IRL 4075A: MECHANISMS

OF INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNICATION
Course Syllabus –
Summer Semester, 2023
 Course Description
This course is designed to familiarize students with an historical and
theoretical approach to Mechanisms of International Communication.
Along the way, we will cover the issues that normally are considered
under that rubric, including international information flows, global media
systems, and the role of culture and communication in globalization.
We will look in depth at a few case studies of international
communication issues in an attempt to better understand the way in which
global media and international communication shape global politics.

2
 Purpose of the Course
The man purpose of this course is to
equip students with specialised skills
and knowledge in the field of
international communication and
explores its effects on international
relations.
 Course Objectives
To locate information on media systems in other countries,
and evaluate the media systems based on various criteria.
To demonstrate an understanding of the history of
international communications, and the issues and
controversies that have appeared.
To demonstrate an understanding of the international
agencies responsible for the regulation of media, including
content and technologies.
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course the students should be able to:
 Understand how information flows within and across the borders.
 Demonstrate and be equipped with skills, knowledge and theories to understand the
Mechanism of International Communication such as bilateral diplomacy, multilateral
conferences and the media.
 Critically analyze the basic political, economic and social structures that shape
International Communications.
 Identify communication as a bridge/barrier between cultures and the role of power
relationship in International Communication.
 Develop a deeper understanding of global communication flows and the political, social
and cultural implications in different parts of the world.
 Identify global/national trends (digital diplomacy, fake news etc.) that influence
International Communication.
 Evaluate the role of international communication in global social action.
 Linkage of Course to International
Relations Program Learning Outcomes
 The Program Learning Outcomes for the International Relations (IR) BA Program is designed
to prepare students to be able to utilize concepts, theories, conduct research on issues of
International Relations, analyze dynamics of world politics, threats and opportunities to states’
strategic interests.
 It prepares the students to analyze International Relations issues in a complex global,
multicultural and interconnected world and to formulate informed policy responses to threats
and opportunities that face a state’s strategic threats.
 Therefore, this course IRL4075 is designed to specifically prepare student to utilize concepts,
theories, analyze dynamics of world politics, threats and opportunities to states’ strategic
interests.
 It also develops the student’s ability to analyze International Relations issues in a complex
global, multicultural and interconnected world.
Teaching and Learning Methods
 This course will be conducted face to face/physically by attending the class on
Campus.
 Lectures will be semi-Socratic and class participation is emphasized.
 Students will be provided with a course outline and a list of readings for each lecture
session.
 Provision will be made for individual differences in application and learning.
 The learning environment will hopefully be safe and encouraging. Students should
constantly question, request feedback and reflect.
 Making mistakes is part of the learning process and in this course mistakes can assist
one to understand issues or to develop skills.
 Students will be expected to assume responsibility for their own learning, and the
extent of their knowledge at the end of the course will depend on the effort they put
into the course.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Students will be provided with a course outline and a list of readings for
each seminar session.
They are expected to do the preparatory reading in advance to familiarize
themselves with the theory and concepts.
Each person has his or her own way of assimilating knowledge.
Students are not restricted to the material provided in the outline.
Should they prefer to use other materials, they are free to do so.
Students are also not obliged to refer to all the reading material, although it
would be advantageous.
In many instances the materials are merely different ways of saying the same
thing.
 Teaching and Learning
Methods
Students might find one author’s exposition easier to understand than another’s, and are
free to select the readings that are appropriate to their learning needs.
The readings will be referred to briefly during seminars to highlight certain issues and to
clarify where necessary.
The purpose of the seminars is merely to help students to improve their understanding of
the theory
They are expected to do the preparatory reading in advance to familiarize themselves with
the theory and concepts.
Each person has his or her own way of assimilating knowledge.
Students are not restricted to the material provided in the outline.
Should they prefer to use other materials, they are free to do so.
Teaching and Learning Method
Students are also not obliged to refer to all the reading material, although it would
be advantageous.
