-320-0
Grant, C.B. “Kreuzungen sind vorzügliche Orte des Denkens”. Dust-jacket for Latemar Nachlass by Siegfried J. Schmidt, Stadtlichter Presse, 2004
Grant, C.B., “Risks of Communicating and the Self at the Edge”, Theory and Psychology vol. 14, (2004): 221-237
Grant, C.B. “Uncertain Communications : Uncertain Social Systems” in: Soziale Systeme vol. 10 (2004): 217-232
Grant, C.B. “Rethinking Interaction: an interdisciplinary programme” in: Grant (ed.), Rethinking Communicative Interaction. New Interdisciplinary Horizons, Benjamins, 2003: 1-26 ISBN 90 272 5358 7
Grant, C.B. “Destabilizing Social Communication Theory” in: Theory, Culture and Society vol. 20 no. 6, 2003: 95-119. ISSN 0263-2764
Grant, C.B., “Complexities of Self and Communication” in: Grant (2003 ed.), Rethinking Communicative Interaction. New Interdisciplinary Horizons: 101-125. ISBN 90 272 5358 7
Grant, C.B. und S. Zyngier “Texto, Discurso, Ficção: questões semânticas e epistemológicas” in: Vertentes Nr. 19/2002 (ISSN 0104-8473): pp. 61-70.
Grant, C.B. “Constitucionalidade, legalidade e legitimidade na União Europeia e no Mercosul” in: Comunicação & Política (Rio de Janeiro), vol. IX, no. 2 (2002): pp. 52-72 ISSN 0102-6925)
Grant, C.B. “Theories of intersubjectivity: heuristic fiction or counterfactual ideal?” in: Holger Briel and Andreas Kramer (eds.). In Practice. Adorno, Critical Theory and Cultural Studies. German Linguistic and Cultural Studies, vol. 9 Lang, 2001: pp. 85-101 (slightly modified version of 24) ISBN 3-906766-85-3
Grant, C.B., “Vagueness, Porous Communication, Fictions of Society” in: Language-Meaning-Social Construction. Interdisciplinary Approaches. Rodopi: Amsterdam/New York, 2001: pp. 43-58 ISBN 90-420-1448-2
Grant, C.B. “Introduction” to: Language-Meaning-Social Construction. Interdisciplinary Approaches. Rodopi: Amsterdam/ New York, 2001: pp. 1-8. ISBN 90-420-1448-2
Grant, C.B. “Discursive Democracy as the Political Taming of Globalisation? On recent political essays by Jürgen Habermas”. In: Debatte. Review of Contemporary German Affairs 2/8 (2000): pp. 133-148 ISSN 0965-156 X
Grant, C.B. “Riso, utopia e resistência: Volker Braun”. In: Literatura contemporânea alemã. Ensaios críticos. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 1999: ISBN 85-900939-1-3: pp. 48-63
Grant, C.B. “Literatura alemã após a abertura do muro”. In: Literatura contemporânea alemã. Ensaios críticos. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 1999 ISBN 85-900939-1-3: pp. 175-183
Grant, C.B. “Fuzzy Interaction in Dialogue Interpreting” in: Linguistica Antverpiensia. Special Issue on Interdisciplinarity in Applied Translation Studies 1999: pp. 85-100 ISSN 0771-100 X
Grant, C.B. “Intersubjetividade: Necessidade social ou impossibilidade cognitiva. Uma contribuição ao debate entre Habermas e Luhmann”. In: Princípios. Revista de Filosofia (Federal University of Natal): pp. 5-27, 1998 ISSN 0104-8694
Grant, C.B. “Interview mit Siegfried J. Schmidt”. In: Forum Deutsch. Revista Brasileira de Estudos Germânicos. 2/1997: pp. 7-22
Grant, C.B. “Poderes da ficção e ficções do poder”. In: Terceira Margem. 4/1997: pp. 42-48 ISSN 1413-0378
Grant, C.B. “Procedures of exclusion and reserves of inclusion in the public spheres”. In: Interfaces vol. 3, 3: pp. 91-100 ISSN pending
Grant, C.B. “As ficções do poder e os poderes da ficção: literatura e poder na Ex-Alemanha Oriental”. Revista de estudos de literatura. Belo Horizonte (Centro de Estudos Literários/UFMG), v. 5, p. 193-204, out. 1997.
Grant, C.B. “Tracing the texts of a new novel. Brigitte Burmeister’s Anders oder vom Aufenthalt in der Fremde”. In: R. Atkins and M. Kane (eds.). Retrospect and Review. Aspects of the Literature of the GDR 1976-1990. Amsterdam/ Atlanta: Rodopi, 1997: pp. 75-91 ISBN 90-120-0145-3
Grant, C.B. Kritik der Dialogizität. Zu den Asymmetrien literarischer Kommunikation. (LUMIS-Schriften University of Siegen). 49/1997 (20pp.) ISSN 0177-1388
Grant, C.B. “Communicação literária, consenso e dissenso”. In: Cadernos de Letras (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). 12/1997: pp. 134-142 ISSN 1413-0238
Grant, C.B. “Necropsia de um necrófilo: Heiner Müller”. In: Cadernos de Letras (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). 12/1997: pp. 50-53 ISSN 1413-0238
Kestler, I.M.F. & Grant, C.B. “Interview mit Hans Magnus Enzensberger”. In: Forum Deutsch. Revista Brasileira de Estudos Germânicos. 1/1996: pp. 5-14
Grant, C.B. “Probleme des Öffentlichkeits-Begriffes im Verorten von Literatur“ (LUMIS-Schriften University of Siegen). 45/1996 (20pp.) ISSN 0177-1388
Grant, C.B. “Die Risse des Schlittschuhläufers auf dünnem Eis”. In: Forum Deutsch. Revista Brasileira de Estudos Germânicos. 1/1996: pp. 90-92
Grant, C.B. “Narrations of the decay of the post-socialist city” In: Terceira Margem 3, 1995: pp. 35-46 ISSN 1413-0378
Grant, C.B. “Die Türen zu den Zwischenräumen offenhalten. Einführung in Leben und Werk von Brigitte Burmeister” in: Neophilologus. Dordrecht: Kluwer: 78/1994: pp. 131-135 ISSN 0028-2677
Grant, C.B. “Beyond the Guilt of Words? Gert Neumann’s writing after the ‘Wende’ ” in: A. Williams, S. Parkes, J. Preece (eds.). German Literature at a Time of Change. New York/Bern/Frankfurt: Lang, 1994: pp. 221-232. ISBN 32610-444-38
Grant, C.B. “Brigitte Burmeister and the Reality of Perception” in: GDR Monitor. Amsterdam: Rodopi: 23/1991: pp. 73-74 ISSN 90-120-0145-3
Grant, C.B. “Öffentlichkeit-Diskurs-Kommunikation. Ein Interview mit Robert Weimann” in: Weimarer Beiträge. Vienna: Passagen: 1991: pp. 1053-1062 ISSN 0043-2199
Grant, C.B. “The Departure from Dialogue in GDR Reader-Writer Relations” in: GDR Monitor. Amsterdam: Rodopi: 22/1990: pp. 69-82 ISSN 90-120-0145-3

