Politics and International Relations BA Honours

This module gives students the opportunity to understand the dilemmas and challenges of ‘doing politics’ in contemporary political life, encouraging active learning to enable and enact political change. The module foregrounds a series of political challenges facing contemporary political systems across the world – such as inequality, right-wing populism, authoritarianism, militarism, anti-migrant politics, political alienation, democratic crisis, the future of work, and the climate crisis. It focuses on political activism, participation, and campaigning as a way of ‘doing politics’. The module also draws on insights and engagement with local and national organisations to encourage thinking about ways to address these challenges.

The module will support students to develop their professional profile as ‘change-makers’ by enabling students to achieve the bronze level of the Westminster Award by embedding relevant activities within the programme and accredited skilled based assessment.

This module provides an in-depth introduction to the multi-disciplinary field of development studies. It introduces you to key debates in development theory and to the history of development policy and practice. The course encourages you to think critically about what development is, about how it is carried out and what it can achieve. You'll explore the ‘grand’ development theories and approaches such as modernisation, dependency, neo-liberalism and alternatives.

The module gives you the opportunity to consider the role of these approaches in assisting or hindering progress in a globalised world, whether in terms of distribution of wealth, political change or human rights; and further to assess the relevance of various development policies to the everyday lives of people living in the global south. Finally, the module covers a range of topics relating to various aspects of sustainable development: it explores and questions development concepts and policies, highlighting the shortcomings that have resulted in a rethinking and an evolution towards sustainable development; it focuses on the difference between growth and development; it covers topics including poverty, inequality, peace, justice and strong institutions.

This module introduces you to both the issues and phenomena covered by International Relations and the concepts, tools and skills needed to study contemporary global politics. The module examines core concepts of international relations (International Society, Sovereignty, Anarchy, Power, the State, and Legitimacy) as well as addressing enduring problems in global politics (war, co-operation, capitalism, hierarchies of power and privilege, justice and human rights). The module also considers the post-Cold War context and evaluates narratives of the rise and fall of a liberal world order.

The module presents you with an immersive introduction to the dynamic fields of international relations and law, elucidating how legal principles and international relations theories collectively shape today's global order. It delves deeply into the foundational principles, methodologies, and practical applications inherent in both disciplines, empowering you to understand the intricate ties between domestic legal systems and the global arena. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, you'll investigate foundational theories of justice and their alignment with international relations concepts. The module further delves into the historical evolution of the international system, emphasising the important role played by legal regimes and international treaties.

In politics, the most used concepts (such as freedom, equality, power, democracy) are the most contested. Hence, the very meaning of political concepts is the subject of political dispute. What, for example does it mean to be equal? What does it mean to be free? What role, if any, does the state have in judging these ideals or in helping us to achieve them? In Political Ideas in Action, you explore a range of possible answers to these questions as given by political thinkers and actors today and in the past. In doing so, the module facilitates the development of your critical thinking skills and judgement. The module demonstrates and teaches methods of constructing political and academic arguments through an examination of the historical foundations of liberal democracy, the competing ideologies that operate within and sometimes against it, and the ways in which political power is allocated, won and lost.

This module introduces students to the inter-related dynamics of state, politics and development in Asia and Africa and its significance towards addressing global challenges- from peace and sustainability; to migration, gender and digitalisation. Students will engage with the concepts of democracy and development, and how together they define the past, present and future socio-political trajectories of Asia and Africa in a globalised world order. The module will be taught by a team of scholars who have the expertise in both the academic and practise aspects of development and state-building in Asia and Africa. The teaching will take the form of weekly workshops, which includes lecture, seminars and group activities. Where possible, students will also visit the British Museum to explore how Asia and Africa are curated in colonial and postcolonial geopolitics. At the end of this module, students will be aware of the contested nature of the concepts of democracy and development and will be able to illustrate these by drawing on case studies from Asia and Africa.

The module introduces students to feminist political thought. It explores key concepts, theories, and debates within this field and examines the contributions of feminist thinkers and activists. Further, the module seeks to interrogate representations of women and femininity across diverse intellectual and cultural domains. Students will develop skills in evaluating the political significance of cultural artifacts, and conduct independent research on selected figures or issues within the field.

This module introduces students to institutions and governance at the local and global level. It begins with a focus on the nation-state as the foundational unit of political organisation. Students will explore and compare political systems and institutional arrangements across different states, including unitary and federal systems, and examine the evolving role of local and regional governance. Building on this foundation, the module then expands to consider governance across scales, from national to supranational and global levels. It introduces key global governance organisations and frameworks, prompting critical reflection on how power is distributed and exercised in the international system. Students will analyse how the global power structure - shaped by institutions, rules, norms, and regimes - affects the capacity of states to defend their sovereignty and pursue their interests. The module employs the comparative method to examine how different states navigate these constraints and opportunities, and assesses the implications for global order and governance in the 21st century.

