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Politics & International
Relations BA(Hons)
single honours
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
www.kingston.ac.uk/intpoliticsrelations

Politics & International Relations BA(Hons)
single honours
This course will develop your critical
understanding of global political issues. Whether
the focus is at individual, local, national, regional
or global level, similar questions arise concerning
who gets what, when, how, why and where.
Related questions of power, justice, human rights,
order, conflict, legitimacy and accountability are
considered at a theoretical level and in discussions
of real-life events.
Why study politics and
international relations at
Kingston University?
• Our academic staff are all active researchers
and experts in their field, and regularly
participate in major international conferences
and publish their research in a variety of
arenas. Our focus on research-informed
teaching ensures that new insights gained
from our recent research are integrated
into our teaching, providing you with a truly
cutting-edge learning experience.
• You will receive high levels of support and
guidance, and will enjoy direct contact from
our internationally diverse and relatively
young team, all of whom are passionate
about teaching and improving the student
experience, with a particular focus on
innovative approaches to teaching.
• Lectures and seminars are regularly
supplemented with visiting guest
speakers – MPs, MEPs, local government
representatives, thinktank policy specialists,
campaigners and activists. Visiting
speakers provide an excellent opportunity
to learn about the ‘real world’ of politics
and make contacts for future careers.
• Kingston’s location on the outskirts of
London and its excellent transport links into
the City mean that you can study in the
safe, pleasant and less hectic surroundings
of Kingston and Surbiton but can travel into
central London – the centre of political life in
the UK – in just 25 minutes by train. There
is a wide variety of lectures, workshops,
talks and political events held in London
throughout the year, and students are
encouraged to participate in these and
learn beyond the classroom.
• Politics & International Relations students
are supported throughout their studies
with an integrated programme of study
skills development, employability training
and one-to-one academic support from a
personal tutor.
Teaching, assessment and support
This course is taught through a mixture of lectures,
seminars and workshops, and there is a strong
emphasis on debate and discussion throughout.
You will be assessed in a number of different
ways, including portfolios of reflections on your
work, presentations, essays and examinations.
By the end of the degree you will have a welldeveloped
knowledge and understanding of the
subject and be fully equipped with a range of
analytical skills.
Politics and international relations are discursive
subjects and we want you to gain confidence
and understanding in developing and articulating
your own opinions and views. To do this well,
we recommend that you regularly read around
the subject to help provide a solid foundation for
your ideas. As politics and international relations
are often fast moving, with events unfolding on
a day-to-day basis, there is an expectation that
students bring an awareness of current events to
the classroom.
An important feature of your third year at Kingston
is the Advanced Research Project, which draws
together the skills and expertise you will have
developed over your three years with us. This
research project can take the form of a traditional
dissertation, a collaborative piece of policyorientated
research or a study report based on
a work placement. Students are supported by a
supervisor, receive training in research skills and
participate in discussion forums to explore their
developing ideas with colleagues on the course.
Personal Tutor Scheme
All students are allocated a personal tutor in
induction week, with whom they meet on a
weekly basis in the first year. The personal tutor
will subsequently stay with you throughout your
three years of study. Tutors are approachable and
readily available for discussion and consultation
during the academic year. They are there
throughout to provide advice, guidance and
support at all stages of your academic career and
on your future path after university.
Careers and employability
The Politics & International Relations course at
Kingston will enable you to develop your writing,
oral and presentation skills, all of which are in
demand in the modern job market. There is
no one specific career to which our graduates
progress and, by the time you have successfully
completed your degree here, you will be equipped
to seek careers in a diverse array of professions.
Past students have followed careers in law,
politics, the civil service, teaching, finance,
journalism and television research.
Employability is embedded in our curriculum and
key skills will be developed throughout your time
with us. Presentation skills, team working and
project management skills are developed in taught
modules, and you will be encouraged at an early
stage to reflect on your existing experience and
future development needs.
„
Want to know more?
www.kingston.ac.uk/
intpoliticsrelations

What will you study?
This degree takes an interdisciplinary approach, examining politics and international relations
from a wide variety of perspectives. Area studies, cultural politics, international politics, human
rights, political theory, history, economics and political sociology all form important components
of your study. You do not need to have studied politics and international relations before, and
the course is not just for those who want a career in politics-related fields.
Our programme
Studying politics at Kingston offers a radical and
critical questioning of the assumptions upon
which political beliefs are based, whether they are
about the ideal society, the best way to live, or the
correct way in which to think about political reality.
