COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: INFORMATION, TECHNOLOGY AND POLITICAL POWER

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
PIR 212	D	4	2	2	0	3	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	Assoc.Prof.Dr. Isa Erbaş ierbas@epoka.edu.al
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Assoc.Prof.Dr. Isa Erbaş ierbas@epoka.edu.al , 09-9:30
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time:	D 103: 09:40-13:30
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:
Course Description:	This is the first semester of a year-long graduate seminar on the major contributions of the field of science and technology studies (STS) to understanding the relationships of science, technology, and political power in democratic societies. The fall semester is devoted to reading, analyzing, and critically integrating works by scholars in STS and related fields who have addressed such topics as the nature of scientific authority, science’s relations with the state, science and democracy, scientific and technical controversies, and the politics of technology. The spring semester is designed as an advanced research seminar in which students will read further current works in STS and also complete and present a major piece of research and writing. In the fall semester, we explore how the modern state’s capacity to produce and use scientific knowledge influences, and is influenced by, the production and maintenance of political order. Beginning with standard models of science and politics, such as the “republic of science,” the syllabus develops an alternate framework that sees these two spheres of action not as cognitively and culturally distinct but as engaged in a constant process of exchange and mutual stabilization. For this purpose, the course combines theoretical ideas and empirical examples from STS, both historical and contemporary, with approaches from social and political theory. Particular attention is paid to the cultural resources used in the simultaneous production of scientific and political authority. These include technologies of visual representation, quantitative analysis, standardization, material stabilization, persuasion, and dispute resolution, as well as associated ideas of objectivity, rationality, credibility, legality, accountability, and reliability. Seeing power as immanent, the course takes special notice of the techniques and discourses through which actors in modern polities frame and manage their perceptions of the world, in the process of framing new issues for political action.
Course Objectives:	The objective of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies are reshaping governance, diplomacy, and global political competition. The course aims to examine the transformation of private technology companies into influential political actors, analyze regulatory responses across different political systems, and assess the implications of digital power for democracy, sovereignty, and international relations. At the end of this course, students will be able to: - Demonstrate understanding of how social and technological developments are interrelated in digital societies; - Define and describe key terms relevant to studying digital society, such as digitalization, digital society and datafication; - Demonstrate and apply knowledge on reading and processing academic literature from a variety of (interdisciplinary) perspectives on technology, information and global politics.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	Understand digital media as a social, political, and technological infrastructure that shapes communication, authority, and public discourse.
2	Understand platforms as multi-sided market infrastructures that function simultaneously as economic intermediaries and political actors.
3	Understand content moderation as a mechanism through which private companies exercise quasi-sovereign authority over speech and political legitimacy.
4	Understand soft power as the ability to shape preferences, norms, and legitimacy in global politics without coercion.
5	Recognize the relationship between digital platforms and soft power in shaping global narratives and political influence.
6	Analyze crisis-driven regulation as a catalyst for shifts in digital governance frameworks.
7	Understand digital sovereignty as the effort of states to regain control over digital infrastructures and data governance.
8	Understand generational differences in political media exposure as factors influencing democratic engagement and political participation.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to Syllabus and Materials. Overview of course aims, assessment, and expectations. Students will be introduced to the course syllabus, aims, materials, assessment methods, and key expectations.
2	Information, Technology and Political power. This lecture examines the relationship between information, technology, and political power in contemporary digital society. It explores how information functions as a strategic political resource, how digital platforms operate as technological infrastructures that curate and moderate content through algorithmic systems, and how technology companies have emerged as influential political actors exercising governance authority. Gorwa (2024), pp. 1–12; Andersen et al. (2021), pp. 43–118; Lindgren (2017), pp. 10–60.
3	Theories of Power, State Regulation, and Technology. This session focuses on theories of power, state regulation, and technology by examining how technological infrastructures shape and redistribute political authority. It explores how different theories of power explain the growing influence of digital actors, how states respond to technological transformations through regulatory frameworks, and how technology itself functions as a political structure that can enable, constrain, or reshape governance. Gorwa (2024), pp. 13–20. Nye, J. S. (2023), pp.3-39.
4	Governance by Platforms: Moderation, Authority, and Censorship. The lecture focuses on how platforms govern through design, rulemaking, and enforcement. It explores the evolution of commercial content moderation, trust and safety systems, and algorithmic governance structures. Gorwa (2024), pp. 21-28.
5	Government Intervention. This lecture introduces the theoretical framework explaining why governments intervene in platform governance. It presents the “demand-and-supply” model and explores concepts such as political will and institutional capacity. Gorwa (2024), pp. 53–60. Andersen et al., (2021), pp. 11–27.
6	Platform Regulation. This lecture examines how governments regulate platforms across different policy domains, including content moderation, competition, and digital markets. It analyzes emerging regulatory frameworks and state intervention strategies. Gorwa (2024), pp. 29–52.
7	Regulatory Strategies. The lecture explores the typology of regulatory strategies governments use when engaging with platform companies. It analyzes different approaches to shaping online content moderation practices. Gorwa (2024), pp. 61–76 .
8	Technology and International Relations. This lecture examines the relationship between technology and international relations, focusing on how digital platforms and technological infrastructures reshape global political dynamics. It explores how states respond to transnational technological challenges, how regulatory strategies differ across jurisdictions, and how technological developments influence sovereignty, accountability, and international cooperation. Gorwa, R. (2024) (pp. 95–113). Giacomello, G., Moro, F. N., & Valigi, M. (2021). Technology and international relations. In The new frontier in global power. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://www.elgaronline.com/edcollchap/edcoll/9781788976060/9781788976060.00005.xml
9	Midterm Exam
10	Comparative Digital Governance and Regulatory Models. The lecture analyzes regulatory developments beyond Europe and North America, examining cases from China, India, and Brazil. It explores different political systems and models. Gorwa (2024), pp. 147–164
11	Diplomacy and Artificial Intelligence in Global Political Competition. It explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming diplomacy and intensifying global power competition. It examines the shift of Ministries of Foreign Affairs toward digital and innovation diplomacy, the strategic rivalry over AI among major powers, and the implications for security, economic power, and global governance. Kļaviņš, Didzis (2021), pp. 213–232
12	Technology, Cyber Power, and Political Power in the Digital Age. This lecture examines how technological innovation and cybersecurity capabilities reshape political power in the digital age. It analyzes how states leverage digital transformation strategies, cyber capabilities, and norm entrepreneurship to enhance their influence in global politics. Kļaviņš, Didzis (2021), pp. 232–262. Vishwas Satgar (2025), pp. 17-70.
13	Political Information Exposure, Misinformation, and Democratic Power. This lecture examines how exposure to political information across traditional media and digital platforms shapes democratic participation and political engagement. It explores generational differences in media consumption patterns, particularly during elections, and analyzes how information environments influence political attitudes and civic involvement. The lecture further investigates the dynamics of misinformation, fake news, and political manipulation, highlighting how algorithmic amplification and fragmented media ecosystems can distort public discourse and reshape democratic processes.. Andersen et al., (2021), pp. 43–61
14	The Future of Regulation, Technology and Political Power. This concluding session synthesizes the course themes and evaluates the future trajectory of platform governance, regulatory diffusion, and global digital politics. Gorwa (2024), pp. 165–170. Marcin Rojszczak (2025), pp. 19-52.

