Course Catalogue

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This course introduces students to theories and empirical research about the media's role in relations between states. The course encourages scrutiny of governments' use of the media as a foreign policy tool, both historically and in the contemporary period. It invites students to consider factors that influence the reporting of foreign news and international conflicts, as well as challenges generated by globalisation of the media.

Lecture: one hour per week, for 10 weeks

Tutorial: one hour per week, for 10 weeks

Standard Ordinary Degree entry requirements for Politics or International Relations

POLITIC4103 - International Political Communication

None

One essay of up to 2,000 words (40%);

One policy memo of up to 800 words, written under open-book exam conditions (40%).

Completing weekly questions about readings in a peer-review tool and responding to the answers submitted by peers (20%).

This course aims to introduce students to theories and empirical research relating to the media's role in relations between states. Students will develop a critical understanding of concepts including propaganda, public diplomacy and strategic narratives, while evaluating related arguments about the media's role as a source of power in international politics. Students will investigate how democratic and non-democratic governments have deployed the media as tools of foreign policy, considering historical and contemporary examples. They will also learn about factors which influence foreign news reporting and the reporting of international conflicts.

The course aims to give students the skills, knowledge and confidence to develop their own well-informed arguments about the power and influence of the media in international politics.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

■ Demonstrate knowledge of concepts and theories which feature in research on the media's role in international politics, including propaganda, public diplomacy, soft power and strategic narratives.

■ Interpret the findings of qualitative and quantitative empirical research explaining patterns in foreign news coverage, international conflict reporting and the impact of the media on a range of outcomes in international politics.

■ Apply relevant concepts, theories and empirical evidence appropriately when analysing the strategic communication activities of governments and other actors across a range of international political contexts, both historical and contemporary.

■ Advance reasoned and factually supported arguments, orally and in writing, making sound judgments in the absence of complete data.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.