StratPolitical Communication

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Communication is central to how we understand international affairs. Political leaders, diplomats, and citizens recognize that communication shapes global politics. Globalization and advances in communication technologies, such as social media, have only amplified this, as manifested in notions and concepts such as soft and smart power, new public diplomacy, or network power. This course will introduce students to the conceptual, theoretical, and historical foundations of strategic and political communication in order to develop a systematic understanding of how political actors seek to shape order through narrative projection in this new environment. We will also examine and analyze a variety of case studies, and students will have the opportunity to practically apply their knowledge through a number of hands-on projects, such as constructing effective strategic narratives as part of group work assignments, as well as in the setting of a diplomatic simulation.