Teaching Plan Information

Presentation

This course examines the role of the international public opinion in the context of globalization, digitalization and global governance. We live in a highly independent, globalised world, which has emerged as a result of profound and vertiginous transformations and which is represented by a complex and ramified network of multiple actors and agents. In these conditions taking into account public interests, needs and opinions is not only a democratic prerequisite, but arguably, the international public opinion itself can be considered as an actor in its own right that contributes to the ongoing transformation  of the world politics.

The course is designed in the following way. First, we will revise the key theoretical concepts, including governance, globalisation, power, authority, legitimacy and a network of actors to contextualise the conditions in which the international public emerges and contributes to the  global governance. Then we proceed with the conceptualisation of public opinion, review its structure and dynamics, as well as the forces and factors that shape social and political attitudes. After that we will review the outcomes of the international public discourse and the relations between the public opinion, the media and policy making.

A significant part of the course is devoted to the empirical part as it is designed to familiarise students with ways to measure the public opinion and to apply the theoretical knowledge to study and interpret public opinion in such salient global socioeconomic and political issues as security and conflicts, human rights, global risks,  global surveillance ,gender inequality, reproductive and abortion policies,  perceptions  of regimes, policies, politicians and other actors. 

Learning outcomes

During the course all students are expected to:

• Develop and understanding of the key theoretical concepts;
• Obtain a deep and comprehensive understanding of the forces that shape the international public discourse and the way this discourse influences global politics;
• Identify key concepts in readings and provide a brief summary;
• Be able to conduct empirical analysis of the public opinion using qualitative and quantitative methods; 
• Comprehend and interpret the results of the public opinion polls;
• Hone critical analytical skills by applying course concepts to contemporary global issues;
• Become a more conscious and savvier consumer of public opinion data found in the news;
• Develop academic writing and research aptitude;
• Be able to work independently and in groups.

Sustainable Development Goals

-No poverty

-Zero hunger

-Good health and well-being

-Gender inequality

-Clean water and sanitation

-Affordable clean energy

-Decent work and economic growth

-Reduced inequality

-Responsible consumption and production

-Climate change

-Peace, justice, strong institutions

Prerequisites

B2 English or higher is advised.

Contents

BRIEF CONTENT OUTLINE:

Module 1:  Fundamentals of global governance and public opinion

• Introduction to key concepts: international public opinion and global governance
• Actors, processes and emerging trends in the international community
• Interdependence and power in global governance. The Information Revolution and global surveillance
• Democratic theories

Module 2:  (International) public opinion: definitions and sources

• Conceptualising (international) public opinion
• Origins of (international) public opinion
• Media effects
• Global political communication. Analysing political rhetoric. E-diplomacy
• Public diplomacy  and public opinion

Module 3:  Conducting empirical analysis of (international) public opinion

• Measuring the public opinion (quantitative and qualitative methods)
• Interpreting public opinion polls
• “Competence” of public opinion and attitude stability and attitude change

Module 4: International public opinion and its impacts

• Formal and informal expressions of public opinions and attitudes
• International public opinion and policy outcomes. Real-life examples
• International public opinion and gender politics

Teaching Methods

Supervised activities:

This course consists of  lectures and  seminars (3 seminars per group) with substantial emphasis on class participation and discussion. Students are expected to read assignments prior to lectures and prepare several questions for debate or to raise doubts about the text. There is a possibility that one lecture will be taught in class/online by an NGO/IGO practitioner working in the field pertinent to the course. We will also draw extensively on audio-visual material and media, including acrticles from newpapers, digital resources, interactive in-class and online exercises complied by the instructor. 

Seminars consists of debates, empirical tasks and students' research presentations.

Independent work:

Reading suggested materials. Completing individual and group online exercises.

Working on a group project following lecturer's instructions.

Evaluation

Continuous assessment constitutes 50 % and final exams  are worth 50% of the grade. The minimum passing grade for the course is a "5".

