School of Global Affairs

Committed to creating an equitable, ethical and sustainable future

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Our values and ethos

The Lancaster School of Global Affairs takes a bold and distinctive place-based approach to addressing the complex and multi-dimensional problems facing humanity. Our strength comes from our multidisciplinarity approach, knowing that creative solutions to these problems will draw upon on our core disciplines: History, International Relations, Languages and Cultures, Philosophy, Politics and Religious Studies. Bringing these areas together helps our students, staff and partners envision a transformative, inclusive and equitable future.

We are research-led and much of what we do relies on in-house expertise in the history, politics, languages, and cultures of different parts of the world. The research synergies across the School of Global Affairs cover area studies, migration, authoritarianism, health and poverty, security, technology, gender and decolonisation.

We partner with international agencies, governments, think tanks, academia, charities, business and global trade and humanitarian organisations to confront the planetary challenges of our times. We are a respected voice in national and international debate and have influence on the critical issues. The School acts as a host for challenging and open debate on current regional, national, and international events.

Our students deepen their disciplinary knowledge while also exploring professionalisation and their career pathways through experiential learning, placements, and internships with our partners.

We are committed to equitable, ethical and sustainable futures – in which human qualities and differences have clear value.

These are the Global Affairs in the School at Lancaster:

  • the exploration and regulation of Artificial Intelligence
  • the negotiation of environmental futures
  • thinking and acting on medical and health challenges
  • critical and informed engagement with all truth claims – against the general backdrop of a new global security environment

We are a place of academic excellence, engaged in the highest quality research. We also believe there should be spaces for creative, playful and quick thinking. We attract students who want to make a difference through ethical leadership and interdisciplinary knowledge and expertise.

Two women sat together talking, one is holding a book in her hands.

A place of distinction

The Lancaster School of Global Affairs has developed a ‘place-based’ approach to research and education. We see aspects of the world in our place, not as a Laboratory but as a place of co-creation and innovation. What does this mean?

This approach places an emphasis on understanding and addressing the unique social, economic, cultural, and environmental characteristics and challenges of England’s North West. We have fine castles, the world-famous Lake District and other beautiful preserved landscapes.

We also have rising seas, changing climate, nuclear and post-nuclear landscapes, coastal communities and poverty, historical and contemporary prosperity, post-industrial environments, conflict over land – between farming and conservation – governance, and big tech and innovation.

  • Local focus: Research and interventions are tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of the North West to address distinct issues and opportunities.
  • Community involvement: Engaging local communities and stakeholders is central. This involvement ensures that research and solutions are informed by the lived experiences, knowledge, and priorities of the people in the area. Working with real people enhances our learning and research – seeing the role of complexity, history and compromise in finding future-oriented solutions.
  • Long-term commitment: We have a sustained commitment to the North West, not only through formal agreements but through spirit and ethos which has led to deeper understanding and stronger relationships.
  • Policy and practice integration: The findings from place-based research readily inform local and national policies, as well as practical interventions, ensuring that strategies are relevant and effective in the local context.
  • Equity and inclusion: Our approach aims to address inequalities by focusing on areas that may be underserved or marginalised. We work for fair and inclusive outcomes.
Wastwater in the lake district, view of still lake surrounded by mountains

Interdisciplinary by design

The School of Global Affairs offers a range of MA programmes, each of which provides distinctive opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge, relationships and partnerships needed to meet the global challenges of our time.

Our most recent suite of Global Leadership programmes are built around a shared ethos and interconnected learning architecture. Programme-specific modules build in-depth knowledge of your chosen topic, while cross-programme modules offer global leadership skills and practical collaborations with strategic external partners.

Teaching, research and engagement activities are integrated across the programmes, while opportunities to critically engage with global affairs, the environment, AI and health are embedded throughout. All three programmes address these key themes through the lenses of the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Valuing people

We are committed to creating a fair and inclusive environment for our staff, students, partners and visitors. Equality, diversity and inclusion is an integral part of the School’s plans and activities.

