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Unit of study_
GOVT3901: Digital Politics
2025 unit information
This course will examine how advancement in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) can lead to social and political change, particularly in developing nations. Can the Internet make societies more democratic Does ICT empower the people or enable state surveillance We will compare and contrast how ICT expansion affects different types of political regimes. Case studies of global and local movements will be analyzed.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Arts and Social Sciences
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Government and International Relations |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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12 credit points at 2000 level in Government and International Relations or 12 at 2000 or 3000-level credit points from Government and International Relations |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. define and critically examine key concepts in political communication to articulate their significance in the platform era.
- LO2. analyse the role of platforms in shaping political communication, including their affordances, algorithms, and power structures, to evaluate their impact on public discourse.
- LO3. explain the evolution of public spheres, publics, and counterpublics in digital contexts to assess their implications for democratic participation.
- LO4. describe and evaluate the interactions between platforms and journalism to understand the challenges and opportunities for media in the platform era.
- LO5. discuss the strategies and transformations in political campaigning, movements, and lobbying on digital platforms to understand the dynamics of political influence and mobilisation.
- LO6. identify and critically assess the governance structures and self-regulatory mechanisms of platforms to understand their influence on global political systems.
- LO7. explain the concepts of misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda to propose strategies for strengthening democratic communication environments.
- LO8. evaluate the intersection of politics, entertainment, and culture in digital media to understand their role in shaping political communication.
Unit availability
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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