Course description
You will take core courses and options, and write a dissertation.
Core course 1, Politics of West and Central Europe, examines national political systems in west and central Europe from a comparative perspective by looking at: democratic transition; constitutional design and practice; parties and party systems; political leadership; national identity, citizenship and territory; organised interests and the state; politics and the judiciary; the changing role of the state.
Core course 2, The European Union – Integration, Politics and Policy, investigates the dynamics of European integration, European Union politics and policy-making and the reconfiguration of European institutions since the end of the Cold War by looking at: origins of European integration; the development of European institutions; EU policy process and policies; the EU and the member states; the collapse of Communism; building a post-Cold-War architecture; the challenge of enlargement.
The core courses are supplemented by options and completion of a dissertation on an agreed subject. Modules are normally available in:
-British, US and European government and politics
-international relations, international security, and US foreign policy
-politics of globalisation and international political economy
-politics, policy and administration of the EU
-political theory and political sociology
-war, conflict, nationalism, politics and religion
-policy analysis, policy-making processes and comparative public policy
-public management and public sector reform
-research methods.
For MRes students, research methods training forms part of the programme's core elements.
Dissertation. Preparing the dissertation will enable you to acquire an in-depth understanding of a particular topic in politics or sociology, and to develop research skills.