Politics is the exercise of power, and no concept is more central in political analysis than the state. But what is the state and how is it developing in the 21st century? Is it an overbearing apparatus of oppression, or a condition for freedom, peace and order? In this module, you will critically engage with the foundational theories, ideas and concepts that define the discipline of politics.

We’ll look at the key thinkers and address the big questions, such as how is power exercised by the state and whose interests does it serve? Are corporations now more powerful than states? In the digital globalised world, are the boundaries of nation state power still relevant?

By the end of the module, you will have a firm grasp of the competing theories of power and how they relate to the state, enabling you to critically apply key concepts in political debate.

Gain the skills you need to complete independent research in Politics and nternational Relations. Direct your own learning by developing a research project on your chosen topic. Throughout the module, you will develop knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative research methods, and you’ll analyse a large quantitative political dataset using various methods to test for statistically significant relationships between variables.

You will learn about three major approaches to qualitative research that will prepare you for future independent research work:

• How to conduct interviews
• How to analyse the discourse of political actors
• How to conduct comparative case studies

You’ll find that the skills you develop during this module will be a useful asset when seeking employment as a Politics graduate.

In this examination of the evolving landscape of global power, we identify the forces challenging the world’s leading nations and explore the fluid nature of influence in the 21st century.

We will analyse the shifting balance of power, explore the relative decline of traditional superpowers and the simultaneous rise of new actors on the global stage.

You’ll be encouraged to consider how economic, military, and cultural influence is being reconfigured in a multipolar world, reshaping traditional understandings of world order. Crucially, we will also analyse the internal and external pressures these powers face, form rising regional actors, to the evolving nature of global threats, and the erosion of traditional power structures.

Through different case studies and theoretical frameworks, you will gain a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between rising and established powers and the implications for global stability and future orders.

Explore the key challenges of contemporary leadership and governing in the fast-changing, interconnected world of the 21st Century. From a comparative perspective, you will critically assess the extent to which political actors – whether individual or institutional – control their own destinies or are constrained by the globalised context within which they are operating.

Key themes will include:

• Comparing sources of government legitimacy between authoritarian and democratic states
• Political leadership styles and strategies
• Political communication
• Variation in the impact of globalisation on the capacity and resources of states
• The EU and transnational political institutions
• The changing role of political parties

You will gain an understanding of the core principles and values of comparative analysis and develop the skills to critically engage with evidence from different types of comparative case study. The module will develop your understanding of the impact global trends have on local and national political actors.

Political and economic affairs raise many philosophical issues. Political theory and philosophy primarily explore normative questions (for example, about the nature of justice and freedom). In this module you will focus on epistemological and methodological challenges, which also have huge significance for how we think about our societies and the challenges they face.

Concepts such as democracy or autocracy, taxation or national debt, power or economic growth – all are complex and contested.

• They raise metaphysical questions: what sorts of ‘things’ are they?
• They pose epistemological challenges: how can we know or measure them?
• They lead you to ask: is it possible to study them without making assumptions about values?
• They provoke the consideration: how do large-scale political and economic phenomena relate to individual people and their activities?

Through considering these questions, you will gain an understanding of the special challenges involved in knowledge of our social, political and economic systems, and how philosophical thinking complements the tasks of political science and economics.

Public policy defines our lives. It determines who gets what, when and how. This module gets to the heart of the power relations of policymaking by applying a critical lens to understanding policy.

You will examine how ideas, interests and institutions shape policy, and who wins and who loses from its formulation. We’ll explore critical theories such as feminism, decolonisation, Marxism and anti-racism, to understand the power dynamics in public policy.

We’ll touch on the key questions such as:

• Who decides what is a policy problem?
• Who bears the burdens or benefits of policy?
• Is evidence-based policy achievable?

By the end of this module, you will be able to apply critical thinking skills to analyse local and global challenges such as social inequalities and the climate crisis.

This module offers a critical introduction to the complex political landscapes of regions in the Global South, exploring how historical, economic and social forces have shaped contemporary states and societies.

You will examine colonial legacies and their lasting influence on political institutions, and the impact of external interventions on regions. The module also investigates the consequences of neoliberal economic reforms, the challenges faced during democratization processes, narratives of ‘development,’ and the dynamics of armed conflict and peacebuilding.

Consideration is given to grassroots activism as well as the role of regional integration and cooperation in shaping political and economic outcomes. Through these themes, you will develop a sophisticated understanding of power, resistance and development in the Global South.

In your third year you will study at one of our international partner universities. This will help you to expand your global outlook and professional network, as well as developing your cultural and personal skills. It is also an opportunity to gain a different perspective on your subject through studying it in another country.