Continuous assessment:

Attendance, participation and online exercises assessments- 25%  (attendance, active participation in lectures and seminars discussions, questions related to the obligatory readings, empirical exercises, online quizzes and forums).

Participation, attendance and online assignments grade is not eligible for the re-sit exam. 

Group research and presentation - 25%

The topics for research presentations will be selected by students under the supervision of the instructor and are to be presented during the seminars. The assignment involves the research of the international public opinion on the international event/phenomena and is expected to be based on the conceptual and theoretical framework taught during the course. A student may choose to present an obligatory pre-class reading during the class (individual work) instead of participating in a group reseach on the international public opinion.  

This grade can  be recovered during the re-sit exam only upon solid justification but the expectation is that it is shared with the classmates during the class. 

Integrative final examination:
A test (multiple-choice and short answer questions) – 25%
Essay  - 25%

Assessment criteria for the final essay are:
• Capacity to synthesize and apply concepts and theory to concrete cases
• Capacity to develop a systematic argument based on theory and empirical evidence. 

This exam is “closed book” (no aids), and will cover all course material – lectures, obligatory readings, class discussions, students’ presentations, materials distributed in class and videos.

Re-sit exam:
A student is permitted to sit the recovery exam only if he or she has not obtained the miminum passing grade (5/10) for the course final mark. Students are not allowed to resit the exam if they want to improve their note, if they did obtained a minimum passing grade (5/10) for attendance, participation and online exercises assessments  or if they missed the final exam without any justifiable reason. A student might choose to re-sit the quiz and/or the essay and/or the group presentation (75% of the total grade). 

Bibliography and information resources

Books:

• Clawson, Rosalee A. and Zoe M. Oxley 2016. Public Opinion: Democratic Ideals, Democratic Practice, 3rd ed. Washington: CQ Press.
• Zaller, John R. 1992. The nature and origins of mass opinion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Everts, Philip and Isernia Pierangelo 2001. Public Opinion and the International Use of Force. London: Routledge.
• Fullerton, Jami, Kendrick, Alice (eds.) 2017. Shaping international public opinion. New York: Peter Lang. 

Articles:

• Jentleson, Bruce W. 2017. Global Governance, the United Nations, and the Challenge of Trumping Trump. Global Governance 23, pp. 143–149.
• Stanyer, James. 2005. The British public and political attitude expression: the emrgence of a self-expressibe political culture? Contemporary Politics, 11(1), pp.19-32.
• Gilens, Martin. 2005. Inequality and Democratic Responsiveness. Public Opinion Quaterly, 69(5), pp. 778-796. 
• Happer, Catherine and Greg Philo. 2013. The Role of the Media in the Construction of Public Belief and social Change. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 1(1), pp. 321-336.
• Dasgupta, Rana. 2018. The demise of the Nation State. The Guardian (April, 5). Available online. 
• Burns Nancy and Katherice Gallagher. 2010. Public Opinion on Gender Issues: the Politics of Equity and Roles. Annual Review of Political Science, 13(1), pp. 425-443. 
• Von Bogdandy,Armin, Goldmann, Matthias and  Venzke, Ingo. (2017). From Public International to International Public Law: Translating World Public Opinion into International Public Authority. European Journal of International Law, 28(1), 115–145.

Journals:

• Global governance
• International journal of public opinion research
• Public Opinion Quarterly
• Journal of Public Opinion

Websites:

• World Public Opinion http://worldpublicopinion.org/
• Pew Research Centre, http://www.pewresearch.org/
• Polling the Nations http://poll.orspub.com/
• Gallup Analytics https://library.princeton.edu/resource/12982
• World Values Survey http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/wvs.jsp
• Global Barometer Surveys https://www.globalbarometer.net/
• International Social Survey Programme http://www.issp.org/menu-top/home/
• List of other sources of European Public Opinion, Other Regional Public Opinion and Election Studies see https://libguides.princeton.edu/politics/opinion/international#s-lg-box-1614078

Teaching Plan Information

Presentation

This course examines the role of the international public opinion in the context of globalization, digitalization and global governance. We live in a highly independent, globalised world, which has emerged as a result of profound and vertiginous transformations and which is represented by a complex and ramified network of multiple actors and agents. In these conditions taking into account public interests, needs and opinions is not only a democratic prerequisite, but arguably, the international public opinion itself can be considered as an actor in its own right that contributes to the ongoing transformation  of the world politics.

