Postgraduate taught 

Political Communication MSc

Social Justice Activism in the Information Age POLITIC5102

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Social and Political Sciences
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course will examine how citizens, advocacy groups and non-governmental organisations use digital media in pursuit of social justice. Students will consider what criteria should be applied when evaluating the success or failure of digital advocacy campaigns within democratic societies.

Timetable

The timetable for this course will be made available to students at the beginning of the academic year. There is no guarantee that this course will run in any given year. For further information, please check the Politics and International Relations Moodle page or contact the subject directly.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Peer-review task using Aropä (20%)

Written report on designing a NGO and digital advocacy campaign, 4000 words (80%)

Course Aims

This course aims to examine how digital media are used by citizens, advocacy groups and non-governmental organisations in pursuit of social justice within democratic states. Students will explore a series of key questions such as: (1) To what extent have digital advocacy campaigns helped activists secure social justice in policy areas such as human rights, policing and social welfare? (2) What criteria should be applied when evaluating the success (or failure) of these digital advocacy campaigns? (3) What factors need to be considered when designing a successful digital advocacy campaign? These will be explore through relevant theoretical frameworks and examples such as Black Lives Matter, Occupy Wall Street and MoveOn.org.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

1. Explain the theoretical perspectives on how digital media are used by those advocating for social justice within democratic states

2. Assess the role of digital media in the campaigns of advocacy groups and NGOs

3. Discuss the criteria by which these digital advocacy campaigns could be considered successful (or not)

4. Interpret qualitative and quantitative research relating to digital advocacy, citizenship and social justice

5. Design a fictional NGO and digital campaign relating to a social justice issue

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.