The political importance of migration has increased sharply in recent decades. The module – which focuses on Europe but has a strong comparative global element – studies the entire migration process and the many factors shaping it: domestic pressures (social, economic, political) in sending states; globalization processes; the policies of host states and regions; the active role of migrants themselves. The module also evaluates the main theories used in migration scholarship.

The module will offer students an in-depth engagement with postcolonial perspectives to the study of changes in global politics at local, national, regional, and international levels. How have various thinkers and leaders from different parts of the world sought to question the eurocentrism of the dominant theories and concepts in Politics and in International Relations? What are the various ways in which we can understand the pluralist, asymmetrical and inconsistent experiences of different cultures, societies, and polities in contemporary post-colonial times? What does postcolonial politics actually imply? Key concepts and issues of politics and IR will be examined from different critical perspectives while highlighting the structuring role of ideas and practices of imperialism, colonialism, orientalism and decolonial resistance. The module begins with a conceptual overview of colonialism and coloniality before turning to a critical survey of regions within the ‘post-colonial’ world, highlighting how politics reflects continuities and discontinuities of colonialism. The module offers a critical appraisal of global multipolarity and the centrality of colonial legacies in shaping a changing world.

This module provides an introduction to political research and practice within the social sciences and work-based learning. The module covers how to identify a suitable research topic and question, completing a literature search and identifying primary and critical sources. It introduces you to different approaches and methods of research, developing attributes of curiosity, creativity and resilience vital to successful careers in and beyond academia. The module prepares you for the academic dissertation and, through the application of different practices of research and work-based learning, equips you for further academic study and employment in highly skilled professional management positions.

Practices of inclusion and exclusion are increasingly put at the centre of politics, affecting the way we approach sovereignty, participation, democracy, and liberalism. The module unpacks the methodological issues that such practices ingrain, engaging with broader debates about borders, antagonisms and affected communities. It draws on a range of contemporary cases (from the rise of the far right to sexual politics in the Trumpocene, race, and the criminalisation of citizenship) to identify and map the forms, conditions and legal contexts that determine whose voice will be heard and whose will not. Throughout the module, special attention is given to discourse analysis and strategies for socio-political reform.

Through the study of a selection of classical texts and exploration of contemporary approaches to the study of politics and international relations, this module offers you the chance to enrich your disciplinary knowledge and understanding. By exploring the points of contact and departure between political thought and theories of international relations you'll gain an understanding of the diversity of theory and its role as a key source of innovation.

This module explores the key institutions, actors, and processes shaping contemporary British politics. Focusing on current issues – from inequality to constitutional reform, devolution, populism, Brexit, and the crisis of the Westminster model – it prepares students to critically analyse the evolving political landscape of the UK. Where possible, the module may include organised visits to important political sites – such as Parliament, party headquarters, or media organisations like the BBC – supporting authentic assessments like podcasts and research grant proposals to foster active engagement with the challenges facing British democracy today.

In this module students examine political, societal, cultural and economic beliefs and practices at both the domestic and international levels through the lenses of gender, sexuality, and intersectionality, and through feminist critique. The module brings into sharp focus the problems of discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion based on gender and sexuality. Knowledge of gender relations is used to deepen student understanding of wider political, cultural, economic and social processes, practices, and power relations at national and international levels.

International Political Economy (IPE) is the study of political and economic interaction, involving a multiplicity of actors, across borders in world affairs. It looks at global political economy through a set of concepts, issues and examples. The module offers a critical overview of major perspectives in political economy and employs them to evaluate policies, institutions (nationally and internationally) and the realities around us. The module addresses inequalities between nations and among people and calls into question the sustainability of contemporary patterns of economic development.

This module introduces the study of concepts and practices of global security. It will encourage you to think beyond the traditional divide between international and domestic politics by considering global security as it plays out along a continuum of global and local spaces. Far from being exclusive to sovereign states, security concerns and aspirations have become global just as the practices of humanitarian intervention they inspire. At the same time, today more than ever, these are sustained by local practices and reflected in the very fabric of our everyday experience. The module will thus look at contemporary security at the level of the international, the global and the local.

This module offers a thematic introduction to governance practices in European countries and  the European Union (EU). It covers constitutional and institutional resources of governance in  a multi-level Europe and explores the executive, legislative and judiciary powers; elections and  electoral behaviour; interest representation, and new governance challenges. The module is  placed in a contemporary context and developments of topical relevance are explored, including  EU enlargement, the rise of populism, economic governance; and relations between Europe  and the wider world.

“Humanitarian intervention” is an issue of unique importance which continues to be one of the dominant controversies of our time. Key events in the post-Cold War era, from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda to the 2011 intervention in Libya, have generated often highly divisive debate regarding the right and responsibility of the international community to “save strangers”. This module will examine the history of humanitarian intervention, its moral and philosophical basis and the primary sources of contestation such as its legal status, the question of legitimate authority, and the balance between order and justice.

