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Strategic Communications in the Asia-Pacific the EU (STG-MA-ECM-SCAE)

STG-MA-ECM-SCAE

Description

In recent years, Asia-Pacific states have experienced a substantial increase in expenses and budget entries dedicated to communication with multiple target audiences in mind. Asia-Pacific states have pushed beyond the public diplomacy component of international Public Relations efforts – that is to buttress their soft power– to engage more decisively with military signaling, message manipulation, negative publicity, and disinformation aimed at international and domestic audiences. This seminars-based module attempts to provide a round appreciation of the Asia-Pacific strategic communications renaissance, by combining Area Studies expertise with Social Sciences, specifically International Relations theory and Foreign Policy Analysis. The Asia-Pacific’s centrality for global peace and prosperity and the increased importance assigned to strategic communications there, point at the module’s topicality.
Overall, the module is divided into two parts. Firstly, students will learn the historical and area-specific foundations of strategic communications in the Asia-Pacific throughout the 20th Century, with emphasis on the Great Powers -- China, the United States and Japan. Secondly, the course delves into the post-Cold War practice of strategic communications in the Asia-Pacific by analysing the different variables behind 21st Century strategic communications, as well as the aims and means to achieve communication objectives. Students are expected to present on a topic of choice, also in pairs, and produce an accompanying essay of 2000 words (per student) and lead class discussion on the chosen topic. Students are also expected to produce a group-led policy essay on a crisis scenario involving Taiwan. The essay needs to be the sum of the entire module’s work: it will blend region-specific and historical expertise, knowledge of political/strategic communications and relevant social science theories touched upon in class.The course will also include two sessions on the EU approach to counter disinformation and its strategy to build resilence. When presenting disinformation actors, techniques and focuses, it will also showcase disinformation affecting migrants, LGBTQ+ people and women. A case-study on climate disinformation will be included.