POL 559 The Media and Foreign Policy
The "CNN effect" had become a cliche, but is often assumed and rarely systematically studied. To what extent does the media influence foreign policy, and to what extent are governments able to manipulate media coverage of foreign policy? How can the media affect foreign policy, over what types of issues are they more likely to exert an influence, and with what effect on the outcome of foreign policy? How do governments deal with the media coverage of foreign policy, and how effective are various media strategies? Freedom of speech and of the press are important components of democracies, yet secrecy may often be necessary for the successful conduct of foreign policy. How can these seemingly opposed concerns be reconciled? This course will use case studies to examine these issues, with a focus on US foreign policy (although not exclusively).
Cross Listed Courses
MDIA 318A & POL 559
Prerequisite
Junior or higher class standing