The course is designed in the following way. First, we will revise the key theoretical concepts, including governance, globalisation, power, authority, legitimacy and a network of actors to contextualise the conditions in which the international public emerges and contributes to the  global governance. Then we proceed with the conceptualisation of public opinion, review its structure and dynamics, as well as the forces and factors that shape social and political attitudes. After that we will review the outcomes of the international public discourse and the relations between the public opinion, the media and policy making.

A significant part of the course is devoted to the empirical part as it is designed to familiarise students with ways to measure the public opinion and to apply the theoretical knowledge to study and interpret public opinion in such salient global socioeconomic and political issues as security and conflicts, human rights, global risks,  global surveillance ,gender inequality, reproductive and abortion policies,  perceptions  of regimes, policies, politicians and other actors. 

Learning outcomes

During the course all students are expected to:

• Develop and understanding of the key theoretical concepts;
• Obtain a deep and comprehensive understanding of the forces that shape the international public discourse and the way this discourse influences global politics;
• Identify key concepts in readings and provide a brief summary;
• Be able to conduct empirical analysis of the public opinion using qualitative and quantitative methods; 
• Comprehend and interpret the results of the public opinion polls;
• Hone critical analytical skills by applying course concepts to contemporary global issues;
• Become a more conscious and savvier consumer of public opinion data found in the news;
• Develop academic writing and research aptitude;
• Be able to work independently and in groups.

Sustainable Development Goals

-No poverty

-Zero hunger

-Good health and well-being

-Gender inequality

-Clean water and sanitation

-Affordable clean energy

-Decent work and economic growth

-Reduced inequality

-Responsible consumption and production

-Climate change

-Peace, justice, strong institutions

Prerequisites

B2 English or higher is advised.

Contents

BRIEF CONTENT OUTLINE:

Module 1:  Fundamentals of global governance and public opinion

• Introduction to key concepts: international public opinion and global governance
• Actors, processes and emerging trends in the international community
• Interdependence and power in global governance. The Information Revolution and global surveillance
• Democratic theories

Module 2:  (International) public opinion: definitions and sources

• Conceptualising (international) public opinion
• Origins of (international) public opinion
• Media effects
• Global political communication. Analysing political rhetoric. E-diplomacy
• Public diplomacy  and public opinion

Module 3:  Conducting empirical analysis of (international) public opinion

• Measuring the public opinion (quantitative and qualitative methods)
• Interpreting public opinion polls
• “Competence” of public opinion and attitude stability and attitude change

Module 4: International public opinion and its impacts

• Formal and informal expressions of public opinions and attitudes
• International public opinion and policy outcomes. Real-life examples
• International public opinion and gender politics

Teaching Methods

Supervised activities:

This course consists of  lectures and  seminars (3 seminars per group) with substantial emphasis on class participation and discussion. Students are expected to read assignments prior to lectures and prepare several questions for debate or to raise doubts about the text. There is a possibility that one lecture will be taught in class/online by an NGO/IGO practitioner working in the field pertinent to the course. We will also draw extensively on audio-visual material and media, including acrticles from newpapers, digital resources, interactive in-class and online exercises complied by the instructor. 

Seminars consists of debates, empirical tasks and students' research presentations.

Independent work:

Reading suggested materials. Completing individual and group online exercises.

Working on a group project following lecturer's instructions.

Evaluation

Continuous assessment constitutes 50 % and final exams  are worth 50% of the grade. The minimum passing grade for the course is a "5".

