Class Culture, Networks and Globalization

'Culture, Networks and Globalisation' examines the relationship between the processes of globalisation, the evolution of communication networks and the cultural transformations that characterise contemporary society. Set within a multidisciplinary and constantly evolving field of knowledge, the module analyses the role of networks as infrastructures for global communication and their influence on the organisation of societies, the circulation of information and power relations. Taking a historical and evolutionary perspective, the module will examine topics such as networked society, the media, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, the geopolitics of networks and the challenges of digital culture. The module aims to develop in students a critical understanding of the dynamics that shape the contemporary world, based on the idea that globalisation creates networks, networks structure communication, communication transforms culture, and culture produces new global challenges.

Not applicable

What does it mean to live in a networked society? The evolution of globalisation The schools of globalisation Networks: much more than just technology The media as drivers of global culture Communication networks as an instrument of geopolitical dominance Digital platforms and platform capitalism Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence and Culture Social media, public opinion and propaganda Globalisation, identities and cultures Global crises in a networked world The future of global culture

The course module adopts a student-centred teaching methodology, combining lectures with Research-Based Learning (RBL) and Problem-Based Learning (ProblemBL) strategies. The Research-Based Learning component promotes learning through guided research into scientific literature, reports and other academic sources, encouraging students to develop research skills, the critical selection of information and the independent construction of knowledge. At the same time, the Problem-Based Learning methodology is applied through the analysis and discussion of case studies relating to contemporary phenomena, such as the geopolitics of communication networks, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, disinformation and globalisation, thereby stimulating critical thinking and the practical application of theoretical concepts.

Barabási, A.-L. (2002). Linked: The New Science of Networks. Perseus. Cardoso, G. (2024). A Nova Comunicação. Almedina Castells, M. (2009). Communication and Power. Oxford University Press. Flew, T. (2018). Understanding Global Media. Red Globe Press. Monge, P. R., & Contractor, N. S. (2003). Theories of Communication Networks. Oxford University Press. Roberts, A., & Lamp, N. (2021). Six Faces of Globalization: Who Wins, Who Loses, and Why It Matters. Harvard University Press. Steger, M. B. (2023). Globalization: A Very Short Introduction (5th ed.). Oxford University Press. Sorrells, K., & Sekimoto, S. (2025). Intercultural Communication: Globalization and Social Justice (4th ed.). SAGE. (substitui a edição de 2022 que já constava na FUC de Comunicação e Globalização).  Van Dijck, J., Poell, T., & de Waal, M. (2018). The Platform Society: Public Values in a Connective World. Oxford University Press.