Politics is about who gets what, when, how, why and
where, and raises related questions of power, justice,
human rights, order, conflict, legitimacy, accountability,
obligation, sovereignty, decision-making and
governance. International relations emphasises very
similar concerns, but is centred on regional and global
arenas. It examines global political organisations,
the conflicting and co-operative interaction between
states, intergovernmental organisations and nonstate
actors (such as transnational civil society
groups or transnational corporations).
Studying politics and international relations
together helps to explain the interaction of people,
ideas and institutions from the local to the global,
providing the skills, knowledge and insights
to succeed in a globalised world. This degree
provides the flexibility to study a combination of
political science, international relations and human
rights modules, broadening your understanding
of power, government, conflict and justice from a
variety of different disciplinary perspectives.
Below are examples of just some of the complex
and controversial questions you will encounter
while studying Politics & International Relations.
• Why did 9/11 happen?
• What were the causes of the current global
economic crisis?
• What do we mean by power? Who has it?
• Do elections really change anything?
• Is social inequality natural, or should the state do
something to change it?
• How important is nationalism and what is its
future in a globalised world?
• Is the EU going to replace the nation state?
• Has the United Nations been a success and
what is its future?
• What is happening today in Africa, Latin America
and the Middle East?
• Why is large scale human rights abuse such a
common feature of contemporary armed conflict?
• What is the future of democracy in Europe and
beyond?
Our aim is to help you build the skills and
knowledge to develop your own answers and
responses to these big questions.
Year 1 provides you with the foundation for your
university studies. Taught modules explore the
foundations of political ideas, key concepts and
issues in international relations, the political history
and institutions of the UK, and the key figures
and themes in the development of human rights.
There is also a strong focus on the development
of essential academic skills and approaches to
learning that are necessary for success at university.
Year 2 allows increasing flexibility in your choice
of study topics, and includes a focus on area
studies and the politics of Europe, the Middle
East, Africa, the Balkans and Latin America,
alongside a continued focus on the development
of global human rights mechanisms. You will also
begin to examine theory in more depth, exploring
the conceptions of justice and the thinking tools
that help us to understand contemporary global
politics. During the second year, many students
take the opportunity to study abroad in mainland
Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand.
Year 3 centres on your final-year research project,
which explores a topic of interest in depth. This
may take the form of a traditional dissertation, a
collaborative policy report or a study based on a
work placement. The project culminates with the
presentation of your project at our end-of-year
student conference. You will also choose from a
range of relevant specialist modules, including a
focus on US foreign policy, area studies, the role
of political violence in the international system,
and the ways in which popular culture has
influenced political movements and prompted
change in society.
Kingston Language Scheme (KLS)
KLS enables you to learn a foreign language
alongside your programme of study, completely
free of charge. You can choose to study modules
in Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese,
Mandarin (Chinese) and Spanish, with or without
prior knowledge of the language.
Studying abroad
Subject to availability and academic performance,
you will have the opportunity to spend Year 2 of
your studies abroad while still completing your
degree in three years. Many current students
have studied abroad in Continental Europe,
the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
Studying abroad helps you to become a more
effective, independent learner, and provides the
opportunity for new experiences and insights in
different parts of the world. Our ultimate aim is to
equip you with the knowledge and skills that will
help you participate more effectively as a politically
conscious citizen and make better sense of
developments in our fast-globalising world.
Examples of modules
Examples of the modules currently offered are
shown below. The module list varies from year to
year as the course structure is reviewed and refined.
Year 1 modules
Another World is Possible provides an
introduction to some of the major strands in
radical political thought, in both their historical
and contemporary contexts. It looks at some
of the ideas and ideologies that have emerged
throughout recent history and have sought to
bring about widespread political, social and
economic reform, examining the ideas themselves,
and the ways in which they were seeking a
fundamental change in the existing system. This
module is also aimed at preparing new students
for their time at university, and will provide advice
and training regarding academic skills and
personal development.
Introduction to International Relations provides
an introduction to foundational concepts in the
study of international relations and significant
issues in contemporary international politics
through which these concepts can be understood
and interpreted. It is designed to help you
reconcile the more abstract concepts that frame
the academic study of international relations with
the empirical issues you may be more familiar
with from news media and your day-to-day
engagement with international politics. It is also
designed to provide a foundation for the study
of international relations theory and to help you
develop skills in academic writing, researching and
writing a report for a non-specialist audience.
Introduction to Human Rights outlines the central
themes in the history and evolution of human rights
and introduces theoretical debates within the field.
Through case studies of particular forms of human
rights violations, the module evaluates the political
and legal structures in place to address these
violations. Over the spectrum of international,
regional and local institutions and mechanisms,
this module also explores a range of organisations
working within the field of human rights, and
looks at how they operate and their success. As
an introduction to the subject, this module looks
at the relationship between theory and practice
within the field of human rights, and uncovers the
challenges faced in defending, protecting and
promoting human rights in the 21st century.
