The programme’s core curriculum addresses the interaction of media and political power in the context of a multifaceted global crisis of democracy and communication. Topics covered include:The impact of social media of electoral politics, protest mobilisation, new production, and citizen campaigningInterest groups, social movements and alternative mediaMisinformation, disinformation, ''fake news'' and conspiracy politicsWho controls the news?Political parties, party ideologies and political organisationPublic relations, political marketing and spinMedia audiences, effects and agenda-settingPolitics and popular cultureRace, migration and rise of authoritarian populismSocial theories of power, culture and communications, from framing theory to the politics of affect, and from hegemony to the propaganda modelTheory is applied to a number of case study areas on, for example: conflict and war elections ecological crises protests and riots social movements. Theory and discussion is always related to current events and debates.