Decoding the World:
Global Affairs, Media Literacy, and the Mind of the Informed Citizen

How do we make sense of the world when the rules of engagement are constantly shifting?

From geopolitical upheaval to algorithm-driven echo chambers, senior leaders today face a noisy, complex and fast-changing global landscape. Two elective seminars in the DSFP, State of the World and Reading Political News, aim to give DSFP candidates the critical tools to navigate, decode, and interpret this reality with clarity and discernment.

Led by Adjunct Professor Ajay Makhija of NUS Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Management, these seminars invite the candidates into a dynamic inquiry of global affairs, grounded not only in data and frameworks but also in lived experience and critical reflection.

“In today’s age of misinformation overload and geopolitical flux, our ability to read political news critically and interpret the state of the world with nuance is extremely vital,” shares Prof Ajay.

“I look forward to engaging with this inaugural cohort — multifaceted, experienced minds with globally rich perspectives — on how to decode global narratives, question assumptions and identify patterns or frameworks for the future.”

Seminar 1: “State of the World: Understanding the Dynamic World”

This seminar sets the stage with a macro-level exploration of key global trends: economic realignment, the resurgence of nationalism, climate volatility, shifting superpowers and the ongoing ripple effects of technology disruption.

Participants will examine how these forces intersect and compound one another, and how they manifest in regional tensions, inequality and long-term geopolitical transformations.

Structured around mapping exercises, case studies and divergent viewpoints, the session prompts candidates to look beneath headlines, explore historical context, and consider both the visible and invisible drivers shaping our world today.

Seminar 2: “Reading Political News”

In this follow-on seminar, Prof Ajay turns the focus to the role of media and the mechanics of perception. As traditional gatekeepers give way to social media influencers and curated algorithmic feeds, the nature of news itself has changed — and so must our lens for evaluating it.

Through content analysis, media mapping, and simulated debates, candidates will learn to discern bias, evaluate credibility, and read between the lines of political storytelling.

“Our dialogue should unpack headlines, hidden agendas, and noise echoes that shape today’s world and tomorrow’s decisions,” says Prof Ajay. “Together, we’ll explore how media shapes not just what we know, but how we think and how to stay grounded amid the chaos.”

Taken together, these two seminars offer a robust toolkit for global awareness, empowering senior leaders to sharpen their critical faculties, challenge assumptions and engage more meaningfully in the affairs of the world.