You will choose specialist modules relating to your degree and potentially modules from other subjects offered by the host university that are specific to that university and country.

The availability of places at overseas partners varies each year. In previous years destinations for students in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences have included Australia, USA, Canada, Europe and Asia.

Investigate an area of Politics and International Relations that is of particular interest to you by carrying out a detailed research project. The topic may be inspired by a module you’ve taken, or it may be less directly linked to course work but of special appeal to you.

The dissertation is an extended piece of written work and a chance to develop your research skills and your ability to work independently. You will be assigned an academic supervisor who will have some familiarity with your chosen topic. They will support you through the different stages of the dissertation, from developing your research design, to confirming your research question and working out the best methodology.

Complete your undergraduate student journey by demonstrating that you can apply the critical thinking and research skills you have learned to sharp political analysis of your own.

Study conceptual questions about the nature of power, justice, freedom and the state – and normative questions about the kinds of political structures we should adopt. This module builds on previous modules on political philosophy and theory by offering the opportunity for advanced study in the area.

We will consider questions such as how can democracy safeguard our interests, and how might it endanger them? What is equality, and is it desirable? What does it mean to claim that we have ‘rights’?

You will read contemporary and historical texts in depth and debate their implications for modern governance and society. You’ll gain a deep understanding of the theories behind key issues in contemporary politics, equipping you to analyse complex political concepts. You will also develop essential interpretive and argumentative skills, enabling you to assess competing viewpoints and contribute thoughtfully and persuasively to ongoing discussions about politics.

In this module you’ll encounter advanced critical approaches to the study of war and security. Focusing on the social, political, and cultural complexity of war in the ‘late modern’ period, the module builds on theoretical knowledge gained previously in the course, to investigate and contest war’s increasing reach both around the globe and into everyday life.

Marking the transition from the Cold War to the ‘Global War on Terror,’ this module considers especially how contemporary war has changed in terms of tactics, technologies, and terrain, investigating the various spaces in and through which wars are fought.

Finally, the module considers the emergence of the so-called ‘New Cold War’ through in-depth analysis of the social and political complexity of active and contemporary war in the 21st century.

An important exploration of the key issues and challenges facing contemporary democratic states and movements in the 21st Century.

Arguably, modern democracy faces multiple challenges such as:

• The rise of populist movements
• Democratic backsliding
• Declining public trust in leaders and political institutions
• Globalisation and transnational government
• New forms of authoritarian leadership
• Increasing repression of dissent and protest

Taking a comparative approach, we will explore how these evolving challenges have impacted the politics of both democratic and authoritarian states, and we will evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies that have been taken to address them.

Using the skills in both research and comparative analysis that you have developed during the programme, you will carry out your own independent research and contribute to contemporary academic debate on the prospects for democracy.

The emergence, consolidation and transformation of world capitalism has been marked by its uneven character in terms of development, and the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. This module aims to provide you with a theoretical foundation for the study of international development and the environment, by focusing on the structural roots of current challenges. We will focus in particular on global inequalities and environmental injustice.

Drawing on mainstream and critical development studies, international political economy and discourse analysis, the module examines the interconnections between uneven development and the deterioration of the natural environment. You will examine dominant ideas of economic growth, progress and sustainability.

Key concepts and theories will be discussed alongside specific examples from the Global South. Typically, topics will include the global debt crisis, green discourses, climate inequalities, and the commodification of nature under neoliberalism.

Examine two of the world’s most important powers - the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) – and a transatlantic alliance that was forged post-war and remains one of the most important globally despite current challenges.

The module provides an introduction to the EU’s normative power and its attempts to upload its distinctive European values internationally before looking at the US as the pre-eminent global superpower. In particular, the dynamics of EU-US relations will be explored and scrutinised. How has the Trump presidency affected the relationship between Brussels and Washington? What are the long-term prospects for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), still of vital importance to Central and Eastern Europe states? As Europe increasingly turns to security issues, how realistic is President Macron’s proposal for a European army to replace long-established American hard power?

This unique module is delivered in partnership with the UK Parliament. You will interact directly with MPs, parliamentary officials and clerks, while exploring vital questions of policy formation and constitutional reform.

In recent years the existing Parliamentary institutions of the UK have come under unparalleled stress. Brexit, devolution and declining public trust in politics have led many people to question the fundamental structure of UK political institutions. However, Parliament remains at the centre of political life in the UK and is fundamental to the development of public policy. This leads to key questions about the extent to which the UK Parliament is fit for purpose as a 21st century policy-making institution.