In many instances the materials are merely different ways of saying the same thing.
Students might find one author’s exposition easier to understand than another’s, and
are free to select the readings that are appropriate to their learning needs.
The readings will be referred to briefly during seminars to highlight certain issues
and to clarify where necessary.
The purpose of the seminars is merely to help students to improve their
understanding of the theory.
 Course Requirement
Students are expected to read and follow the schedule in the course syllabus, to read assigned
texts, lecture notes and additional suggested resources as provided by the course outline and
the instructor.
Students are expected to be alert and attentive in class and demonstrate desire to participate in
the discussions.
For effective class participation and learning, the students are expected to engage in the class
discussions by asking and answering questions, providing comments, observations, and
constructive criticisms.
Students are also expected to be well-informed of national, regional, and international political
developments and events pertaining to the course by reading national and international
newspapers and magazines, listening to the radio, watching international news on Television,
accessing the Internet, and engaging in discussions with fellow students and the professor
 Attendance and Participation
An attendance roster is kept and students are expected to attend all sessions on
time and as scheduled. As per the university rules, any student who misses
more than 7 times will automatically receive an F grade.
Students should also not feel constrained to follow the views that the lecturer
expresses in seminars.
If they feel someone else has a better approach, they should accept that
approach.
It is important that they are comfortable with the theory that they intend
applying.
If they are not comfortable, the application thereof will be artificial and
insincere. So students are free to experiment and the course provides them with
the space to do so
 Key Institutional Academic
Policies that shall attract
Penalties
 Students should note that the following are the key policies as outlined in the University Catalogue and
Students Handbook.
 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Academic dishonesty includes: Any intentional giving or use of
external assistance during an examination without the express permission of the faculty member giving
the examination.
 FABRICATION: Any falsification or invention of data, citation or other authority in an academic
exercise.
 PLAGIARISM: This is the unauthorized representation of someone else’s thoughts, words and ideas as
if they were your own. Students must acknowledge sources from which they adopt ideas through
citation and direct quotes must be indicated by the use of quotation marks.
 PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED WORK: Presenting work prepared for and submitted to another course.
 The university takes these cases seriously and violations may result in failure in the course and in
serious cases expulsion from the degree program.
 Course Texts
The following book will be the main course text and will be supplemented by
various academic journals:
 Daya Kishan Thussu (2nd Edition) (2006), International Communication,
Continuity and Change, Hodder Arnold
 Hachten, W. A., & Scotton, J. F. (2007). The World News Prism: Global
Information in a Satellite Age (7th ed.). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.
 McPhail, T. L. (2010). Global Communication: Theories, Stakeholders, and
Trends (3rd ed.). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.
 Barston R.P. (2nd Ed.) (1997), Modern Diplomacy, London, Pearson Longman.
 Selected academic articles will be posted on Blackboard as Additional Reading
Materials.
WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION Learning Outcomes
TO THE COURSE &
INTERNATIONAL At the end of this session the
COMMUNICATION
The first week introduces the
learners will be able to:
course, its schedule, the course
assignments, grading, Appreciate/understand
attendance policy, and other
formal course requirements.
the importance of
The meaning of International
International Communication
will also be introduced. Communication in
International Relations
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of this session you should be
WEEK 2: able to:
INTRODUCTION TO
COMMUNICATIONS  Define the term Communication.
Topics/subtopics  Identify the characteristics and
 Definitions of Communication components of Communication.
 Characteristics of Communication  Analyze the means and types of
 Components of Communication Communication.
 Means of Communication
 Types of Communication
 Explain the contexts or levels of
Communication.
 Contexts or levels of
Communication  Discuss the theories of
 Communication Theory Communication.
 WEEKS 3: Learning Outcomes
INTERNATIONAL At the end of this session the
COMMUNICATION learners will be able to:
Define International
Topics/subtopics
Communication.
 Definition of International
Communication Analyze the changes in
 Changes in International International Communication.
Communication Discuss the purpose of
 Purpose of International International Communication.
Communications
Identify the actors in
 Actors in International
International Communication.
Communication
WEEK 4: DIPLOMACY:
THE TRADITIONAL Learning Outcomes
MECHANISM OF
INTERNATIONAL At the end of this session the learners will
COMMUNICATION be able to:

Topics/subtopics  Identify the mechanisms of

International Communication.
 Mechanism of International
Communication  Discuss bilateral diplomacy and
 Diplomacy Multilateral Conferences as a
 Bilateral Diplomacy mechanism of international
communication.
 Multilateral conferences
 The purpose of Multilateral  Explain the purpose of multilateral
conferences conferences.
 Learning Outcomes
WEEK 5: MEDIA: THE At the end of this session the learners will be able
MODERN MECHANISM to:
OF INTERNATIONAL Understand the role, impact and importance of
COMMUNICATION Media as a mechanism of International
Topics/subtopics Communication.
 Perception of the Media State how messages are communicated
 Types of Media transnational to shape public opinion.
 Perceived role of the Media in Explain the perceived role and perception of the
the Society Media.
 Theories of Media Influence Identify the types of Media.
 Towards a global media Discuss the theories of Media.
communication industry. Understand global media communication
industry.
 WEEK 6: THE ROLE OF
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA IN
CONFLICT: HATE MEDIA AND
THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN
CONSTRUCTING A CULTURE OF
PEACE: PEACE MEDIA/PEACE
JOURNALISM.
Topics/subtopics
 The role of international Media in
conflict
 Hate Media
 Social Media and Information
Warfare in the Ukraine-Russia War
 The role of Media in Constructing
a Culture of Peace
 Peace Media/Peace Journalism
 Community Media
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this session the learners will be able to:
Discuss the role in international media in Conflicts.
Explain the role of Hate Media in the International
Communication.
Define hate speech, identify its forms and effects.
Using case study explain the role of social media in
international communication.
Discuss the role of Media in Constructing a Culture
of Peace.
Analyze the role of Peace Media/Peace Journalism
in International Communication.
Understand community media and its forms.
 WEEK 7: MID SEMESTER
EXAM
A 1 hour written examination will assess students’
understanding of international communication its
effects on international relations, including its
impact on bilateral diplomacy, multilateral
conferences, international crisis management,
multinational transactions, global social action
and global news flow through the media.
 Topics/subtopics
Free flow of information
WEEK 8: THEORIES
OF INTERNATIONAL Modernization theory
COMMUNICATION Dependency theory
Learning Outcomes Structural Imperialism
At the end of this session the
learners will be able to:
Critical Theory
 Discuss the different theories The Public Sphere
of International Cultural Studies perspective on
Communication.
International Communication
 Understand the discourses of
Globalization. Theories of the Information Society
Discourses on Globalization. 
WEEK 9: THE HISTORICAL
CONTEXT OF
Learning Outcomes
INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNICATION AND At the end of this session the learners will
CREATING A GLOBAL be able to:
COMMUNICATION
INFRASTRUCTURE  Understand the historical context of
Topics/subtopics international communication.
 The historical context of International
Communication  Discuss the privatization of
 Privatization of telecommunications telecommunications.
 Free trade in communication products
and services  Explain Free trade in communication
 Liberalization of telecom sector products and services.
 Global and Regional satellite industry
and services  Analyze globalization of
 Globalization of telecoms telecommunication and implications of a
 Implications of a liberalized global liberalized global communication regime.
communication regime.
 WEEKS 10: THE GLOBAL
MEDIA BAZAAR AND THE
GLOBAL AND THE LOCAL
IN MEDIA CULTURES
Topics/subtopics
Convergence
Global trade in media products
Global news and information
networks
Setting the global news agenda
Globalization of American Culture
Cultural Diversity
Regionalization and localization in
the media market.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this session the learners will
be able to:
 Understand convergence and global
trade in media products.
 Discuss global news and information
networks.
 Identify regionalization and localization
in the media market.
 Discuss globalization of American
Culture and cultural diversity.
 Learning Outcomes
WEEKS 11: CONTRAFLOW
At the end of this session the learners will be
IN GLOBAL MEDIA AND
INTERNATIONAL able to:
COMMUNICATION IN THE
INTERNET AGE
 Understand the Global Village and identify
the global counter flow of Television.
Topics/subtopics
 Global Village  Discuss the discontents of cultural
 Discontents of cultural globalization globalization.
 Global counterflow of Television  Identify the role of global digital divide and
 Internet age free flow of commerce.
 The internet and free flow of commerce
 Internet and political communication  Discuss internet age and political
 The global digital divide communication.
 International communication
continuity and change.
-  Understand international communication it
continuity and change
WEEKS 12: GROUP
PREPARATIONS
Preparation for the
debate/Presentation.
 WEEK 13: Group 1 will conduct in-class
PRESENTATION OF debate/Presentation on.
RESPECTIVE GROUP
REPORTS
“The Historical Context of
International
There will also be Communication”.
discussion of the final
exam. Groups 2 will conduct in-class
debate/Presentation on. 
The
debates/presentations “International
will account for 20% of Communication in the
your final grade. Internet Age”.
 WEEK 14: FINAL EXAM
A 11/2 hours written examination will assess students’
understanding of the role of international media in conflict:
hate media and the role of media in constructing a culture of
peace: peace media/peace journalism; theories of
International Communication, the Historical Context of
International Communication and creating a Global
Communication Infrastructure and; the Global Media Bazaar
and the Global and the Local in Media Cultures.
 Feedback & Questions
I am happy to consider your evaluations of this course.
Please raise any difficulties as they arise.
You will be able to anonymously assess the course via the
university system near the end of Semester and I ask that
you take the time to fill in the questionnaire, as it is taken
very seriously by the department, school and university.
Your feedback is important.
 Use of Blackboard
The Blackboard will be the primary mode of
communication for the course. Information will be posted to
the blackboard (and WhatsApp Group to be created by the
class representative) by the course convenor.
Likewise, students are expected to post any relevant
information such as presentations or handouts that they
have produced to the blackboard or the WhatsApp Group as
soon as possible (preferably prior to the class in question).
 Course Assessment
There will generally be both formal and Informal Assessments.
Informal Assessments
 Informal assessment will occur throughout the course.
Random Assessment Tests (RATs), Self-assessments, peer
assessment and lecturer feedback will take place from time
to time after the class seminars and at the end of each
session students will be given an opportunity to reflect on
what they have learnt during the course of that session.

