Politics

BA Politics at Royal Holloway invites you to explore the ideas and ideologies, as well as the processes, institutions and issues that are fundamental to understanding the politics of our times.

You will gain a solid foundation in politics and political theory, studying subjects such as democracy and democratisation, elections, power, migration, ethnicity and human rights. As you progress through the degree, the flexible nature of the course allows you to specialise in fields such as European integration, democratic theory, British and American politics, political communication and young people’s politics.

The study of politics is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, drawing on insights from economics, history, philosophy and sociology. You will develop your understanding of power relations at all levels of social life and gain insight into the role of identity, ideology, interests and institutions in shaping the modern world.

We examine and compare governments, party politics, political behaviour and citizen movements in countries throughout the world. We will introduce you to the growing impact of the internet and new forms of social media that are changing how politics are conducted in the UK, Europe, North America and elsewhere.

The Department of Politics and International Relations has a strong commitment to high-quality, cutting-edge research, all of which informs our teaching. We are a research community that applies various theories and methods to the study of domestic, transnational, regional and global politics. We have expertise in African, British, Chinese, European, Middle East, North American and South Asian politics, and our research covers areas such as security, democratisation, youth politics, international diplomacy and political communication, as well as contemporary and radical theories of democracy and power.

Examine governments, party politics and political behaviour throughout the world.

Work with experts who have advised governments and international organisations.

Active student societies that field Model UN teams, visit London embassies, and bring ambassadors, NGO officials, and others on to campus to speak.

The flexibility to specialise in what interests you.

Research placement opportunities with political parties and organisations.

Course Modules

Core Modules

Year 1

• Introduction to Politics and Government

• Introduction to International Relations

• Classic and Contemporary Readings in Politics and International Relations

• Researching Politics and International Relations: Methods, Techniques and Analysis

Year 2

• Researching Politics and International Relations: Analysis, Design and Practice

• Contemporary Political Theory

Year 3

• Politics and/or International Relations Dissertation

Optional Modules

Below is a taster of some of the exciting optional modules that students on the course could choose from during this academic year. Please be aware these do change over time, and optional modules may be withdrawn or new ones added.

Year 1

• All modules are core

Year 2

• Democracy in Britain

• Contemporary Political Theory

• Modern Political Thought

• Introduction to Political Communication

• International Political Economy

• War and Security in World Politics

• Government and Politics of the United States

• Politics Outside the West

Year 3

• European Union Public Policy

• Politics in Action: The Politics and International Relations Experience Placement

• Radical Political Theory I: Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche

• The Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe

• US Foreign Policy - History

• The Politics of Africa

• Political Theories of Freedom

• Politics of the Law and Rights

• Comparative Political Leadership

• Military Change in the 21st Century

• Young People's Politics

• Leadership, Power and the British Prime Ministership

• American Political Development

• Global Health Policy

• Politics of South Asia

• Social Diversity and Political Representation

• Parliamentary Studies

• Freedom of Expression: Concepts and Controversies

• Latin American Politics

• Defence and Security Governance

• The Political Economy of Racial Injustice

• Narrative in World Politics

• Radical Political Theory II: Critical Theory and Poststructuralism

• Why and How People Vote

• Identity, Emotions and Trauma in International Politics

• Ethnic Politics and Ethnic Conflict

• Global Environmental Politics

• Issues in Democratic Theory

• Gender and Nationalism in the Middle East and South Asia

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/politics-and-international-relations/politics/

The course has a modular structure: you will take 12 course units altogether at the rate of four per year. Some course units are compulsory while others are elective thereby offering flexibility and choice.

Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and end-of-year examination in varying proportions, depending on the course units you choose to take. The first year is foundational and marks do not count towards your final degree. The second year and final year marks do count, with more importance attached to the final year marks in order to reward progress and achievement.