Geopolitics and International Affairs (Taught)

10th in the UK for Political Sciences (Shanghai Ranking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025)

12th in the UK for Social Sciences (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025)

In today’s world intense and increasing Great Power tensions, there’s a renewed interest in geopolitical narratives. How do the new geopolitics of an emerging multipolar world order shape up? What does the return to Great Power politics look like?

On this MA, you’ll learn about:

• the rise of the new Great Powers, particularly China

• the re-emergence of Russia as an actor challenging a Western-dominated liberal order in the context of the current Ukrainian crisis

• the debate over American grand strategy and decline, and the shift to economic power away from the West

• the challenges to British foreign policy in a post-Brexit world.

Set in different geographical contexts, you’ll also explore a range of security issues. You’ll gain an advanced understanding of security topics and the new security challenges that have emerged.

You’ll be based in the School of Global Studies. We bring together Anthropology, Development Studies, Geography and International Relations. Your teaching is underpinned by the distinctive programme of events and interdisciplinary research strength in our School. We host the:

• Sussex Centre for Global Insecurities Research

• Centre for Advanced International Theory

• Centre for Global Political Economy.

You’ll learn with students from across the globe, from various academic disciplines and with a wide variety of professional expertise. You’ll benefit from our strong working relationships with alumni, collaborators and partner organisations around the world. Studying in such an interdisciplinary and intercultural environment is great preparation for your future work environment. When you graduate, you’ll have the expertise and cultural background required in many jobs today.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.