Social Media and Politics: Populism in the Age of Social Media

What it is about

In this module you explore the role of social media for the rise of populist actors in established democracies. You will learn central concepts of populism, its causes and consequences, and you will be able to address and present small empirical research questions on populism using content analysis.

What you will be able to do

• Identify challenges and opportunities of populism for modern democracies
• Develop theoretical and empirical understanding of the concept of populism
• Recognize strategies of populist actors on social media
• Ability to orally and in writing present your own research findings
• Plan, conduct, and present a small, group-based research project

What the module consists of

• Blockseminar / ForschungsseminarResearch-oriented work in groups, theoretical engagement and practical content analyses
• Praxisübungen / In-class researchAnalysis of media samples and development of findings in the seminar

Teaching method

• Gruppenarbeitfor identification, conceptualization and measurement of populism as well as for the execution of collaborative research projects
• Theoretische Diskussionfor engagement with definitions and measurement approaches of populism
• In-class Inhaltsanalyseto practically examine populist action in media examples and discuss results