300444 Political Communication (in English) (Ü) (WiSe 2011/2012)

This course will introduce students to the phenomenon of political communication. On the one hand this will include the way in which politics and media play of one another: what is known as “symbolic politics”, “the mediatization of politics”, or what is also associated with politics in the context of “public opinion”. On the other hand, with the concept of political communication, politics writ large in the sense of Luhmann’s systems theory can be reconstructed as a self-stabilizing and self-structuring field distinct from its societal surroundings or environment. The first part of the course explores the key features and analytical possibilities of political communication as just described, including the way that politics constructs itself as game amongst autonomous individuals (i.e. actors). The second part of the course predominantly looks at the structural coupling between politics and media. Overall the course will mainly engage with a systems-theoretical perspective that is meant to complement other perspectives and approaches.

All participants will be expected to fully engage with the material and discussions in class. Attendance is important for all participants and normal, formal excuses are expected for missed sessions. For an aktive Teilnahme students must actively participate in the vast majority of sessions. For a Leistungsnachweis a Referat and Ausarbeitung or Hausarbeit is required. Very short proposals for the former are required (by 24 November) and term papers are due on 29 February.