| CODE | DST5116 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Media and Public Diplomacy in Global Politics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Diplomatic Studies | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit is predicated on the understanding that communication has a significant role on the perception of and the shaping of global politics. It aims to provide a theoretical background and practical insights into the way communication impacts the world of international relations and diplomacy. The emphasis is on general principles, theories and concepts as they relate to media, strategic narratives and public diplomacy. The study-unit employs also a practical bend with a focus on imparting skills such as the analysis of media content and the use of tools of public diplomacy. Case-Studies to illustrate principles are primarily focused on the Mediterranean region. The exact content of the semester varies from year to year and will be specified in a syllabus distributed at the beginning of each term. Study-Unit Aims: - To explore key theories and concepts in communication studies; - To provide an understanding of the main concepts in the study of the role of media in politics; - To examine mediated representations of conflict and how these have evolved with changes in technology and media; - To trace the historical origins of strategic narratives as a concept for understanding attempts to persuade different audiences; - To provide a critical introduction to the evolution of public diplomacy, its tools and actors; - To introduce students to the strategic use of new media and digital diplomacy. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge and Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - demonstrate an understanding of the concepts in the study of the role of the media in politics; - critically evaluate the major theoretical approaches regarding the role of communications in international relations and relate it to the work of the diplomat; - identify and critically evaluate the manner by which actors employ strategic narratives to influence others; - be conversant with the Public Diplomacy tools that are available for reaching out to different publics. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - appraise and analyse media coverage utilising the principles established; - interpret media coverage in the context of domestic and international relations; - apply the knowledge retained to practical objectives, including the employment of old and new media, to attain strategic objectives; - establish a public diplomacy tool-kit and implement this in effective and persuasive communication strategies. Main Texts and Supplementary Readings: All main texts are available at the MEDAC Library. Main Texts - Berridge, G.R., 2010. Diplomacy, Theory and Practice. 4th edition. Palgrave. - Bjola, C. & M. Holmes, (ed.) 2015. Digital Diplomacy, Theory and Practice. Routledge. - Carruthers, S. L., 2011. The Media at War, Communication and Conflict in the Twentieth Century. 2nd edition. Palgrave. - Hall, J, 2021. Politics and the Media, Intersections and New Directions. SAGE Publications Inc. - Miskimmon A., O’Loughlin B. and L. Roselle, 2013. Strategic Narratives: Communication Power and the New World Order. Routledge - Pammert, J., 2013. New Public Diplomacy in the 21st Century. Routledge. Supplementary Readings - Bryant, J. & M.B. Oliver, 2009. Media Effects. 3rd edition. Routledge. - Castells, M., 2010. The Rise of the Network Society. Wiley-Blackwell. 2nd edition. - De Graaf, B., Dimitriu, G. and J. Rimgsmose, 2015. Strategic Narratives, Public Opinion and War. Routledge. - Farmanfarmaian, R. (ed.) 2021. Media and Politics in the Southern Mediterranean, Communicating Power in Transition after 2011, Routledge. - Hocking, B. and J. Melissen, 2015. Diplomacy in the Digital Age. Clingendael. - Miskimmon A., O’Loughlin B. and L. Roselle (eds.) 2017. Forging the World: Strategic Narratives and International Relations. Ann Arbor:University of Michigan Press. - Singer, P.W. and E. T. Brooking, 2018. Like War, the Weaponization of Social Media. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. - Snow, N. and P. Taylor (eds.), 2009. Routledge Handbook of Public Diplomacy. Routledge. - Thussu, D. K., 2009. Mediapolitik: How the Mass Media have transformed World Politics. Routledge. - Waller, J. Michael, 2007. The Public Diplomacy Reader. Institute of World Politics Press, US. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Lourdes Pullicino |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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