MC419 Half Unit
Modern Campaigning Politics
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Prof Bart Cammaerts
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in Politics and Communication. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: Priority will normally be given to students enrolled on Media and Communications degree programmes; however, course specific availability is indicated via the 'Availability' section of each individual course guide webpage. The number of students that can be accommodated is limited. If a course is oversubscribed, places will be allocated at the Department's discretion. Students are advised to have an alternative course in mind in case they are unable to secure their first-choice course selection.
A list of all taught master's courses in this Department are listed on the Department's Course Selection and Videos webpage.
Students who have this course listed as compulsory are guaranteed a place and no written statement is required.
For all other students, places on these controlled access courses will be allocated via a random ballot process with priority given to students with the course listed on their programme regulations, followed by other Department of Media and Communications students, then students from elsewhere in the School. By submitting an application, students are confirming that they meet any pre-requisites specified. Providing an additional written statement will not aid a student's chances of being accepted onto a course that does not require a written statement.
Deadline for application: Students required to take this compulsory course will be automatically enrolled on LSE for You.
All other students must apply by 10am UK time on Friday 26 September 2025. No offers will be made before this deadline. Offers will be made after 10am and will continue until all places are filled.
For queries contact: Contact Media.MSc@lse.ac.uk with queries.
Please do not email the teacher with personal expressions of interest as these are not required and do not influence who is offered a place.
This course is highly recommended for MSc in Politics and Communication students.
This course is 'controlled access', meaning that there is a limit to the number of students who can be accepted. If the course is oversubscribed, offers will be made via a random ballot process, with priority given to students with the course listed on their Programme Regulations. Whilst we do our best to accommodate all requests, we cannot guarantee you a place on this course.
Requisites
Additional requisites:
There are no pre-requisites for this course. Students should apply via LSE for You without submitting a statement.
Please do not email the teacher with personal expressions of interest as these are not required and do not influence who is offered a place.
Course content
The focus of this module is critical reflection on practical politics, drawing on both academic research and evidence directly from political practitioners. The course is taught by a series of invited guest lecturers who are experts in the field of political campaigning for political parties and NGOs. It will connect with theory taught on other courses in the department and will enable students to see how theory is relevant and applied to the practice of modern political campaigns in the context of the evolving nature of contemporary political communication,. It will examine core and general concepts in campaigning including political strategy and how it is developed; the shaping and measurement of public opinion; and the role of NGOs in shaping government policy.
Teaching
15 hours of lectures and 5 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.
To increase the geographic diversity of guest teacher sessions, a limited amount of this content may be delivered online.
Formative assessment
This formative coursework for this course is a reduced length version of the summative assessment (see below for further details):
- A 500 word campaign memo advocating a specific strategy for a campaign of your choice (this might be for a candidate, a political party or a campaign / protest group).
- A 1000 word academic reflection on the strategy memo, where you will justify and explain your strategic recommendations with reference to relevant academic research.
Additionally, students will undertake two other pieces of formative work relevant to course content:
- A short (approximately. 200 words) midterm online exercise identifying a key variable which shapes campaigning practices in a particular comparative setting (e.g. electoral system, party system, political culture etc).
- A group end of term presentation where students will offer a campaign pitch for a particular political party / organisation.
Further details of this task will be given in the first lecture of term.
Indicative reading
As this course is largely taught by guest lecturers, a limited number of readings are provided in advance. Instead, reading lists are generated after their lectures in response to the comments they make and questions posed by their arguments.
In terms of indicative reading, there are a variety of items that might be relevant. Classical political texts on the art of politics (e.g., Aristotle On Rhetroic, Machiavelli The Prince, or Weber, Politics as a Vocation) will offer interesting insights. More recently, students might like to consult political memoirs, biographies, and diaries to gain an understanding of how politicians themselves see political strategy.
For a broader overview of political communication literature, students can consult the indicative reading list of MC404, our core course about Political Communication.
Finally, students might like to listen to The Times How To Win an Election podcast, which is organised around a variety of practical political campaigning questions. The three guests on the podcast (Peter Mandelson, Danny Finkelstein and Polly McKenzie) have all spoken to students taking this course in the past. Available from: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/how-to-win-an-election or your preferred podcast platform.
Assessment
Essay (100%, 3000 words)
The summative assessment for this course is a two-part piece of coursework.
- A 1000 word campaign memo advocating a specific strategy for a campaign of your choice (this might be for a candidate, a political party or a campaign / protest group).
- A 2000 word academic reflection on the strategy memo, where you will justify and explain your strategic recommendations with reference to relevant academic research.
NB. One additional requirement of the summative coursework is that is cannot be on the same example used in the formative coursework.
Key facts
Department: Media and Communications
Course Study Period: Autumn Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 29
Average class size 2024/25: 15
Controlled access 2024/25: NoCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Team working
- Communication
- Commercial awareness
- Specialist skills