IR227: Politics of Change: Governing Social Transformation

How do societies navigate transformational change? From the Industrial Revolution to the climate crisis, from welfare state expansion to AI governance, this course examines how governments and institutions manage large-scale societal transitions.

Through rigorous analysis of policy theories, historical transitions, and contemporary challenges, you'll develop sophisticated frameworks for understanding and governing complex change. The course bridges academic theory with real-world application, equipping you with analytical tools used by policymakers, consultants, and researchers worldwide.

The course unfolds in three integrated parts:

1. Theoretical Foundations: Master essential policy frameworks including path dependency, critical junctures, the Multiple Streams Framework, and policy feedback mechanisms. Learn how ideas, institutions, and power can interact to foster social change.
2. Historical Lessons: Analyse major transitions – industrialisation, welfare state development, environmental governance successes, and the digital revolution. Discover patterns in how societies have managed disruption and built new institutional arrangements.
3. Contemporary Challenges: Apply your knowledge to today's pressing transitions. Examine climate governance (mitigation and just transitions), AI regulation, the impact of automation on the labour market, and the "polycrisis" of intersecting transformations.

You'll engage with cutting-edge academic literature while developing practical skills in policy analysis, institutional assessment, and strategic governance design. Through comparative case studies and synthesis exercises, you'll learn to navigate the politics of change – identifying windows of opportunity, building coalitions, and designing feasible transition pathways.

This course is eligible for the Academic Director’s Scholarship in 2026. For further information and how to apply for the scholarship, please visit our scholarship page.

Prerequisites: Students should have completed at least one introductory course in political science, international relations, public policy, social policy, sociology, economics, history, or cognate discipline. A general understanding of basic social science concepts and analytical methods is expected. 

Level: 200 level. Read more information on levels in our FAQs

Fees: Please see Fees and payments

Lectures: 36 hours

Classes: 18 hours

Assessment: A mid-term essay of 1,500 words (25%) and a final exam (75%)

Typical credit: 3-4 credits (US) 7.5 ECTS points (EU)

Please note: Assessment is optional but may be required for credit by your home institution. Your home institution will be able to advise how you can meet their credit requirements. For more information on exams and credit, read Teaching and assessment

This course suits students and professionals seeking frameworks to understand transformational change. Ideal for those pursuing careers in government agencies, international organisations, think tanks, consulting firms, NGOs, or policy research. Particularly valuable for those working on climate policy, technology governance, sustainability transitions, or institutional reform who need systematic approaches beyond technical expertise.

By completing this course, students will:

• Develop skills to use policy frameworks to assess when and how transformational change can occur
• Evaluate historical transitions to extract lessons for contemporary governance challenges
• Design evidence-based strategies for managing climate, AI, and intersecting societal transformations
• Identify critical junctures, coalition dynamics, and institutional constraints shaping policy outcomes
• Develop integrated policy recommendations balancing speed, equity, and political feasibility

The design of this course is guided by LSE faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.