Prerequisite(s):	Theory attendance: 60, Practice: 75.
Textbook(s):	Rojszczak, Marcin (2025). Bulk surveillance, democracy and human rights law in Europe. Routledge. Satgar, Vishwas (Ed.). (2025). Digital capitalism and its limits: Technotopia, power and risk. Wits University Press. Gorwa, Robert (2024). The politics of platform regulation: How governments shape online content moderation. Oxford University Press. Nye, J. S. (2023). Soft power and great-power competition: Shifting sands in the balance of power between the United States and China. Cambridge University Press. Daniela Russ, James Stafford (eds.), (2021). Competition in world politics: Knowledge, strategies and institutions. transcript Verlag. Andersen, K., Ohme, J., Bjarnøe, C., Bordacconi, M. J., Albæk, E., & de Vreese, C. H. (2021). Generational gaps in political media use and civic engagement: From Baby Boomers to Generation Z. Routledge. Lindgren, Simon (2017). Digital media & society. SAGE Publications Ltd.
Additional Literature:
Laboratory Work:
Computer Usage:
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Explain key concepts related to digital media, platform governance, and global digital politics.
2	Describe how digital platforms function as political, economic, and technological actors in contemporary world politics.
3	Identify major regulatory frameworks and state strategies concerning platform governance across different regions.
4	Explain the relationship between artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, diplomacy, and global power competition.
5	Analyze how platform companies exercise governance power through design, rulemaking, and algorithmic systems.
6	Evaluate different governmental regulatory strategies (e.g., convince, collaborate, contest) in shaping online content moderation.
7	Assess critically how crisis events influence regulatory outcomes and policy shifts in digital governance.
8	Explore the role of international institutions and regulatory frameworks in shaping the ethical and legal dimensions of technology's impact on global politics.
9	Apply theoretical frameworks (e.g., soft power, cyber power, demand-and-supply model) to interpret contemporary digital political developments.
10	Examine how generational differences in media exposure affect political participation and democratic engagement.

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years) Program
1	Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources.	5
2	Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches.	5
3	Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects.	5
4	Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions.	3
5	Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations.	5
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.	5
7	Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena.	3
8	Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones.	2
9	Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles.	2
10	Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge.	1
11	Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments.	2
12	Having consciousness about human rights and environment.	2
13	Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning.	5

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Homework	5	4
Midterm Exam(s)	1	30
Final Exam	1	40
Attendance		10
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	4	64
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	16	2.5	40
Mid-terms	1	6	6
Assignments	1	5	5
Final examination	1	10	10
Other			0
Total Work Load:			125
Total Work Load/25(h):			5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER