Introducing you to a diverse range of theoretical perspectives from around the world, this module will analyse how different social theories help us understand the emergence and transformation of our societies.

Through exploring these theories’ historical contexts and contemporary relevance, you will engage with key debates on topics such as capitalism, class, colonialism, globalisation and social reproduction and examine how these issues are theorised across different intellectual traditions.

Encouraging you to think critically about the connections between theories and the contexts in which they develop, you will foster a global and comparative approach to sociological thought.

Through close reading and discussion, you will develop skills in analysing, comparing and applying social theories to contemporary social issues. You will also gain a strong foundation in social theory and the ability to critically engage with the ideas that shape our understanding of the modern world.

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.

Preparing you for independent research, this module will guide you through the process of developing sociological research questions, selecting appropriate methodologies and considering ethical and practical challenges.

You will explore different research designs, from case studies and comparative analysis to trend studies and mixed-method approaches. Through practical workshops, you will refine your ability to justify methodological choices and align them with research aims.

Following on from Research in Action, this module is distinct in its focus on the conceptual and strategic aspects of research design, rather than specific data collection techniques. It will provide you with the necessary skills and confidence to undertake your Independent Research Project at Level 6, ensuring you are well-equipped to conduct original sociological inquiry.

Gain the skills you need to complete independent research in Politics and International 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.

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.

Explore how gender identities and sexualities are constructed, normalised, and navigated in relation to media and popular culture. Drawing on feminist and queer media research, we examine how representations in the media play a role in reinforcing gender binaries and heteronormative social roles and identities, focussing on how media and popular culture have been co-opted as a space of creative resistance.

The module takes an intersectional approach, examining gender and sexuality within complex relations of class, race, ethnicity, dis/ability and age. We examine these questions by engaging with a wide range of spaces and platforms including film, television, fashion, music, public space, and digital and social media.

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.

Global and local political and economic affairs raise complicated philosophical issues. While political theory and philosophy often focus on normative questions – such as the nature of justice, freedom, or legitimacy – this module centres on the epistemological and methodological challenges that underpin our understanding of political and economic life. These challenges are no less important for how we think about contemporary societies and the difficulties they face and are, as you will discover, closely connected to more normative questions.

Concepts such as democracy or autocracy, money, taxation and national debt, power and 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? Is it possible to study them without making assumptions about values?

• They provoke broader considerations: how do large-scale political and economic phenomena relate to individual people and their activities?

Through considering these questions on this module, 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.

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.

Despite widespread beliefs in social progress, racial inequalities and racism persist across the globe. This module equips you with the tools to critically examine race and racism from a sociological perspective, exploring their historical foundations and contemporary manifestations.

You will engage with key theoretical approaches and empirical case studies to understand how racism operates at individual, institutional and structural levels. Topics may include colonialism and imperialism, everyday racism, whiteness and racial capitalism, as well as the politics of resistance and anti-racist movements. The module may also address forms of racism such as Islamophobia, anti-Blackness, misogynoir, anti-Semitism and xenophobia, considering how they intersect with other social inequalities.

By the end of the module, you will have developed a critical understanding of race and racism as central to the organisation of social life and will be equipped to analyse and challenge racial inequalities in various contexts.

Equipping you with essential research skills to explore pressing social questions, this module will dive into how sociologists investigate the world around us.

You will learn a range of methods, from qualitative approaches like interviews, ethnography and discourse analysis to quantitative techniques such as survey analysis and social statistics. Through hands-on exercises, you will develop your ability to collect, analyse and interpret data. The module allows you to deepen your understanding of specific methods while working independently and in groups, supported by expert guidance.

Whether designing a research project, writing a dissertation, or producing policy reports, this module provides the practical foundations and essential research skills needed to conduct rigorous and impactful sociological research.

Explore gender through a transnational and decolonial approach, as this module examines its intersections with race, class, nationality, sexuality, disability, religion and the environment.

You will analyse historical and contemporary examples from around the world, engaging with key debates that shape feminist research and activism. Drawing on diverse feminist perspectives, including Black, Indigenous and queer critiques, the module will challenge you to think critically about complex topics such as:

• Sex work
• Sexual violence
• Islamophobia
• Transgender rights
• Reproductive justice
• Ecofeminism
• Migration

The course also brings these perspectives and positions to bear on what it means design, conduct and reflect the researcher’s positionality in the processes and practices of qualitative research. Through these activities, you will explore how feminist theories connect with lived experiences and shape struggles for social justice.

