Politics and International Relations BA (Hons)

British Politics

Module information coming soon.

Comparative Politics and Institutions

This module aims to highlight and analyse key differences between the political systems and institutions of a variety of regions and time periods. Students will gain insight into how and why the political landscape differs from one case to the next, and begin to apply this knowledge in understanding particular cases.

International Relations and Diplomacy

International Relations is the academic discipline that tries to provide a theoretical and conceptual framework for understanding and analysing international politics. This module will familiarise students with the origins and evolution of the discipline and show how different schools of thought have emerged and how they can help us understand the nature of the international system.

Introduction to Public Management and Leadership

This course aims to provide students with a detailed introduction to public management as practised in different countries. The module is concerned with the key challenges facing public management and public service, including policy learning and development, post bureaucracy in an international context.

Making Public Policy: Local and City Government

The module provides a thorough overview of the challenges faced by public leaders in leading and governing local, central and intermediary government bodies and social institutions.

Revolutions and Rebellions

Module information coming soon.

The Politics and Political Economy of Delivery

Governments must ensure that the people they represent have access to the basic services and amenities required for a reasonable standard of living: water, energy, medicine, education, shelter, transportation etc. How are these amenities to be paid for? By whom, and by what mechanism? How are decisions about key amenities made, and who has the right to make them? This module deals with these crucial issues.

What is Politics?

This module introduces students to the deep and exciting field of politics. Students will engage with a range of political ideologies, theories and problems. The module equips students with the basic concepts and abilities required to study the more specific areas covered by later modules.

Principles and Practice of Communications

(Core)

A comprehensive introduction to the relevant theoretical models and scholars of communications and their practical application to news, journalism, media relations, PR and advertising. This is augmented by a comprehensive programme of practical skills and knowledge that will enable students to fulfil their potential in Higher Education and the workplace.  

20 Credits

Civil Rights Movement in the US

Module information coming soon.

International Organisations

This module provides a comprehensive overview of how international and regional organisations shape and enhance political, economic, security and others forms of cooperation in the contemporary international system. It also examines the main criticisms levelled against them and the arguments for reform.

Making Public Policy: Governance, Design and Delivery

The module provides a thorough overview of the challenges faced by public leaders in creating, designing, authorising and implementing and giving account for policy choices and public initiatives.

Public Management and Leadership

Module information coming soon.

St Mary’s Political Lab Project

Students will undertake a group project (in teams usually of 3 to 6 people drawn from across communications, public management and politics) relating to a public policy problem faced by an external organisation. Typical clients will include include public sector bodies, companies operating in the public management or public policy sector, international organisations, faith based organisations or think tanks and NGOs. The group will have six months to work on an issue defined by the client organisation, investigating and developing a workable solution to the problem.

The Theory and Practice of Diplomacy

Module information coming soon.

The UK and the European Union

This module is concerned with the EU as an agent in global politics, the project of European integration, and the UK’s relationship to Europe, the EU, and the project. Students will gain an understanding of the history of the European Project, theories of integration, the institutions and policymaking powers of the EU, and the role the EU plays on the world stage.

Voice, the Great Orators and Speech Writing

The ability to communicate complex ideas concisely, accurately and persuasively is key to any form of leadership. This module gives students the opportunity to study the fundamentals of speech-writing and presentation, analyse historical and contemporary examples, engage with the theories of dialogue and rhetoric that underlie this form of communication, and put their skills to the test.

Cabinets, Council Leaders and Ministers

Civic leaders like councillors and mayors play an increasingly important role in making and implementing political decisions, especially in Britain and Europe. This module deals with the realities of life in politics: how decisions get made, how policy gets implemented, and how political agents interact.

Counter Radicalisation and Terror

This module will enable students to develop their knowledge of the concepts of terrorism, violent extremism, radicalisation and counter-terrorism practices. It will introduce disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approaches to the study of terrorism and violent extremism from sociology, criminology, law, history and other relevant disciplines.

Delivering through Smart Cities, Technology and Open Data

The integration of advanced technology into public spaces like roads, squares and public buildings provides exciting opportunities to improve the quality of life of the people inhabiting those spaces; but it also has profound political, ethical and psychological implications. Similarly, the widespread availability of powerful computers and high-speed internet access generates an incredibly detailed and informative data set, which can be put to a variety of purposes. This module deals with both the practical details of what this merging of technology and public architecture makes possible, and the theoretical and conceptual background required to analyse and understand the Smart City.

Global Social, Political, and Economic Trends

Module information coming soon.

Human Slavery and Organised Crime

Module information coming soon.

Independent Study Project

Students will engage in an extended research project on a topic of their choice, utilising the skills and subject expertise they have gained through the rest of their course. Student independent research is supported through one-to-one tutorials with a member of staff over a period of months, and writing and editing workshops.

Nations and Nationalism

Although we live in an age of globalisation, nation states and nationalist movements continue to shape our societies and our politics. This means that understanding nationalism is not only of historical importance, but vital to those considering careers in law, politics and government, journalism and the media, since it touches on anyone involved in advocacy, policy and media roles.

Students on this module will examine the nature of nationalism, considering the extent to which it should be considered a ‘modern phenomenon’, the difference between ‘civic’ and ‘ethnic’ nationalism, and the relationship between nationalism and other ideologies.

Historical case studies will then allow students to examine the political consequences of nationalist movements from the French Revolution to the present day, as well as the ways in which nationalism interacts with social class, gender, religion and the state. Although the focus will be primarily on Europe, some non-European material will be considered, especially in relation to decolonisation and the end of empire.

Work Placement

Module information coming soon.