Admission requirements
This course is part of the minor Global Affairs and can thus only be followed as part of the minor or the track. The minor is accessible for bachelor students who have obtained their ‘propedeuse’ and have a keen interest in global affairs, but the level of teaching is most suitable for third-year students, particularly of Political Science, Public Administration, Law and International Studies. If there are any uncertainties about the suitability of your programme and profile to the minor, please do not hesitate to send an email to globalaffairs@cdh.leidenuniv.nl.
Description
Through studying the wars in Afghanistan, Yugoslavia and Iraq from the 1980s onwards the course will focus on how the coverage of such conflicts has significantly changed over the past thirty years in a now globalised world, whilst also confronting students with both the positive and negative sides of the extraordinary changes the media and public communication have undergone. The course will start with an introduction to the media landscape in the 1980s and its role in national and international politics. By looking at the various conflicts and assessing the change in coverage, students will gain insight into the role of the (social) media play and the power they have, but also how they can be abused and indeed even controlled in ways previously unthinkable. In all of this the political decisions underpinning the wars and outside interference, the economic interests involved and the wider regional and international repercussions will also feature.
Course objectives
At the end of this course students will have an understanding of the modern media and the role it plays in covering conflict and how it can inspire real public discussion of global political issues, or be manipulated and controlled. Students should also have learned how media coverage can influence both the conflict itself and the political decisions leading to outside intervention.
Timetable
This course will be taught between September 22nd and October 24th 2014. During those five weeks, you can expect to meet twice a week; the exact dates and times of the lectures have yet to be determined.
Mode of instruction
This course will consist mainly of lectures and class discussions.
Assessment method
Two short papers (25% each)
Final paper (50%)
Blackboard
Yes.
Reading list
TBA.
Registration
Students register for the minor and the course in Usis. See the website (in Dutch) http://onderwijs.leidenuniv.nl/minoren/toelating-inschrijving/toelating.html
Contact information
Lecturer:
Mr Aernout van Lynden: c.d.a.van.lynden@luc.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
This course is part of the minor Global Affairs and can only be taken as part of this minor.