Athena Swan

We are part of the University-wide effort to encourage and nurture gender equality and diversity in Higher Education.

As well as our Institutional Athena Swan Bronze award, Lancaster is very proud to have achieved Athena Swan awards in all our Departments and Faculties, recognising our commitment to advancing gender equality within higher education and research.

  • Languages and Cultures (awarded 2019)
  • Politics, Philosophy and Religion (awarded 2019)
  • History (awarded 2021)
Athena Swan
Athena swan bronze

Blogs

A conference poster with images of tongues

School of Global Affairs Hosts International Medical Humanities Event

Based around the theme of Tongues: Medical Humanities across Linguistic and Cultural Frontiers, Lancaster University's School of Global Affairs was host to the 7th annual international Northern Network for Medical Humanities Research Congress. David Murphy reports from the conference proceedings which highlighted the importance of linguistic and cultural diversity within the medical humanities.
A woman sitting in front of a doorway.

Promoting Implementation of UN Resolution 47/8

What does it take to implement a UN Resolution? Professor Charlotte Baker discusses how implementation of Resolution 47/8 on the Elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft (July 2021) is only just beginning, but it is already having an impact.
A yellow background with drawing.

Clandestine Poetry, ‘Other’ Militaries and Conversations at the CAMeNA

Cornelia Gräbner reports back from a research trip to the Academic Center for the Memory of Our América in Mexico City.
Two statuesque figures (one blue, one red) shaking hands.

The power of transcultural friendly agreement

As we celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale between France and the United Kingdom, we are reminded of the importance of transcultural understanding.
Critically high river waters flowing through Bewdly Bridge

Environmental Change in Our Place and Time

‘The next few years are probably the most important in our history’, stated Debra Roberts, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group in 2018, with an urgency that has since only intensified and been lived through by millions of people affected by extreme weather events with fire, floods, hurricanes, or drought. 
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The AI Delusion

Artificial Intelligence is a contradiction that is defined by many smaller but related contradictions. If we consider the words artificial and intelligent, then it turns out AI is neither.

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Latest News

The Ancient India, Living Traditions Exhibition at The British Museum

Ancient India, Living Traditions: an earnest effort to show how the art of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism is sacred and personal

In an article for The Conversation, Professor Ram Prasad explores The British Museum’s Ancient India, Living Traditions exhibition, bringing together exhibits on the sacred art of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Gazian mother holding her malnourished son at a school in Gaza City where they were sheltering in July.

Gaza is starving – how Israel’s allies can go beyond words and take meaningful action

In an article for The Conversation, Professor Simon Mabon discusses the growing number of Gazans affected by hunger and malnutrition, as the Israeli military operations continue.

Image shows a large red and white ship against an white icy backdrop and blue seas

Lancaster Professor informs Government on climate change effects on maritime security

A report and toolkit, raising awareness and understanding of the cumulative effects of climate change on maritime (in)security, were recently presented across the whole-of-government at a seminar in London and a workshop at Lancaster University.

Muyiwa Oki with the Chancellor the Rt Hon Alan Milburn

Honorary degree for the President of the Royal Institute of British Architects

Muyiwa Oki has been awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science at the July graduation ceremonies.
The flags of the BRICS nations with a pair of scissors and a US dollar

Is the Brics group irrelevant?

The Brics group of nations has just concluded its 17th annual summit in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro and Amalendu Misra, Professor of International Politics at Lancaster University, describes the summit as ‘a lack lustre affair.’  

Missing from the summit was China's Xi Jinping, Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, attended virtually and despite member states adopting a long list of commitments, the summit was fractured by conflict and contradiction.

The Union Flag of the United Kingdom with a banner saying Immigration, a rucksack and a pair of blue training shoes

Will Keir Starmer's proposals to reduce net migration to the UK pay off?

If Labour's policy on immigration is successful it will come at a high cost for the country says Dr Erica Consterdine Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at Lancaster University.

In an article in The Conversation she argues that Keir Starmer's restrictive proposals will have consequences for the higher education and social care sectors and may lead to higher levels of irregular migration.

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