Class Public Opinion and Political Communication

The UC intends to provide the theoretical framework of Public Opinion and Political Comunication phenomena within the contemporary democracies.

Not applicable

I. Public Opinion 1. Public Opinion - conceptual framework 2. Public Opinion' formation 2.1. The role of media in shaping public opinion 2.2. How public opinion is measured? The surveys II. Political Communication 1. Political Communication – the concept 1.1. Systemic and functionalist framework - theoretical perspectives 2. The media and voters 2.1. From social modernization to social media 2.2. Political information, political communication and the quality of democracy.

This course will  follow a theoretical component and a practical one, supported by discussion sessions at the classroom context.

Edwards, George C., Lawrence R. Jacobs, and Robert Y. Shapiro (eds) (2011) The Oxford Handbook of American Public Opinion and the Media, OUP: Oxford. Farrell, D. M., & Schmitt-Beck, R. (2002). Do political campaigns matter? Campaign effects in elections and referendums. London: Routledge. Kaid, L. L. (2004). Handbook of political communication research. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Kenski, Kate, and Kathleen Hall Jamieson (eds) (2017) The Oxford Handbook of Political Communication, OUP:Oxford. Lilleker, D. G. (2006). Key concepts in political communication. London: Sage. McNair, B. (2003). Introduction to political communication (3rd edition). London: Routledge. Norris, P. (2000). A virtuous circle: Political communications in postindustrial societies. Cambridge: OUP.