This is an opportunity to gain important professional skills in communication and policy analysis, as you evaluate the parliamentary policy-making process and critically analyse topics such as House of Lords reform, devolution and representation.

The module includes a placement where you will work on real-world policy-making scenarios. You’ll gain practical experience and in-depth knowledge of the policymaking process within different political contexts. You’ll also deepen your understanding of key theoretical frameworks and concepts in policy analysis and development.

As well as gaining professional skills, you’ll discover how academic knowledge acquired during your degree translates into different policy-making contexts. By the end of the module, you will be able to conduct robust policy research using various methodologies and tools, evaluate the ethical implications of policy decisions, and advocate for ethics and value-based approaches to policymaking.

In this module you will engage with some of the most challenging issues in international relations. Latin America and Africa are two of the most dynamic yet overlooked regions in contemporary international society.

You will explore various of facets of Latin American and African political processes and examine their shared colonial history, which continues to shape their political economies, post-colonial politics and policy-making, and rich cultural life. This is seen in their role as primary commodity exporters in the global economy, extensive ongoing external intervention, corruption, inequality, poverty, conflict, social movements, electoral populism, deep religiosity and creative renewal.

You will be encouraged to take what you have learnt and undertake independent research on issues affecting these regions and beyond.

In this module we critically examine the politics and history of the Middle East and Asia Pacific, focusing on how these regional categories have been historically constructed and contested. Themes will include:

• Colonial legacies
• Nationalism
• Authoritarianism
• Gender and politics
• Religion and ethnicity
• Political movements
• Changing forms of governance

Through comparative case studies, you will be introduced to the diversity of political systems and experiences across the two regions, and you will investigate patterns of similarity and difference.

The module responds to contemporary global developments and supports critical reflection on state, society and regional identity.

Unpack the socio-political contexts of two dynamic actors in world politics - the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation.

In the first part of the module, we will critically evaluate the application of familiar concepts such as modernity, legitimacy, nationalism and capitalism in understanding China under Xi Jinping.

In the second part, we will examine the emergence of President Putin’s Russia, before assessing implications of the consolidation of his power for Russian domestic and foreign policies. The aim of this section is to assess reasons for the deterioration of Russia’s relations with the West.

The module concludes with a comparison of the political directions of China and Russia, and the implications for their role in a gradually changing world (dis) order.

This module focuses on the interrelationship between security, strategy and technology. We begin with an introduction to Strategic Studies as an academic discipline, outlining key concepts and their relevance in the 21st century security environment.

We then apply these concepts to a variety of domains of conflict, examining emerging disruptive technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing, and how militaries are integrating them into war fighting and defence innovation processes.

The module then moves on to explore the past, present and future of cyber conflict, and how state and non-state actors are leveraging cyber capabilities for strategic advantage inside and outside of war.

We will conclude by examining the parameters and drivers of conflict in the maritime domain, and how sea power and Maritime Security are changing in response to shifting geopolitical and technological trends. During the module you’ll develop the critical thinking skills that are necessary for future leaders in security and defence.

Why do we see gaps between what politicians say on immigration and what they do?

In the United Kingdom and in most of the Global North the movement of people across international borders is a key political issue of our time. The public, researchers and politicians across the political spectrum participate in passionate debates about immigration. Political parties make strong claims about how they would “manage” or “cut” migration, recognising that it is a key voting issue.

Meanwhile, the systematic study of human movement supplies us with robust evidence concerning such questions as:

• Is migration desirable or not?
• How should we understand its effects on origin and destination countries?
• How to address it in policy terms?
• Is migration a matter of human rights?
• Can border control be reconciled with respect for the rights of people on the move?

The module draws on cutting edge research in political science, international relations and similar fields. It equips you with fact-based evidence so that you can confidently participate in the ongoing societal debate on what it means to inhabit a world on the move.

We are living in an era of accelerating crises – of democracy, capitalism, environment, and governance itself – that are reshaping the 21st century global order. In this module you will examine these intersecting crises and their uneven social, political and economic impacts.

Moving beyond traditional political analyses, the module offers an original perspective on the complex interplay of technological disruptions, economic instability, health emergencies and geopolitical shifts. Informed by critical public policy, political economy and sustainability debates, the module explores how different actors, from international institutions to grassroots movements, attempt to contain these crises and how they are transformed by them.

Our understanding of power, security and governance is being reshaped by a world where crisis has become the norm. You will assess competing understandings and responses to ongoing challenges through in-depth case studies of specific crises, critical debates around their nature, and forward-looking research about their possible trajectories.