Comparative politics is the comparative study of political systems. In the MSc Comparative Politics we look for sophisticated analytical answers to such basic political questions as:
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Why are some countries democratic while others are not?
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Why are some countries torn by ethnic conflict?
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Do constitutions matter?
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What is the impact of global capitalism on state sovereignty?
Addressing these and similar questions, the programme offers courses in the fields of democracy and democratisation, nationalism and ethnicity, comparative political economy and political institutions, popular politics and politics of the developing world as well as a wide range of country and area specific options. The latter include Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, India, China and South-East Asia. Our programme is methodologically eclectic yet rigorous, with an emphasis on historical approaches.
While the size and diversity of the comparative politics program leaves students a large range of courses to build their own intellectual profile, there is a shared commitment to a comparative, disciplinary perspective and methodological rigour that distinguishes a Comparative Politics degree from narrower “area studies” programs.
Comparative Politics prepares its graduates for careers in areas like international diplomacy, journalism, development, the public sector, as well as further research.
Find out more about MSc Comparative Politics.