Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
1SBU536Strategıc Communication and Propaganda3+0+03701.01.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Master's Degree
Department / Program Political Science and International Relations (With Thesis)
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course The aim of this course is to analyse the use and effects of propaganda, mass persuasion and psychological warfare in modern world politics. It will focus on the historical development of propaganda and the use of different propaganda means.
Course Content This course develops students’ understanding of the significance of cultural manipulation and the power of propaganda in the policy-making environment. Students will be expected to develop their ability to analyse historical data and to show evidence of a sophisticated approach to historical interpretation.
Course Methods and Techniques Seminar, discussion-based lecture. Students will prepare a paper no more than 500 words to discuss the question of the week. Students will present their preparations based on this paper after I make an introductory explanation on the theme. Hence, it will be a seminar-based course.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Associate Prof.Dr. Murat Aslan murat.aslan@hku.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources CHECK THE WEEKLY RESOURCES.
HAFTALIK KAYNAKLARI KONTROL EDİN.
Course Notes Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to realize PY-1 Fundamental Concepts and Theories, PY-4 Multi-disciplinary study, PY-5 Independent study, PY-6 Assume responsibility.

Course Category
Social Sciences %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Assignment 1 % 40
Final examination 1 % 60
Total
2
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 15 3 45
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 15 3 45
Assignments 15 3 45
Presentation 5 3 15
Mid-terms 1 10 10
Practice 2 10 20
Project 1 15 15
Final examination 1 15 15
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 7 210

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 PY-1 Fundamental Concepts and Theories, PY-4 Multi-disciplinary study, PY-5 Independent study, PY-6 Assume responsibility.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Propaganda, Public Opinion and International Relations: A conceptual Explanation How can you link propaganda and international relations, with negative and affirmative ends? Philip M. Taylor, Munitions of the Mind, (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2003) pp. 1-19. (MUST) Ellul, Jacques, Propaganda. The Formation of Men’s Attitudes, Konrad Kellen and Jean Lerner (trans.) (New York: Vintage Books, 1973). Video: (MUST) Chomsky, Noam, “Manufacturing Consent: Thought Control in a Democratic Society”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kusAX4Th4N8.
2 History of Propaganda Propaganda in the Ancient World and the Middle Ages. How can you link propaganda and international relations, with negative and affirmative ends? Philip M. Taylor, Munitions of the Mind, (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2003) pp. 1-19. (MUST) Ellul, Jacques, Propaganda. The Formation of Men’s Attitudes, Konrad Kellen and Jean Lerner (trans.) (New York: Vintage Books, 1973). Video: (MUST) Chomsky, Noam, “Manufacturing Consent: Thought Control in a Democratic Society”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kusAX4Th4N8.
3 History of Propaganda: Propaganda in the Ancient World and the Middle Ages. How did the early period of propaganda shape the future prospects? Is there any change in tis meaning? Philip M. Taylor, Munitions of the Mind, (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2003) pp. 19-81. (MUST)
4 History of Propaganda Propaganda in the Age of Gunpowder and Printing & in the Age of Revolutionary Warfare How can you explain the roots of propaganda pending to conjunctural events and innovation in the Middle Ages? Philip M. Taylor, Munitions of the Mind, (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2003) pp. 87-172. (MUST)
5 History of Propaganda Propaganda in the Total Wars How can you explain the effect of propaganda on the course and end of the Total Wars? Philip M. Taylor, Munitions of the Mind, (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2003) pp. 173-248. (MUST)
6 History of Propaganda Propaganda in the Cold War Compare and contrast the Total War and the Cold War in terms of propaganda making and their consequences. Philip M. Taylor, Munitions of the Mind, (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2003) pp. 249-284. (MUST)
7 Contemporary Propaganda After the Cold War… Do you think propaganda still exists and carries a negative connotation? Philip M. Taylor, Munitions of the Mind, (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2003) pp. 285-324. (MUST)
8 MIDTERM EXAM (TAKE HOME)
9 Compartmentalization of Propaganda: Strategic Communications, Public Diplomacy, Public Affairs, Psychological War/Operations Is the ethical validity of propaganda contingent on modern interpretations? Each student is expected to scrutinize a state communication effort and question its ethics. Melissen, Jan, The New Public Diplomacy: Soft Power in International Relations (New York: Palgrave McMillan, 2005) Ronfeldt, David and John Arquilla, “Noopolitik. A new paradigm for public diplomacy”, in Nancy Snow and Philip M. Taylor (eds.), Routledge Handbook of Public Diplomacy (New York: Routledge, 2009), pp. 352-365. Main, Scott F. “Psychological Support to Strategic Communications in Afghanistan”, Masters Thesis, US Army War College, PA, 2009. Taylor, Phil, “Strategic Communications and the Relationship between Governmental ‘Information’ Activities in the Post 9/11 World”, available at http://media.leeds.ac.uk/papers/pmt/exhibits/2831/JIW5_3_final_draft.pdf .
10 Propaganda and Unconventionality Propaganda and Non-State Actors Who is more effective in propaganda: state or non-state actors? Each student is expected to choose a non-state actor and identify how it conducts propaganda. Murat Aslan, NATO in Peace Support Operations: Efficiency of Intelligence and Propaganda in Bosnia Herzegovina and Afghanistan (London: Cambridge Scholars, 2021).
11 Technology and Social Media’s Exploitation for Propaganda Her öğrencinin sosyal medyayı araştırması ve bir aktörün (devlet veya devlet dışı) propaganda söylemlerini incelemesi beklenmektedir. How do you expect the course of technology and social media to affect the propaganda efforts in the coming decades? Each student is expected to search social media and investigate the propaganda narratives of an actor (state or non-state) Case Readings: - Lim, Merlyna, “Clicks, cabs, and coffee houses: social media and oppositional movements in Egypt, 2004–2011”, Journal of Communication, 62/2 (2012), pp. 231-248. - Rongbin, Han, “Manufacturing consent in cyberspace: China’s “fifty-cent army””, Journal of Current Chinese Affairs, 2 (2015), pp. 105-134. - Seo, Hyunjin, “Visual propaganda in the age of social media: an empirical analysis of twitter images during the 2012 Israeli–Hamas conflict”, Visual Communication Quarterly, 21/3 (2014), pp. 150-161.
12 Presentations of the Research Papers by the students
13 Presentations of the Research Papers by the students
14 Presentations of the Research Papers by the students
15 Presentations of the Research Papers by the students
16 FINAL

 
Sustainable Development Goals
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11
All 2 4 3 2
C1 3 1 5 2

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant