Policy and Communication

Presentation

It is an important curricular unit for the studies' cycle given the relavance of communication in all political processes. Knowledge of communication processes is decisive both for the attainment of consensus for power and for the preservation of power, particularly in democratic systems. In the digital era, communication processes have become even more important that in the analog era.

Part of this Programme

Political Science and International Relations

Level of Qualification|Semesters|ECTS

| Semestral | 6

Year | Type of course unit | Language

2 |Mandatory |Português

Code

ULHT11-1422

Recommended complementary curricular units

--

Prerequisites and co-requisites

n/a

Professional Internship

Não

Syllabus

- Convergence of classical political theory and communication theory into a new political theory
- Representative democracy, media and public opinion. Models of communication and political systems
- Communication, information, propaganda and marketing. Spinning and instrumental communication. The 'interpolation effect' of the media. Politics and theories of effects. A concept of frontier: 'floating legitimacy'
- Communication, ethical codes and social function of the media
- Politics and electoral market: electoral campaigns and permanent campaign
- Politics and communication in the second half of the 20th century
- The USA President's Office of Communication
- Two European cases
- Analysis of various spots, from Eisenhower to Obama
- Balance: the political communication before the advent of the network
- Paradigm shift: from the media to the network
- Politics and the network in a democratic environment: the Italian case
- Politics and the network in an authoritarian environment: the Chinese case

Objectives

It is intended to equip the student with rigorous conceptual tools that enable him to produce a rigorous scientific discourse on politics and communication, allowing a a high professional performance. Thus, it is intended to develop analytical skills in both methodology (theories and concepts) and object (conceptual determination of the field of analysis) fields, so that the student is able to operationalize the theory at the level of empirical analysis. The study of three cases of convergence between communication and politics allows to promote skills of rigorous conceptual analysis on specific empirical matters, preparing the student for an effective professional conversion of acquired knowledge. The analysis of the relations between politics and the network completes the program, allowing the students to know and reflect on the paradigm change in politics and communication that is happening in present time.

Teaching methodologies and assessment

The classes will consist of theoretical expositions, with debates in class about a) methodology of theoretical access to the relations between politics and communication, b) the main theories and communication models and c) the conceptual heritage of communication theory applied to politics. With the theoretical tools acquired, a specific historical analysis of the cases under consideration in the program will be developed, with a) historical-evolutionary introductions, b) systematic analysis of the main variables, using c) quantitative analyzes (especially in the Italian case) and d) the displaying of videos. Finally, an overall assessment of political communication will be done before the advent of the network and after the network. The evaluation will focus on analytical control of syllabus through two tests (the first 30% and the second 60%). The debate in class is worth 10%.

References

CASTELLS, M. (2011). Comunicación y Poder. Madrid: Alianza Editorial.

HALLIN, D. & MANCINI, P. (2004).Comparing Media Systems. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

SANTOS, J. A. (2012). Media e Poder. O poder mediático e a erosão da democracia representativa. Lisboa: Vega.

SANTOS, J. A. (2013). A política e a rede: os casos italiano e chinês. Injoaodealmeidasantos.com

TIMOTEO, J. (2005). Gestión del poder diluído. Madrid: Pearson.

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