Get an expert introduction to digital politics, including fake news, new digital technologies, and hashtag protests.
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Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
1 hour100% online
How it works
Digital Politics: Digital Activism and Cyber Warfare
Discover the cutting-edge subject of digital politics
Recent years have seen serious upheaval in global politics, led by developments in digital technologies.
From controversies over state hacking to huge protests organised online and cyber warfare, digital technology is increasingly changing the way the world works. On this course, you’ll get an expert introduction to the fascinating new discipline of digital politics.
Learn what digital politics is and where it can be applied
Digital politics lies at the intersection of vital areas such as international relations, political economy, sociology, media, and communication studies.
You’ll learn how the field brings together the latest in political research and lies at the forefront of debates around national and global politics.
Explore fake news, digital warfare, and digital technologies
Explore how digital tech is changing activism and political campaigning, and work to understand how digital warfare is challenging international relations.
You’ll discover how the digital world is revolutionising politics in general, and fueling the global rise of populism.
Study with politics specialists at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)
You’ll learn from senior staff at MMU who are experts in the fields of digital politics and political communication and study with an international cohort of learners and politics students.
Come away with an expanded understanding of this vital area of international relations and world politics.
Syllabus
Week 1
What is digital politics: an introduction to the field
Why digital politics?
In the world of hashtag protest, cyberwars, fake news and algorithmic biases, the topic of Digital Politics is both timely and exciting.
What can be considered digital politics?
Learners are introduced to the definition and examples of digital politics.
Week 2
How do digital technologies transform wars and conflicts?
What is digital war?
The role of digital technologies in wars and conflicts
Cyberwars
Discussing impact and regulation of cyberwars
War-themed computer games
An opportunity to look at alternative computer games
Social media as a global battlefield
What is an on-line battlefield? Why is social media becoming weaponised? What is ‘likewar’?
Week 3
How do digital technologies change activism?
Understanding digital activism
What is digital activism?
Digital activism
Discussing digital activism
Week 4
How do digital technologies change contemporary political campaigns?
Understanding social media and algorithm
The use of social media and algorithms
Political campaigns in the digital age
Identifying a political campaign shared on social media.
Final reflection
Reflection on the course
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explore the field of digital politics, what it means, and where it can be applied
- Identifying conceptual tools to discuss dilemmas posed by digital warfare to international relations, and politics more broadly
- Debates on the change digital technologies bring to activism
- Evaluate changes brought to political campaigns by digital technologies and gaining a critical understanding of the rise of populism and its relation with political campaigns in the digital age
Who is the course for?
This course is aimed at learners seeking an introduction to the key ideas and concepts in the field of digital politics. It will be of interest to those working in the NGO sector, public services, local and national government, or international charities or business, or considering starting such a career.
The course will be valuable to those working, or considering to work in social media communication. Finally, the course will also be of interest to anyone wishing to learn more about the rapidly growing field of digital politics, political communication and global digital economies.
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Limited access |
---|---|---|---|
Choose the best way to learn for you! | $79/one-off payment | $39.99 For your first month. Automatically renews | Free |
Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Sample the course materials | |
Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 4 Jan 2025 |
Access to 1,000+ courses | cross | tick | cross |
Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$39.99
For your first month. Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$79/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 4 Jan 2025
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) Sale price available until 29 December 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply. |
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Sale price available until 29 December 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
Learning on FutureLearn
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- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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