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World Politics (LUC)

How is foreign policy made? Will the continued rise of China be peaceful? How is globalization changing world politics? Is cyber-war replacing ‘real’ war? What explains the rise of terrorism and violent extremism? How can peace be realised in Syria? How to account for recent Russian actions in Crimea and Ukraine? Did the nuclear deal with Iran make the world a safer place? How has the international response to civil wars has changed? If you are interested in questions of this kind, World Politics is the major for you.

In the World Politics major we examine interactions between states and between sates and non-state actors, including multinational corporations, nongovernmental organisations, civil societies, diasporas and armed groups. We start from the assumption that political inter-group conflict is a key driver of these interactions, which can escalate into arm conflicts, or could be managed, resolved and transformed.

Major tracks:

  • International Relations & Diplomacy (core track)

  • Globalisation and Transnational Politics (core track)

  • Peace & Conflict Studies (core track)

  • International History (core track)

  • Gender Studies (co-convened track with HD)

Major requirements:

  • 15 EC: three out of four 100-level Major core track courses, namely Introduction to International Relations & Diplomacy, Introduction to Globalisation and Transnational Politics, Introduction to Peace & Conflict Studies, Birth of the Modern World.

  • 10 EC: two methodology courses, to include Political Research Methods

  • 10 EC: Capstone

  • 45 EC: additional courses in the WP Major, including at least four 300-level courses

  • NOTE: make sure to have at least four courses at the 300-level

Major overview: Link

NOTE: The Majors requirements as listed above apply to all students who start with their Major (i.e. Year 2) in 2018-2019. For the students who first enroll in our programme in 2018-2019 and who will therefore start with their Major (i.e. Year 2) in 2019-2020, the Major requirements will be different. For them, History of Science is no longer a compulsory Year 1 class. The 5ECTS of that course have been moved to the Major, meaning these students will need to complete 85ECTS towards their Major, including the compulsory Major-appropriate Research Design course:

EES: Research Design (EES)
GED: Foundations of Research Design
GPH: Research Design (GPH)
HD: Research Design (HD)
IJ: Research Design (IJ)
WP: Political Research Methods

100-level

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Introduction to Globalization and Transnational Politics 5
Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies 5
Birth of the Modern World 5
Introduction to International Relations & Diplomacy 5
Introduction to Gender Studies 5

200-level

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Gender, Media and Conflict 5
International Security Studies 5
Social Movements in International Perspective 5
Thinking about Politics: Power and Sovereignty 5
Political Research Methods 5
Quantitative Research Methods 5
Qualitative Research Methods 5
Nations and Nationalism 5
Power in World Politics 5
20th Century Diplomatic History 5
Gender & Development 5
Religion in World Politics 5
Studies in War: From the Crimea to the Second World War 5
Foundational Texts in World Politics 5
Conflict and Democracy 5
Historical Methods: Gender, Sexuality, and Activism since the 1960s 5
International and Regional Organisations 5
Theories and Concepts in International Relations 5
Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality 5
European Integration 5
Foreign Policy and Diplomacy 5
Historical Methods: International History in the Twentieth Century 5

300-level

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2
History & Politics of Global Migration 5
History of the Middle East 5
Regional Trends: Contemporary Russian Politics and Security 5
Researching Terrorism and Counterterrorism 5
Feminist Philosophy 5
Regional Trends: The Rise of China 5
Systems Thinking in Peacebuilding, Development and Public Health 5
Public Diplomacy 5
Regional Trends: Political Islam in the Middle East 5
Advanced Quantitative Research Methods 5
Ethics of Contemporary War 5
Global Political Economy 5
Multilateral Institutions 5
Regional Trends: Political Transitions in Africa 5
Regional Trends: The EU and Its Neighbourhood 5
Studies in Conflict: From Algeria to Iraq 5
Diplomacy of International Conflict 5
Genocide Studies 5
Totalitarianism 5
Vulnerability, Gender and the Ethics of Care 5