Course features

Strategic communications is a powerful tool used by governments, insurgents, and non-state actors to shape long-term narratives and influence public perception. But in an age of political instability and global disruption, the ability to control messaging — through words, images, and actions — has become increasingly complex.

In this self-paced course, you will explore how strategic communications operates across national, cultural, and ideological contexts. Led by Dr Neville Bolt, Director of the King’s Centre for Strategic Communications, the course blends theory with real-world case studies, examining:

• The evolution of strategic communications and its conceptual foundations
• How memory, storytelling, and environment shape long-term discourse
• The use of strategic communications by state challengers, revolutionaries, and insurgents
• The influence of different cultural and geopolitical perspectives, including China, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa
• The challenges posed by complexity, populism, and decentralised networks in the 21st century

Through global case studies and critical reflection, you will gain a robust understanding of strategic communications as a core component of power and influence in international affairs.

Course format

This course is delivered through the edX learning platform and is designed to be completed in approximately 5 hours.

This course is also available as part of the Professional Certificate in Grand Strategy.

What you'll learn

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Understand the scope and evolution of strategic communications as a field of study
• Explain the conceptual frameworks that underpin the discipline, including discourse analysis and complexity theory
• Assess how states and non-state actors use strategic communications to justify or contest political power
• Evaluate the role of storytelling, memory, and persuasion in shaping long-term societal discourse
• Investigate how strategic communications operates in different regional contexts, such as Russia, China, Brazil, and South Africa
• Analyse contemporary case studies of protest, rebellion, and state response using strategic communications
• Critically reflect on the effectiveness of strategic communications in an increasingly decentralised and unpredictable world

Entry Requirements

No formal requirements. English proficiency recommended (IELTS Level 6).

Further information

King’s College London has partnered with the online education platform edX to deliver self-paced short courses to learners worldwide. Anyone can audit the course materials for free, excluding graded assessments, for a limited time.

For full access to the course, including graded assessments, and to obtain a verified certificate upon successful completion, the USD fee is $249.

The GBP course fee displayed on this page is for illustrative purposes only and subject to change in line with current exchange rates.

Payment for verified access to the course is made directly via edX. Please see edX Terms of Service for further information.