The future of state-funded welfare is one of the most pressing social questions of our time. This module explores the history, purpose and politics of welfare states, examining what social welfare is, who it is for and how it should be funded and delivered.

You will consider the social and political debates that have shaped social welfare and trace their development over time. Topics covered may include education, health, housing, social security and unemployment. You will explore how welfare systems are funded, managed and organised and analyse the impact of social welfare cuts on poverty and social inequality.

The module also examines the moral and political tensions within welfare debates, such as distinctions between ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’ recipients. Engaging with diverse sources—including academic texts, policy reports, and media—you will develop critical insights into the past, present and future of welfare provision.

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 will allow you to spend the year working in a graduate-level placement role in the industry or sector that interests you most. Throughout the year, you will build an awareness of what is required in the professional workplace whilst developing a range of transferable skills.

During the module you will reflect on and critically analyse: your own career readiness, the ongoing development of your self-awareness in terms of skills and professional knowledge, and your understanding of current workplace practices and professional etiquette.

Our Careers and Placements Team will support you during your placement with online contact and learning resources.

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.

Develop and refine your research question, design an appropriate methodological approach and critically engage with relevant literature, as you conduct an original piece of sociological research on the topic of your choice.

With guidance from an academic supervisor, you will collect and analyse data, interpret your findings, and produce a well-structured research report or dissertation. This project allows you to apply the knowledge and skills you have developed throughout your degree, demonstrating your ability to work independently, think critically and contribute to sociological debates.

It is an essential opportunity to deepen your expertise in an area of personal and academic interest while developing transferable skills in project management, problem-solving and analytical writing.

Take an advanced look at how sociologists use paradigms, theories and concepts, as this module takes a deep dive into every stage of research.

Each week, you will explore a contemporary sociological study to see how key theoretical ideas shape research—from selecting topics and framing questions to choosing methods, interpreting data and influencing change. You will engage with a range of social theories, critically examining how they inform methodological strategies, site selection, sampling and the dissemination of research.

Running in parallel with your Independent Research Project, this module supports you in refining your conceptual approach and applying theoretical insights to your own work. By the end of the module, you will have developed a deeper understanding of the role of theory in sociological research and gained the confidence to use complex sociological ideas to shape and strengthen your own projects.

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.

Current environmental crises demand urgent sociological attention. This module explores key sociological theories and methods for understanding environmental change, justice and sustainability. You will examine how social structures, cultural practices and economic systems shape environmental problems—and how they might be transformed to create more just and sustainable futures.

• Topics may include:
• The changing relationships between humans and animals
• The sociological study of consumption and waste
• The social lives of objects
• How climate change exacerbates inequalities
• How communities respond to environmental disasters like storms and floods

Throughout the module, you will critically engage with real-world cases and develop your own sociological manifesto for environmental change. By the end, you will have the tools to analyse environmental challenges from a sociological perspective and to contribute to debates on sustainability and social transformation.

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?

How are health and illness shaped by society? This module explores sociological perspectives on health, illness and healthcare, focusing on how social structures and inequalities influence health outcomes.

You will engage with key debates on medicalisation, health inequalities, mental health and the politics of healthcare provision, considering how forms of social organisation shape access to care and the experience of illness. The module also examines how health is central to social reproduction—the processes that sustain daily life and future generations—including the role of care work, reproductive labour and biopolitics.

Drawing on contemporary and historical examples, you will critically analyse how power operates in medicine, how bodies are regulated and categorised and how definitions of ‘normal’ and ‘pathological’ are socially constructed. By the end of the module, you will be equipped to analyse health and medicine as deeply embedded in wider social and political contexts.

Migration is a mainstay of public and political debate. This module offers students an opportunity to apply key sociological theories and concepts to the study of migration and to develop the critical and analytical skills needed to understand and evaluate it as a distinctly social phenomenon.

Focusing on the relationships between migration, inequalities and societies today, the module explores sociological understandings of why people migrate, migrant experiences and the impacts of migration on both sending and receiving communities. It explores the strengths and limits of the key theoretical approaches and conceptual frameworks within the sociology of migration including:

• Transnationalism and diaspora
• Coloniality
• Criminalisation and securitisation
• Politicisation
• Bordering and migratisation

Through a range of empirical case studies, it demonstrates what these approaches reveal about inequalities, identity and belonging, migrant networks, rights, racism and harms.

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.