This master's level course introduces several approaches to discourse analysis and their central analytical categories, focusing specifically on the relationship between discourse analysis and democratic processes, from public deliberation to democratic backsliding.
Discourse analysis provides tools to scrutinize how language shapes, enables, or constrains democratic processes, power, and participation. By examining political discourse, it reveals how language is used to manipulate, construct, or defend democratic ideals. By examining media discourse, it explores how meanings are constructed, contested, and circulated in public communication. Examining social media discourse further highlights how democratic participation, public debate, and political identities are negotiated in digital environments, where diverse actors produce, contest, and circulate meanings in rapidly evolving communicative spaces. In this course, we discuss these discourse types, paying particular attention to multimodality and figurative language, social actor representation and process types, and positioning in various communicative contexts, showing how speakers construct identities, negotiate relationships, attribute responsibility, and define boundaries between "us" and "them".
Learning outcome
After completing the course, students will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of major approaches to discourse analysis and their central analytical concepts;
- explain the relationship between discourse, power, and democratic processes;
- analyze political and (social) media discourse using established discourse-analytic frameworks;
- identify and examine discursive strategies such as positioning, boundary construction, and identity construction;
- analyze verbal, visual, and multimodal resources in contemporary communication;
- critically evaluate how language shapes democratic participation, public debate, and political identities;
- apply discourse-analytic methods to empirical material and present their analyses in a clear and systematic way;
- reflect critically on the role of discourse in shaping social and political realities.
Teaching
Six online sessions combining lectures and seminars, followed by a concluding online discussion session.
Students who are granted admission to the course will be invited to an information meeting on Zoom prior to the course start.
The first online session will be held on Tuesday 20 October 2026 from 16:15 to 18:00.
Course dates and topics
Please note that the course plan is still subject to changes and that the topics are listed in a random order. Tentative schedule (pdf)
Examination
The evaluation will be a short essay, which may be written jointly by two or three students. Students who choose to write the essay on their own, should write approximately 5 pages. Students who write together with one other student are expected to write approximately 6 pages and students who write together in a group of three should write around 7 pages.
A standard page consists of 2,300 characters. This does not include references and bibliography.
Admission
Admission to this course requires enrolment in a Master's programme at one of the Circle U. partner universities.
Documentation requirements:
- Confirmation of student status. Please attach a certificate that confirms that you are currently enrolled as a student at a program on master's level at one of the Circle U. universities.
- Copy of passport or ID-card.
- Name change documentation if your name appears different in any of your documentation.
There are a minimum of 4 study places available for each of the participating universities. In case of more eligible applicants than available places, all applicants will be pooled together and chosen at random to ensure that all eligible candidates have an equal opportunity to participate. The course will have 60 places in total.
Please note that applicants are not guaranteed admission to the course even if they are qualified.
All students will receive an answer to their application by the middle of September by email.
Recommended previous knowledge
This course is based on the analysis of texts, images, and other multimodal resources. Successful participation requires that participants have a strong interest in the detailed analysis of such phenomena. Prior experience with textual analysis and/or the analysis of other semiotic resources is an advantage.
