MA Political Communications

Communication is at the very heart of the structures, institutions and actors that give meaning to politics in governments, in parties and on the street.

Overview

The programme’s core curriculum will address a range of contemporary issues, debates and theory in political communication, including work on:

• comparative media systems
• theories of communication and democratisation
• global media, international governance and transnational communication
• economic, financial and industrial policy
• digital media and online politics
• media sociology and news production
• political parties, party ideologies and party-member dynamics
• public relations, political marketing and spin
• government communication systems and media management
• media audiences, effects and agenda-setting
• public opinion and public sphere debates
• interest groups, social movements and alternative media
• advocacy, civil society and public affairs
• new technologies and the information society
• citizenship and public engagement
• the policy process and government decision-making
• politics and culture
• social theories of power, culture and communications

Theory is usually applied to a number of case study areas on, for example: conflict and war; elections; social and environmental debates; foreign affairs; the economy, finance and business; crime and disorder. Theory and discussion is always related to current events and debates.

Careers

We know that political organisations relish thinking graduates. It’s why we focus on delivering a programme that’s rooted in a critical perspective. By the time you leave we want you to feel transformed so that you can go forward and transform the world.

Our graduates go on to work within government organisations, political parties, NGOs and news media and across the public and private sectors - from the Houses of Parliament and BBC World Service to Google, Greenpeace and the UN.