The United Kingdom’s Political History and
Institutions provides a comprehensive overview
of the historical background of the UK’s current
political system and its current operation.
The module examines British political history,
institutions, elections, parties and the media. A
key element of the module is to place the UK in
a comparative context, which will help you better
understand the idiosyncrasies of UK politics and
how the way the UK operates differs from and is
similar to other democratic nations.

Year 2 modules
Modern Political Thought offers a critical
introduction to the foundations of modern political
thought. It is organised around an examination of
the work of several major political philosophers
and the concepts associated with their writings.
Beginning with an exploration of the origins of
modern political theory in Machiavelli, it goes on
to look at debates about human nature, the state
and property within social contract theory, and
the development of political thought in the 19th
and 20th centuries by thinkers such as Mill, Marx
and Rawls. Throughout the module, you will be
encouraged both to challenge the arguments
and assumptions of the thinkers studied and to
consider their contemporary relevance.
International Relations and Development
introduces the study of the theories, organisations
and processes of international relations. It will
help you to understand the basis for co-operation
and the prevention in international relations, and
introduces different ways of thinking about and
interpreting global events. You will also examine
the ways in which the global economy functions,
differing approaches to international development
and the reasons for pervasive inequality between
states in the developed and developing worlds.
Area Studies identifies the political debates
concerning selected regions of the world, and will
guide you in evaluating these key debates. You
will be encouraged to take an interdisciplinary
approach, connecting the study of political
processes in their historical context and applying
development studies, international relations or
human rights perspectives. Depending on staff
availability, you will select from a list of available
case studies – Europe, Africa, Latin America, the
Middle East and the Balkans.
Centre for Academic Skills
and Employability (CASE)
CASE offers students from the Faculty of Arts
and Social Sciences one-to-one help with
their studies, supporting both undergraduate
and postgraduate students with:
• researching and presenting;
• structuring and editing traditional academic
writing;
• structuring and editing multimedia texts; and
• referencing.
CASE also provides a range of resources to
enhance employability, including help with
writing CVs, application forms and interview
preparation. Results show that students who
use the centre are significantly more likely to
complete their degrees. As they are better
equipped to act on feedback, they also tend
to do better in their studies.
Securing Human Rights: Contemporary
Themes and Issues introduces the contested
and evolving relationships between the theory and
practice of securing human rights. It starts with
an overview of key frameworks and mechanisms
designed to secure rights at the international,
regional and domestic levels. A central feature
of the module is to introduce a range of critical
themes – forced migration, development,
indigenous people, justice and reconciliation – from
which key issues can be explored using a range of
contemporary and international case studies.
From Slavery to the Holocaust will introduce
you to the controversies and debates over
various forms of extreme violence that have been
committed against groups of people in the modern
world, and their longer-term consequences.
Beginning in 1492 with the development of
modern racism and anti-Semitism, it looks at a
number of cases in both the New and the Old
World. Cases will be selected from: the destruction
of indigenous peoples in the Americas and the
subsequent development of American Slavery; and
the destruction of indigenous peoples in Australia
and Africa in the pursuit of overseas empire and
colony. These will be compared with the global
attempt by an ‘advanced’ modern state in Europe
in the mid-20th century to annihilate a whole race
(the Jews in the Holocaust).
Chinese and Indian Politics aims to explore the
fast-changing domestic politics and international
relations of China and India. As the dominant
position of the USA declines, it is the growing
regional and international influence of China and
India that demands understanding and explanation.
The module will map and explain the political and
economic development of China and India from the
colonial period to the present day. You will evaluate
the realities of political participation and decisionmaking,
examining the weaknesses of India’s
democratic system while highlighting the factionalism
and elite competition in China’s one-party system.
Criminality, Deviance and the State in Early
Modern Britain and Europe provides an
understanding of the cultural and social history of
crime and deviance in Britain and Europe c. 1450
to 1850. Aspects of criminality covered include
historical approaches to the study of homicide and
violence; the relationship between gender and crime,
for example, in attitudes towards prostitution and
infanticide and in the prevalence of domestic crime;
attitudes towards sexual crimes such as rape and
sodomy; and notions of ‘social crime’ within acts
of riot or protest. Aspects of deviancy considered
include women’s adultery and effeminacy in men,
as well as the behaviours and lifestyles that left
many vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft.
Through the use of primary source materials in a
variety of formats (imagery, written documentation,
statistical data, web-based resources), and through
comparison of alternative historiographies, this
module will enhance your analytical skills in history.
Modules continued overleaf...
