Political Communication

POS 3008

In this course, we will look at how political actors communicate with various publics through traditional, specialized, and newer communication forms. The course will also explore how political messaging changes as a result of the medium employed. We will use independent research, writing, and group activities to help you better understand and use various writing formats common to contemporary political communication in liberal democratic states. While the course focuses on political communication within liberal democratic societies, we will sometimes contrast this with similar activities in non-democratic political movements and societies. This is not a public speaking course, even though the construction of political speeches and other written texts that are designed to be spoken will be central to our work. Exercises and assignments will help you develop your own political communication skills in English by practicing selected traditional, specialized, and newer communication forms.