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International Relations and Intercultural Communication

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:6.00
Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:26:19
Study Course Information
Course Code:KSK_070LQF level:Level 7
Credit Points:2.00ECTS:3.00
Branch of Science:Communication SciencesTarget Audience:Communication Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Ilva Skulte
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfatrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)6Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures12
Classes (count)4Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes8
Total Contact Hours20
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Social theories.
Objective:
To provide an overview of problems in international relations, their historical development and prospects in the geopolitical context of the 21st century; to provide an overview on different social, religious and ethnic identities, which create cultural diversity within a modern globalised society; to provide an overview of the problem of intercultural communication.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Introduction to the phenomenon of international relations: subject, chronology, latest development and problems.Lectures1.00auditorium
2National state and regional cultural problems.Lectures1.00auditorium
3Formation of a cultural conflict: technologies to create “us and them” communities. Otherness in culture.Lectures1.00auditorium
4International conflict: types of origin and reasons, ideological presentation.Classes1.00auditorium
5Alternative cultures in Latvian society: majority and minority communication technologiesLectures1.00auditorium
6Cultural diversity discourses I: theories of multiculturalism and spectrum of experience in world regions (melting pot, cohesion, multiculturalism).Classes1.00auditorium
7Cultural diversity discourses II: racism, xenophobia, discrimination. Radical movements in the global cultural space – skinheads, etc.Lectures1.00auditorium
8Development of Latvian and European Union policies in the field of intercultural communication. National action plans and EU directives.Classes1.00auditorium
9Role of political elite in the development of multiculturalism in Latvia, Baltic countries and on EU scale. Comparative analysis (students choose).Lectures1.00auditorium
10Development of intercultural communication in Latvia. Transfer of US and EU Council experience.Classes1.00auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Studying literature and preparation of a report. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
Attendance of lectures and seminars, quality of answers, report, examination.
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:After mastering the course students know problems of international relations in the modern world and theories to explain them.
Skills:After mastering the course master students are able to skilfully establish communication with representatives of other nations and cultures knowing the importance of cultural differences and methods to overcome problems.
Competencies:After mastering the course students communicate (incl. in professional work, organisations) in the intercultural environment, taking into account cultural differences, different political contexts and tolerance principles.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Golding P. Beyond Cultural Imperialism. Globalization, communication and the new international order. (1999) Sage Publications.
2Davidov, E., Schmidt, P., Billiet, J., & Meuleman, B. (2018). Cross-cultural analysis: Methods and applications. Routledge.
3Gudykunst, W.B., & Mody, B. (2002). Handbook of International and Intercultural Communication. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
4Hall, E.T. (1969). The Hidden Dimension. New York: Anchor Books.
5Hall, E.T. (1989). Beyond Culture. New York: Random House.
6Hostede, G. (1984). Cultures Consequences. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.
7Lewis R. (1999). When Cultures Collide. Managing successfully across Cultures. Brealey Publishing House
8Renshon, S.A., & Duckitt, J. ed. (2000). Political Psychology: Cultural and Crosscultural Foundations. Houndmills: Macmillan Press.
9Samovar, L.A., & Porter, R.E. (1991). Intercultural Communication: A Reader. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company.
10Samovar, L. A., McDaniel, E. R., Porter, R. E., & Roy, C. S. (2015). Communication between cultures. Nelson Education.
11Ting-Toomey, S. (2018). Communicating Across Cultures. New York: Guilford Press.
Additional Reading
1Böhme H. Orientierung Kulturwissenschaft. Was sie kann, was sie will. (2000). Rowohlts
2Brislin, R.W. ed. (1990). Applied Cross-Cultural Psychology. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.
3Gellner E. Pflug, Schwert und Buch.(1993). Klett – Cotta.