Weekly Readings
Propaganda and Public Diplomacy
The course moves from the foundations of authoritarianism and disinformation to the production, reception, and contestation of propaganda, before turning to authoritarian public diplomacy and foreign disinformation.
Authoritarianism and the Problem of Disinformation
Authoritarian rule, disinformation, propaganda, and public support.
Media Systems in Authoritarian Regimes
Media structures, pressures on independent media, and authoritarian communication.
Propaganda: Definition, History, and Reception
What propaganda is, how it has developed, and how audiences receive it.
Propaganda Narratives: Performance and Economy
How regimes communicate competence, performance, and economic success.
WEEK 05 · READING WEEK
Propaganda Narratives: Symbols, Identities, Indoctrination
Identity, symbolism, ideology, and the deeper social foundations of propaganda.
Propaganda: Strategies of Demobilization
How propaganda can discourage participation, generate cynicism, and demobilize audiences.
Fighting Authoritarian Propaganda
Opposition communication, humour, journalism, and popular culture.
Authoritarian Public Diplomacy in the 21st Century
How authoritarian states communicate with and seek influence over foreign audiences.
Authoritarian Public Diplomacy and Its Audience
How foreign audiences encounter, interpret, and respond to authoritarian communication.
Fighting Foreign Disinformation
Resilience, counter-narratives, policy responses, and educational strategies.