Course content

More recently, new political cleavages have emerged, volatility has increased and party identification has declined, indicating that the political landscape is changing. This course focuses on how political actors, the media, and the electorate change their strategies in accordance with these new trends. Why do two voters react differently to the same message? Are the voters more influenced by emotion than by knowledge? Have new identities replaced loyalty to class and party? Which strategies of communication do political parties prefer when they are dependent upon the mass media? Has the mass media become an important political power, and how does this power work?

Learning outcome

Knowledge - the student shall:

• have knowledge about the media and symbolic power in the formation of opinion focusing on how political actors, media and voters act under changing conditions along with a command of the discipline's theory and methods
• be able to contribute to the development of new knowledge in the discipline

Skills - the student shall demonstrate the ability to:

• treat one of the themes which was discussed in instruction in an independent empirical analytical manner which is at a high international level

Learning methods and activities

Lectures/group discussions equivalent to 4 hours pr. week. Supervision of term paper. The essay is to be an independent discussion of a topic taught in lectures, and is to consist of 20 pages. If 6 or fewer students sign up for a planned course during the first 2 teaching weeks, the course will be offered as an instructed reading course.

Required previous knowledge

Master's degree in Political Science or equivalent.

Course materials

To be decided at the start of the course.

Credit reductions