BA (Hons) Politics and International Relations with a Year in North America Bachelor's degree at the University of Kent

Tackles big questions What makes political systems tick? How can we understand, assess and make sense of politics? This module introduces you to the empirical study of the key structures, institutions, processes, outcomes and behaviours in political systems. You'll become familiar with the content and shape of political life, and how academic scholars study it. The module also introduces the data, methods and techniques that give you the tools to study politics. You'll learn how to conduct basic

Student favourite What should a democracy look like? Can an unequal society be just? When is it legitimate to resist a government? By introducing you to debates regarding these foundational issues in political theory, this module will help you develop your knowledge of foundational ideas and thinkers. You'll also develop the ability to critically reflect upon, and construct arguments to defend, your own answers to crucial questions about the nature of politics. Lectures introduce these ideas and

With all its complexity and variety, studying Politics and International Relations can appear a little daunting. Students develop the skills and knowledge needed for succeeding in their university studies and beyond. You will learn about the key historical influences upon contemporary political events, such as the origin and development of the State, the beginning and end of Empire, and the nature of world order, develop key skills for academic study and research by exploring these influences an

Why do states behave the way they do? How does state behaviour influence the dynamics of world politics? You're introduced to the answers given to these questions found in the discipline of International Relations (IR). You're given an overview of key theories, concepts and debates in IR through a discussion of topical issues and developments in global politics, with particular focus on the role and status of states as key actors. The IR theories introduced include (but are not necessarily limit

Conversation starter Britain, like many other western democracies, has undergone significant political change in recent years. Traditional institutions have been questioned and challenged, territorial pressures have increased, patterns of citizen participation have changed and voters' electoral choices and patterns of party support have shifted. These changes raise important questions about the nature and effectiveness of Britain's political system and about the nature and role of citizens' enga

Violence is at the heart of war, while peace is often defined as the absence of violence. Students are introduced to these three crucial aspects of international relations and conflict and how they are inter-related. Specifically, you'll be introduced to a) the conceptual distinctions between war and violence and how to define peace and b) the methods and skills needed to study war, violence and peace. You'll use case studies and negotiation simulations to help students engage directly and bette

What does doing politics with words mean? Politics is about power, which is constructed through language and discourse. In this module, we critically interrogate how political actors construct language, the motives behind these discursive constructions and the political realities and possibilities they create. We look at the hidden meanings behind words and language and challenge you to think critically about who is saying them, in what contexts they are being said and for what purposes. You'll

Global institutions and regimes have become increasingly important in a world facing problems that cross borders and require multilateral action. This module examines the institutions, norms, processes, actors, and consequences of global and regional governance across a range of issue areas. It further addresses a number of questions, including the extent to which cooperation is possible and multilateral governance effective, while examining the roles played by states, international organisation

In-demand skills Research methods are – together with theoretical frameworks and empirical material – one of the three main pillars of the study of politics and international relations. This module unlocks the power of data analysis for students from a variety of educational backgrounds - no statistical knowledge is necessary. In our data-driven world, understanding numbers is crucial for political science and international relations. Doing Politics with Numbers teaches you how to sift through t

Explore the politics of the global climate crisis at the international, national and local level. Whether it is global climate change governance, national or local climate adaptation policy making and plans, or individual attitudes and behaviour, we need to understand what motivates actors and how a combination of motivations and structure translate into climate action in various contexts and societies. You'll gain the tools to explain the politics