Culture of Democracy and Public Relations

Mode of Delivery

Face to Face

Prerequisites and Co-Requisites

None

Recommended Optional Programme Components

Public Relations and Publicty

Course Contents

Content of this couse is primarily the theoretical framework of the concept of democracy, the relationship between democracy and public relations, the sub-concepts (public opinion, mass media, propaganda, new media etc.) of the issue of democracy culture and public relations. In addition current approaches and critical perspective on the issue will be included in the course content.

Weekly Schedule

1) In this first couse, definition, general characteristics and historical develepment process of democracy will be discussed in order to form a basis for further lessons.
2) In this course, basic models of democracy which shaped throughout the history and the basic tools (parliament, political parties, constitution, civil society organizations, security forces) which are the necessary for the implementation of a democratic regime.
3) The subject of this course is the formation of public opinion in democratic societies. What public opinion is, how it occurs and what are the necessary conditions for the formation of a democratic public opinion will be discussed.
4) In this course, by the considering of the component of public opinion, the active roles of the mass media will be discussed. In addition, "agenda building" power of mass media and the "spiral of silence" theory will be explained.
5) By informing the public opinion, public relations provides the participation of the all groups and institutions in the public debates hereby in the democratic process in a society. In this course, the role of public relations in the formation of public opinion will be discussed.
6) In this course, the lobbying activities to influence the legislative and decision-making mechanisms will be included in use as a public relations exercise.
7) In this course, by touching on the concept of propaganda which is one of the ways to create or influence public opinion, the relations and differences between propaganda and public relations will be examined.
8) Midterm Exam
9) In this course, the questions -of what is the democracy culture that expresses to turning of democracy into the way of life, how to develop it and why it is so important for us- will be attempt to clarify.
10) When public relations contributes to the development of democracy, democracy offers a favorable environment for the conduct of public relations activities in a society. In this course, it will be focused on the importance and necessity of democracy culture in terms of public relations practices.
11) In this course, the complementary role of the democratic civil society and the importance of public relations in the process of democratization will be discussed.
12) Activism, which occurs in societies with democracy culture, is strategically important in terms of public relations. Because it provides an element of pressure on organizations. In this course, the relationship between activism and public relations will be discussed.
13) In this lesson, the use of new communication technologies in public relations activities of encouraging democratic participation will be discussed.
14) In this course, the contributions of public relations in a positive way to the development of democracy will be tried to summarize based on discussions so far.
15) In this last course, negative criticism that brought about democracy in public relations will be discussed.
16) Final Exam

Recommended or Required Reading

1- .

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

1) Lecture
2) Question-Answer
3) Discussion

Assessment Methods and Criteria

Contribution of Midterm Examination to Course Grade	30%
Contribution of Final Examination to Course Grade	70%
Total	100%

Language of Instruction

Turkish

Work Placement(s)

Not Required