Weaponization of Knowledge: Historical Legacy of Propaganda and Disinformation in the US and Abroad.

Catalog description

Thomas Jefferson believed a stable democracy requires an informed citizenry. But how do we think about the relationship between knowledge and power? In this class, we will explore how those in power create knowledge and understand how what counts as knowledge is used to maintain their political position. By learning sociological frameworks to question knowledge and reality, this class will then use that theory to study applied cases of weaponized knowledge throughout history in the United States and Germany. Students will learn foundational concepts, and develop an array of communication strategies for distinct situations and specific audiences. Taught in English.