King's College London

This Political and Strategic Communication MA is designed to teach you the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the complex world of political and strategic communication and prepare you to become a leader in government communication, advocacy and the wider field of public relations.

You’ll develop a critical understanding of political and strategic communication while always connecting this to practical application. Through a blend of coursework, case studies and project work, in the required modules you’ll explore broader notions of communication and its societal and political implications, particularly within the contexts of war, conflict and crisis.

You’ll also get to shape your specialism in political and strategic communication by choosing a range of optional modules that cover topics such as diplomacy and foreign policy, conflict resolution, peace-building, open-source intelligence, gender in international politics and security, and more.

This MA in Political and Strategic Communication plays a key role in today’s increasingly turbulent world. The first decades of the 21st century witnessed an unprecedented pace of change across many domains, including within politics, society, economics and technology. Communication lies at the core of this escalating complexity – and can be seen as one of the key drivers of change, including the role it can play in fuelling conflict.

Throughout this Political and Strategic Communication MA, you’ll acquire insights into the dynamics of how decision-makers and media entities engage with war, conflict and security on the global stage. In addition to critically engaging with fundamental communication concepts, you’ll study topics such as public diplomacy and soft power; misinformation; the impact of new media on perception of conflict; the creation, dissemination and reception of conflict imagery; the influence of news reporting on government policies and NGO initiatives; and the reciprocal effects of governmental communication strategies on media and public perceptions.

You’ll also develop a variety of skills that are particularly valuable for careers in communications, and beyond. For example, you’ll learn how to critically reflect on approaches to communication practice, communicate effectively and ethically, and develop communication and campaign strategies in times of crisis. You’ll also develop digital media and communication skills from the practical elements of the required modules. And you’ll build a specialist understanding of political and strategic communication.

The curriculum is tailored to the evolving demands of the digital age and its repercussions for governments, institutions, international corporations and, above all, citizens.

A third of your Political and Strategic Communication MA will be spent studying two required modules. The first looks at theories of communication in war and peace to equip you with a thorough and critical understanding of key communication theories. You’ll explore the relationship between political and strategic communication and learn about theories and practices in their historical and disciplinary contexts to build your critical understanding of the ethics of media and communication.

The other required module delves into political and strategic communication in practice and uses selected case studies to enhance your critical understanding of the field. You’ll strengthen your understanding of conflict-related communication and learn the analytical tools you need to assess political and strategic communication. You’ll also learn how to apply communication theories to everyday professional practice and create strategies to communicate effectively and ethically in crises.

Central to the distinctive character of this MA in political and strategic communication is its emphasis on experiential learning in addition to its thorough grounding in theories and concepts. Through practice-based case study, analysis and workshops, you’ll assume the roles of diverse communication agents and engage in simulated scenarios reflective of real-world contexts. These immersive experiences will facilitate your acquisition of crucial political communication skills and are geared to equipping you with competencies essential for contemporary employment opportunities.

The next third of your master’s in strategic and political communication consists of optional modules that cover a wide-range of topics. For example, you could learn about negotiation, mediation and dialogue, gender in international politics and security, or power-sharing agreements in deeply divided societies. Alternatively, you could explore Russia and its relationship with the rest of the world, look at the relationship between the United States and China, or investigate diplomacy and foreign policy. Other options could also include the study of armchair intelligence, comparative civil wars, or more.

Your MA will culminate in a dissertation, for which you’ll be supported to develop the necessary research and analytical skills required to produce a research piece at an advanced level.

You’ll get a number of opportunities to enhance your education beyond the classroom. For example, by getting involved with the Strat Comms Lab, you’ll be encouraged to help create an events series, share your knowledge through initiatives like a podcast series, build skills through practical workshops, network with alumni and practitioners, attend panel discussions, and more.

You’ll also be able to attend a variety of events held by the department, and within King’s. Previous years have seen talks from Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart, Francois Hollande, and others.

This degree can be taken as part of a joint arrangement with our partner institution, Sciences Po that offers a graduate programme in International Affairs.