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Guest Lecturer Cesar Beltran, US State Department
Communication, Politics, and Power. Thursday, March 8, 2:15 to 3:45. Room 220.
This seminar will focus on two fundamental concepts. The first is that information is power; the second is that communication is persuasion. Examining modern media, we will consider the distinction between traditional (legacy) media and new (social) media, as well as the distinction between propaganda and public diplomacy. After this review and elaboration of concepts, we will discuss the interplay of communication, politics and power by looking closely at the December 1981 imposition of martial law in Poland, and the August 1991 coup attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union. I was present at both events, and I will call upon my own observations and experiences to add to our exploration of the subjects.
The Polish and Soviet case studies focus on traditional media; to examine new media we will consider the example of the Arab Spring and last year's uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. We will also look briefly at current events in Russia, and touch upon current events in Hungary. It is my contention that new media have totally changed the relationship between communication, politics and power; I look forward to a seminar exploring this idea with any interested students.
Cesar Beltran
http://www.huembwas.org/GB/CarlLutz/Willimantic/Exhibition.htm
Cesar Beltran served 35 years with the State Department and U.S. Information Agency, completing his career as a member of the Senior Foreign Service (rank of Career Counselor). A veteran public affairs and communications manager, with expertise dealing at the highest levels of government, academia and business, he has held Embassy Counselor positions in Budapest, Warsaw, Santo Domingo and Moscow. He currently teaches Mass Communication and International Communication at Eastern Connecticut State University, serves as Senior Advisor to the International Centre for Democratic Transition, and represents the Mensch Foundation International as its Communications Director.
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