Postgraduate Politics And International Relations 2025-2026

This course lays the foundations for, explores, and critically analyses the main theoretical paradigms and debates in International Relations, and engages with the complexity of debates on concepts in IR. The theoretical topics to be covered include debates on the international system, cooperation, world order, conflict, development, representation and identity. Students will also be introduced to some of the main debates in epistemology and methodology that apply to the discipline.

Introduces students to the key theories and themes in the disciplinary study of International Political Economy. Topics covered include global inequality and wealth distribution; financialization and crisis; precarization of work; global regulation of trade, labour, and money; gender, and the environment in the international political economy.

This is a compulsory element on the MSc International Relations programme.

​The dissertation in IPE enables students to develop in-depth knowledge of a topic of interest. Under close supervision by an expert on the topic selected, students have an opportunity to frame, develop, research and write a substantive and original thesis on a topic of their choosing.

This core module considers the contribution of strategy, as the mechanism for the application of power and force, to national, regional, and international security. It explores what strategy is (the pursuit of continuing advantage) and how to think clearly about it. Topics addressed include the nature of strategy, deterrence, arms control, strategic stability, nuclear policy, and emerging technology and future warfare.

Since the end of the Cold War the world has seen a resurgence of religious movements in the public sphere and, particularly since 9/11, religion has increasingly been viewed in policy debates as an issue of domestic and international security. In the ever increasingly globalized era, religious identifications criss-cross national boundaries and identities posing a dilemma for the established norms of the secular nation-state, political theory and actors. This course will examine some of the emerging theories associated with the rise of political religion, and the potential for conflict and peace that emerge.  Utilizing diverse case studies ranging from religious Zionism, to political Islam to national Hindu movements the course will critique and employ contemporary theoretical frameworks to gain understanding of the current phenomena of religion in the international political domain.

We live in an era of campaign activism, public protest and movement politics. While traditional politicians are maligned, political activism is on the rise, from the signing of online petitions to street rallies and public marches.  This course examines the history of political activism and campaigning with a focus on how protest turns to power. Combining theoretical understanding and empirical investigation, it analyses how and why political activism takes place, and the factors that determine campaign success or failure.  How do individual campaigners, groups and movements mobilise support? How do they effect change? How is the art of political activism and campaigning evolving?

This course explores the origins, theory, manifestations, and practice of diplomacy. This is achieved via a series of lectures, seminars, practical exercises, and simulations. Appropriate focus is also given to diplomatic skills (oral, written, and strategic).  The course provides an understanding of diplomacy and how it functions.  

This course will examine the causes and the effects of the current climate crisis, while placing a critical lens over the solutions being brought forth. We will also examine different framings of climate security and look at the politics upholding the securities of particular actors, spaces, and knowledges over others. Students will attain a critical understanding of the complexities involved in protecting the planet’s climate, and addressing the many challenges on the horizon if we do not.

This course will examine the causes and the effects of the current climate crisis, while placing a critical lens over the solutions being brought forth. We will also examine different framings of climate security and look at the politics upholding the securities of particular actors, spaces, and knowledges over others. Students will attain a critical understanding of the complexities involved in protecting the planet’s climate, and addressing the many challenges on the horizon if we do not.

This course provides an overview of the main frameworks and theories applied to the study of public policy, along with practical examples of their application. It aims to introduce students to the systematic study of public policy, as well as to bring to them a range of empirical cases that illustrate the approaches in the field.

International terrorism and counterterrorism dominate both contemporary scholarly debates in International Relations (IR) and policy discussions. This course examines these debates by focusing, on the one hand, on the (individual and/or structural) causes and different manifestations of terrorism and, on the other hand, on debates on how to respond to terrorism not only effectively but also without violating humanitarian principles and international law. Overall, the course aims to provide students with an overview of current research on international terrorism and counterterrorism in IR and its neighbouring disciplines and to enable them to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of core aspects of the issue. 

The focus of this module is the key approaches, institutions, and contemporary issues in global security relating to the rise of China. Set in the context of broader global security issues, this module offers students an introduction to Chinese security policy and approaches to international relations. It lifts the vale on a very misunderstood, controversial, and increasingly critical feature of global security and world affairs. It will explore debates on China's rise, China's growing involvement in international politics, and global security.

As a global superpower, how the US conducts itself in international affairs is both incredibly visible and has become a standard by which to judge successes and failures in this realm.  By examining the development of US Foreign Policy through specific eras we can begin to judge the impact and effectiveness of their diplomatic practices.

This course investigates issues at the intersection of politics, psychology, and climate change. It aims to develop the knowledge and skills of student to apply a political psychological analysis to global climate politics. It considers factors such as how personality, beliefs, perceptions, emotions, and identity impacts environmental issues.

The course will analyse a political phenomenon which is growing across Europe. It will cover political parties as well as extra-parliamentary movements and online activities. Key concepts such as fascism, racism and populism will be covered, as well as voting patterns, ideologies, campaign strategies and theoretical approaches. The course will be beneficial to future study and work in a wide range of areas and contexts, with relevance to integration, internationalisation and social cohesion.

The Strategic Studies dissertation is a compulsory element of the MSc Strategic Studies, Strategic Studies & International Law and Strategic Studies & Management degree programmes.

The dissertation allows students to study the effectiveness of integrating theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the MSc Politics and Public Policy programme to enhance their abilities to analyse and evaluate public policy. As a compulsory element of the degree, the dissertation seeks to assess the impact of the programme's theoretical frameworks and optional courses on students' capacity to engage critically with public policy issues in diverse contexts.

The project will take the form of a traditional dissertation in that a research question will be set, theory that is relevant to the empirical topic under consideration will be selected and utilised to answer the research question, and an appropriate methodology will be used to answer the research question. There will be a discussion of the evidence and theory discussed and a cogent conclusion reached on the basis of the argument that is developed.