COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: INFORMATION, TECHNOLOGY AND POLITICAL POWER

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

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	Dr. Reina Shehi rzenelaj@epoka.edu.al
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	M.Sc. Dea Elmasllari delmasllari@epoka.edu.al
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:
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:	We will explore and evaluate the significance of information, technology and their interaction with politics and society and discuss their influence on institutional changes at national and local levels. To explore this, we will look at some components of democracy such as participation, particularly in elections, accountability, trust and freedom of speech. As recent developments indicate we will also look at Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT and human robot relationships within the context of political power and democracy. 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	Technology
2	Digitalism
3	Digitalisation
4	Machine learning
5	Big data
6	Social development
7	Artificial Intelligence
8	Cybersecurity

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to the course and topics; What is (a) Digital Society? Philosophy of Technology and the Origins of the Internet
2	Technology and the State: Government, Law and Regulations
3	Technology and Democracy
4	Elections, Campaigns, Activism and the Internet
5	Public Holiday
6	Digital Diplomacy, Digital Divides and Global Connections
7	Big Data, Data Science and Machine Learning
8	Information, Disinformation, and Ethics in Technology
9	Midterm Exam (written exam)
10	Cyberspace and the Internet
11	Cyber Terrorism and Counter-terrorism
12	Digital Surveillance and Security (in-class Group Project and Case Study Discussion)
13	Emerging Technologies and Human-Robot Relations: Artificial Intelligence and OpenAI (ChatGPT)
14	Overview and Conclusions to Prepare for the Final Exam

Prerequisite(s):
Textbook(s):	Lindgren, S. (2021). Digital Media and Society 2nd edition. Sage. Jacques Ellul, “On the Aims of a Philosophy of Technology” Hans Jonas, “Toward a Philosophy of Technology” David Edgerton. 2007. The Shock of the Old: Technology and Global History since 1990. Oxford University Press Sandra Braman. 2006. Change of State: Information, Policy, and Power. MIT Press.
Additional Literature:
Laboratory Work:
Computer Usage:
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Analyze the role of technology in societal transformation, considering its autonomy, human intent, and co-constitution within social realities.
2	Evaluate the key contested issues surrounding technological development in political domains, including participation, authority, and freedom.
3	Critically assess the implications of algorithmic governance on democratic processes and civil liberties.
4	Apply interdisciplinary perspectives to examine the complex interactions between technology, society, and politics.
5	Synthesize theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence to understand the reciprocal relationship between technology and political systems.
6	Engage in informed discussions and debates on ethical dilemmas arising from the intersection of technology and politics
7	Formulate informed arguments regarding the role of technology in shaping power dynamics, governance structures, and social movements.
8	Explore the role of international institutions and regulatory frameworks in shaping the ethical and legal dimensions of technology's impact on global politics.

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
Midterm Exam(s)	1	25
Project	1	25
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