Political regimes across the globe have undergone far-reaching change over the last quarter-century. The modern world seems once again to be riven by competing ideas and values, for example with the rise of political Islam. New waves of democratization have altered not only the map of Europe but also many of our ideas about how people organise politically. Comparative politics is concerned with the importance of institutional design in shaping the practice of politics, variations in how states use power, and the implications for human well-being. But in an age of globalization, our understanding of the locus of political action has itself come under challenge. We need to rethink our assumptions about the role of the state, the influence of unelected actors, the significance of non-majoritarian institutions, the effects of regional and global institutions on national political life. Our MA in Politics (Comparative Politics) is designed to equip graduates with knowledge and skills to analyse how states and societies link together, and what the scope of politics might be in an increasingly interdependent world.
Students of Comparative Politics need to fulfill the coursework requirements of the Programme as well as submit a dissertation. The taught modules include compulsory courses in quantitative research methods and research design, and theories and methods of comparative research. Optional modules offer a wide range of choices including the regional politics of the Middle East, Africa, and Europe; the politics of development; human rights; and political theory. |