Course Assessment cont.
Formal assessment
Formal Assessment will take
THREE forms:
Individual Assignment (20% of overall result):
Students must write an Individual Paper that explore trends,
problems, and challenges in International Communication, using
examples and evidence from many situations and perspectives.
Some of the sources you can cite to develop your arguments
include: newspapers, magazines, academic articles, trade
publications, and press releases from nongovernmental
organizations.
The collection and analysis of original data is not required for
this course.
Your paper will be evaluated based on its completeness,
accuracy, and clarity.

 Individual You should have a topic approved by your instructor by the 8th
week of the course.
Assignment,
The final paper should be 4 - 6 pages (750 words and a
 Group Presentation maximum length of 1,000), double-spaced, 12-font Time New
Roman, one-inch margins, and have a minimum of 15 citations.
and
Your paper should be free of grammatical and typographical
 Examinations. errors.
You will be required to present your paper to the class as well
 The hard copy of the Individual
Assignment will be submitted on
November 16th 2023 during class time.
All Individual Assignments must have
Course Assessment cont. a minimum length of 750 words and a
maximum length of 1,000 words (not
including footnotes and references).
Submission of You will in addition have to submit a
soft copy of the same through the
the Journal convenor’s email address provided on
Review page 1.
The hard copy must be spiral bound.
 Students will be divided into Two groups and are
expected to work with their group members on
an assigned topic by the instructor.
We will have Two in-class USIU-Africa style
debate/Presentation during week 13.
Course Assessment cont. At the end of each debate/presentation fellow
students and the course convener will assess the
presenters’ knowledge of Mechanisms in
International Communication and
Class communication skills.
The convenor will then provide feedback, by
Presentation/ commenting on specific issues that arose and
demonstrated certain skills.
Debate. Mark sheets setting out the assessment criteria
for the preparation and the presentation will be
shared.
 MARKS ALLOCATION
Attendance and Participation - 10%
Group Presentation - 20%
Research/Term Paper - 20%
Mid-Semester Exam - 20%
Final Exam- 30%
Total 100%
 GRADING
A 90 - 100 C 70 - 73
A- 87 - 89 C- 67 - 69
B+ 84 - 86 D+ 64 - 66
B80 - 83 D 62 - 63
B- 77 - 79 D- 60 - 61
C+ 74 - 76 F 0 - 59
 
THANK YOU