This module focuses on the thinking, concepts and methodologies that influence development practice in the 21st century, and particularly following the global financial crisis in 2008. In doing so, you will examine the ideologies and global institutions that shape political economies in the global south and elsewhere, including the politics of growth and aid. You'll analyse the ways in which countries and regions are incorporated into the world economy, how this has affected their economies, politics and society, and how they respond to these influences. You'll also assess past and current prospects of industrialisation, manufacturing and agriculture, with a particular focus on political ecology and the politics of food, labour and natural resources.

The dissertation module provides you with an opportunity to apply the empirical and theoretical knowledge, understanding and study skills you have acquired in your studies to a topic of your choosing in the fields of Politics, International Relations, or Development studies. You'll conduct research independently over two semesters, under the guidance of an academic supervisor, and write one literature review, followed by a 10,000-word dissertation.

This module considers the international dimensions of ethics and how these can be understood through contemporary developments in global politics. It examines how ethical judgements are critical to our understanding of international politics and considers the ways in which ethical frameworks involve important questions of political judgement at the local, national and global level. The emphasis is on the practical dimensions of ethical judgement in international relations, including questions of political violence, terrorism, climate change and international environmental politics, war and peace, LGBT politics, gender violence, globalisation and global inequality. You'll work both individually and collaboratively in examining the tensions between ‘order’ and ‘justice’ within the global space(s) of world politics.

The module offers an overview of policy processes from agenda setting, through implementation to evaluation. Informed by a wide range of theoretical and conceptual approaches to governance and policymaking (eg positivist versus post-positivist perspectives, new institutionalism, public choice theory, elitism, pluralism, Marxism etc.), the module focuses on the challenges of policymaking in a real-world setting, largely in the UK and European Union. The module draws on a range of policy areas including social, environmental, security and development policy. (The selection may vary from year to year according to contemporary relevance and the availability of study material. Together, you'll illustrate the parameters of and tensions involved in every stage of the policy process.) You will specialise and complete the module assessments in one of these areas. The module incorporates professional skills training in policy research, which will be particularly useful for students interested in policy-related work in governmental, non-governmental and private sector organisations.

This module seeks to explain the formulation and implementation of US foreign policy. The module examines and applies a range of relevant traditional as well as critical approaches, such as institutionalism, realism, strategic-relational approach and discourse analysis, to the analysis of US foreign policy and policy-making in order to throw light on the role of the United States in international affairs.

This module equips students with advanced conceptual and analytical skills to critically envisage multiple possibilities for development futures. Building on Year 1 and Year 2 foundations in development theory—including critical and political economy perspectives—it introduces contemporary “blue-sky” approaches essential for strategic thinking about global, planetary, and just futures. Students will engage with key theoretical frameworks shaping futures thinking, such as: Post Development and Pluriverse, Planetary Social Thought, Degrowth and Decolonisation, Critical AI.The module adopts an innovative format: 7 weekly sessions combining film screenings with seminar discussions. Films will serve as both representations and constructions of utopian and dystopian imaginaries, enabling students to interrogate their meta-narratives and connect them to theoretical debates in development futures.

The module examines continuity and change in foreign policy making and diplomatic theory and practice in a world characterised by simultaneous processes of integration and fragmentation. It evaluates state and non -state actor external policies and assesses the diplomatic strategies and negotiation techniques you employ. The module focuses on agency: the formulation of foreign policy and the adoption and employment of diplomatic tools and instruments and negotiation techniques in pursuit of security, prosperity, environmental and humanitarian objectives. It considers the possibility of a sustainable diplomacy and foreign policy.

This module introduces students to new ways of thinking about and practising governance in an age of crisis. We address new problems: the Polycrisis; the Anthropocene; risk and complexity. We study new approaches: adaptation; displacement and disavowal; and modes of ungoverning. We engage with new practices: of disaster response; climate governance; and post-conflict governance.

This module concentrates on the politics of development in the Middle East, investigating the extent to which this region has been structured by international and global political economy as opposed to domestic factors. The module examines significant debates and issues in state formation, political regimes, economy and society, particularly considering the legacies of imperialism and the impacts of neoliberalism on the regional dynamics of development. It investigates the politics of critical national resources such as oil and their implications for the state, economy and society. We will look at the main political forms and forces, including the authoritarian 'rentier' state, pressures for democratisation and liberalisation, and the rise of political Islam. The final part of the module focuses on conflict, intervention, and popular struggle, reflecting on perspectives on future development in the region.

This module critically examines contemporary security practices in the aftermath of the Global War on Terror. It explores how states manage threats through secrecy, surveillance, and exceptional measures, and considers the implications for civil liberties, democratic accountability, and global power relations. Through case studies on practices such as targeted killings and torture, black sites and secret detention, and mass surveillance, students will interrogate the evolving landscape of security governance in a post-9/11 world.

Social and political movements – the main, even only, way that many people ‘do’ politics – are established features of contemporary societies. You bring new ideas into public discourse and challenge the practices of governments and states. The module analyses a representative sample of contemporary movements, in the developed world and in other regions; studies the wide range of factors, national and transnational, shaping movement birth, development and decline; and evaluates the main theories used in social movement scholarship.