Digital Politics: Eurasia in the Global Context

Master 2024/2025

Type: Elective course (Comparative Politics of Eurasia)

Area of studies: Political Science

Delivered by: Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Where: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences

When: 2 year, 1, 2 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of all HSE University campuses

Instructors: Yury Kabanov

Master’s programme: Comparative Politics of Eurasia

Language: English

ECTS credits: 6

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Abstract

The Internet and politics have a complex interrelationship. The former changes social communication, empowers or reinforces political actors, while political regime and power relations frequently shape the dynamics of cyberspace. The course introduces students to the field of Digital Politics and equips them with theoretical models to critically address the development of modern technologies. During the course we will discuss such topics as the influence of online media on political participation, the impact of AI and algorithms on governance and politics, digital government, as well as the debates on global internet governance. Special emphasis will be placed on the dynamics of digital politics in Eurasia.

Learning Objectives

To overview the Internet as the political space, globally and in particular regions of interest
To familiarize students with the contemporary research on the Internet Studies in relation to politics and governance

Expected Learning Outcomes

Defines and applies the models of the Internet policy and governance
Applies the theories of Political Science to the analysis of the impact of the Internet on Politics

Course Contents

How to Think about Digital Politics: Key Concepts and Models
The Internet and Political Participation
Surveillance, Dataveillance and Algorithmic Governance
Digital Transformation of Public Administration: E-Government
Democratic Innovations. E-Participation
Global Internet Governance

Assessment Elements

Class Activities
The lecturer evaluates students' participation in seminar discussions and other activities, their preparation for the seminars.
Team Presentation
During the final seminars students will discuss particular cases of the Internet Politics development. For the assignment, students need to form a group of 3-4 students, choose a country of interest and a topic. The presentation should be 15 minutes maximum. Students may choose a topic from the list or suggest their own topic (upon prior consultation with the lecturer).
Exam
The exam is conducted during the session. The duration of the exam is 60 minutes. The test consists of two parts: A - 10 multiple choice questions (10 points in total), 2 open questions (6 points in total).

Interim Assessment

2024/2025 2nd module
0.3 * Class Activities + 0.5 * Exam + 0.2 * Team Presentation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Deibert, R. (2013). Black Code : Surveillance, Privacy, and the Dark Side of the Internet. Toronto: Signal. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=743006
Johnny Ryan. (2010). A History of the Internet and the Digital Future. Reaktion Books.
R., B. P. (2016). Political Internet : State and Politics in the Age of Social Media. Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge India. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1409908
The logic of connective action : Digital media and the personalization of contentious politics. (2012). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.EA6634C5
Venkataswamy, S. (2013). William H. Dutton (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Internet Studies. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.4DDAED5B

Recommended Additional Bibliography

9783110669701 - Gabriele Balbi; Andreas Fickers - History of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) : Transnational Techno-diplomacy From the Telegraph to the Internet - 2020 - De Gruyter - http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=2499098 - nlebk - 2499098
Can the internet promote democracy? A cross-country study based on dynamic panel data models. (2017). Information Technology for Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2017.1289889

Authors

Kabanov Iurii Andreevich

Course Syllabus