Edited book series

Grant, C.B. Interdisciplinary Communication Studies, Peter Lang: Oxford 2006-
First volume: K. Bryan (ed.), Health Communication (2009)
Second volume: L. Fortunati and J. Vincent (eds.), Emotions and ICTs (late 2008)

Edited journals

Grant, C.B. Risse im System. Stadtlichter Presse, Berlin. Issue 1 (January 2004): Realitätsdiffusion & Kontingenztremor. Ein Essay zur Beiläufigkeit by Siegfried J. Schmidt
Risse im System Issue 2 (June 2006): Die Form der Kultur by Dirk Baecker
Grant, C.B. & Otte, G. Forum Deutsch. Special Issue: Habermas. Revista Brasileira de Estudos Germânicos. 3/1998 (106pp.) ISSN 1413-5826
Grant, C.B. & OTTE, G. Forum Deutsch. Revista Brasileira de Estudos Germânicos (refereed journal with international advisory board). 2/1997 (112pp.)
Grant, C.B. & OTTE, G. Forum Deutsch. Revista Brasileira de Estudos Germânicos (refereed journal with international advisory board). 1/1996 (105pp.) ISSN 1413-5826

Translations

Grant, C.B. and R. Zühlke, Diane Di Prima, 13 Alpträume. Stadtlichter Presse, Berlin, 2000.
Grant, C.B. and R. Zühlke, Jack Kerouac: Der Mond hatte einen Katzenschnurbart. Westliche Haiku. Stadtlichter Presse, Berlin, 2000.
Grant, C.B. (Trans.) Gert-Joachim Glaeßner (1992). From Dictatorship to Democracy. London: Pinter.

Teaching

Teaches courses on sociological theory, and supervises two Pakistan Higher Education Commission Postdoctoral Fellows (Zafar Iqbal and Ghulam Shabir) and six PhD students:

• N. Sangsingkeo (with C. Sandvoss)
• S. Shrestha (with K. Burningham)
• T. Khayyat
• D. Oonpipat
• B. Adi (with G. Cooper)
• K. Strani

Professional Activities

Invited reviewer for Postdoctoral Research Awards, Finnish Academy of Sciences; Invited Reviewer for British Council PMI2 Connect research scheme. Chair of Philosophy of Communication section, European Communication Research and education Association (ECREA), 2007-2008. Reviewer for Theory, Culture and Society; Information, Communication and Society; Theory and Psychology.

Professor Grant serves on the editorial advisory boards of the following journals:

Forum Deutsch (founding editor, 1995)
Pandaemonium Germanicum
Principios.  Revista de Filosofia
Empedocles
Risse im System

Keynotes

He has delivered keynote and invited speeches in Korea, Finland, Brazil, China, Germany and France.