Continuous assessment:

Attendance, participation and online exercises assessments- 25%  (attendance, active participation in lectures and seminars discussions, questions related to the obligatory readings, empirical exercises, online quizzes and forums).

Participation, attendance and online assignments grade is not eligible for the re-sit exam. 

Group research and presentation - 25%

The topics for research presentations will be selected by students under the supervision of the instructor and are to be presented during the seminars. The assignment involves the research of the international public opinion on the international event/phenomena and is expected to be based on the conceptual and theoretical framework taught during the course. A student may choose to present an obligatory pre-class reading during the class (individual work) instead of participating in a group reseach on the international public opinion.  

This grade can  be recovered during the re-sit exam only upon solid justification but the expectation is that it is shared with the classmates during the class. 

Integrative final examination:
A test (multiple-choice and short answer questions) – 25%
Essay  - 25%

Assessment criteria for the final essay are:
• Capacity to synthesize and apply concepts and theory to concrete cases
• Capacity to develop a systematic argument based on theory and empirical evidence. 

This exam is “closed book” (no aids), and will cover all course material – lectures, obligatory readings, class discussions, students’ presentations, materials distributed in class and videos.

Re-sit exam:
A student is permitted to sit the recovery exam only if he or she has not obtained the miminum passing grade (5/10) for the course final mark. Students are not allowed to resit the exam if they want to improve their note, if they did obtained a minimum passing grade (5/10) for attendance, participation and online exercises assessments  or if they missed the final exam without any justifiable reason. A student might choose to re-sit the quiz and/or the essay and/or the group presentation (75% of the total grade). 

Bibliography and information resources

Books:

• Clawson, Rosalee A. and Zoe M. Oxley 2016. Public Opinion: Democratic Ideals, Democratic Practice, 3rd ed. Washington: CQ Press.
• Zaller, John R. 1992. The nature and origins of mass opinion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Everts, Philip and Isernia Pierangelo 2001. Public Opinion and the International Use of Force. London: Routledge.
• Fullerton, Jami, Kendrick, Alice (eds.) 2017. Shaping international public opinion. New York: Peter Lang. 

Articles:

• Jentleson, Bruce W. 2017. Global Governance, the United Nations, and the Challenge of Trumping Trump. Global Governance 23, pp. 143–149.
• Stanyer, James. 2005. The British public and political attitude expression: the emrgence of a self-expressibe political culture? Contemporary Politics, 11(1), pp.19-32.
• Gilens, Martin. 2005. Inequality and Democratic Responsiveness. Public Opinion Quaterly, 69(5), pp. 778-796. 
• Happer, Catherine and Greg Philo. 2013. The Role of the Media in the Construction of Public Belief and social Change. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 1(1), pp. 321-336.
• Dasgupta, Rana. 2018. The demise of the Nation State. The Guardian (April, 5). Available online. 
• Burns Nancy and Katherice Gallagher. 2010. Public Opinion on Gender Issues: the Politics of Equity and Roles. Annual Review of Political Science, 13(1), pp. 425-443. 
• Von Bogdandy,Armin, Goldmann, Matthias and  Venzke, Ingo. (2017). From Public International to International Public Law: Translating World Public Opinion into International Public Authority. European Journal of International Law, 28(1), 115–145.

Journals:

• Global governance
• International journal of public opinion research
• Public Opinion Quarterly
• Journal of Public Opinion

Websites:

• World Public Opinion http://worldpublicopinion.org/
• Pew Research Centre, http://www.pewresearch.org/
• Polling the Nations http://poll.orspub.com/
• Gallup Analytics https://library.princeton.edu/resource/12982
• World Values Survey http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/wvs.jsp
• Global Barometer Surveys https://www.globalbarometer.net/
• International Social Survey Programme http://www.issp.org/menu-top/home/
• List of other sources of European Public Opinion, Other Regional Public Opinion and Election Studies see https://libguides.princeton.edu/politics/opinion/international#s-lg-box-1614078