UN Headquarters, New York

Year 3 modules
Advanced Research Project in Politics and
International Relations will provide you with the
skills and support necessary to embark upon,
complete and present a final-year research
project. The initial focus of the module will be on
small groups of students working to familiarise
themselves with an area of staff research
expertise, under the close supervision of that
subject-matter expert. This will be made possible
through the establishment of a range of staff-led,
research-orientated Politics reading groups, to
which students will sign up. During the first half
of the module, students will also receive training
in project design and implementation, to allow
students to embark upon their own research
project as the year progresses. The studentled
research projects will be presented at the
end of the year in an undergraduate academic
conference: Themes and Issues in Politics,
International Relations and Human Rights.
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
introduces the contested and evolving
relationships between civil and political rights and
that of economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights.
It outlines the development within international,
regional and domestic frameworks on ESC rights,
while also probing controversial issues, such as
that of ‘obligation’, ‘international assistance and
co-operation’ and ‘implementation’. Through
case studies, you will be given the opportunity
to research and evaluate a selection of specific
contemporary rights issues, which might include
labour rights, the global food crisis, rights to water,
and the ESC rights of indigenous peoples.
Starry-Eyed and Laughing: Music, Film and
Politics will investigate films and popular music
that have intersected with ever-changing political,
social and historical circumstances. Film and music
are both influenced by and, ultimately, inseparable
from the social and political context, cultural
traditions and institutional frameworks within
which they are created. As such, understanding
the mindsets, intentions, desires and wants of
individuals involved with making films and crafting
music will form a central element of the module.
Academic frameworks for the examination of
film, popular music and social movements will be
used to tie together events that are separated by
geographic location and historical periods.
Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity
examines some deeply troubling events in recent
history and politics, and the various ethical, legal
and political responses that they have generated.
The module begins with reflections on the Nazi
attempt to eliminate the Jews and to murder
and enslave millions of others. It then considers
a range of responses, including the Nuremberg
trials, the Genocide Convention and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. It concludes with
reflections on how much progress has been made
in protecting citizens in a world of sovereign nation
states, and what forms of justice can work after
such crimes have been committed.
Critical Perspectives on Politics allows you
to undertake detailed, specialised studies of
radical and critical perspectives on traditional
political concepts and themes such as power,
representation, freedom, and political action and
agency. Using a mixture of theoretical, historical
and empirical analysis, you will be encouraged
to question and challenge dominant narratives
concerning political institutions and actors. You will
investigate the relationships between individuals,
the state, corporations and mass political
movements by choosing two of the following
streams (depending on staff availability: Marxist
Political Thought; Gender and Politics; Crimes of
the Powerful; or Issues in Political Philosophy.
Human Rights and Political Violence explores
the interaction between identity, violent conflict
and the abuse of human rights. It provides the
opportunity to consider how protracted conflicts
may be better resolved more effectively and
human rights better protected. The module blends
theoretical discussion of political violence with
an analysis of recent conflicts and the legal and
institutional mechanisms that have emerged to
reduce their detrimental impact on human rights.
Advanced Area Studies will guide you through
different theoretical frameworks for engaging
academically with contested political issues. The
case studies focus on the impact of globalisation,
contemporary (post-1945) social movements
and nationalism in the selected regional areas.
Depending upon staff availability, you may select
from a list of available area case studies: Themes
in Latin American Politics, Contemporary European
Protest Movements, The Politics of Nationalism in
the Middle East, or The Contemporary Balkans.
Globalisation in an Age of US Hegemony
provides a comprehensive overview of the
evolution of today’s world order under conditions
of globalisation and US hegemony (dominance).
We will seek to understand how the emergence
of the United States as a global power and as
the lead capitalist state in the post-war system
has impacted upon the complex processes of
globalisation. The module will examine questions
about how this global balance of power came
about. It will also look at the key features of
globalisation as it has evolved under conditions of
US hegemony, and chart the uneven development
of the liberal economic order since 1945.
„
Want to know more?
www.kingston.ac.uk/
intpoliticsrelations

Teaching team
Our working relationship with our students has
always been strong, and Kingston’s politics and
international relations students are part of a closeknit
and supportive community. Our students are
a diverse group, bringing different perspectives,
experiences and ideas to the study of international
relations and politics.
Our teaching team includes staff from a variety
of disciplines within the School of Economics,
History and Politics.
Dr Orna Almog specialises in international
relations of the Middle East, the history and
politics of the Arab–Israeli conflict, Israeli foreign
policy, conflict resolution, and international
mediation in the Middle East.
Dr Simon Choat specialises in political theory;
in particular, modern European philosophy. He is
especially interested in Marx and Marxism, and
French philosophy since 1960, including Althusser,
Foucault and Derrida.
Dr Radu Cinpoes specialises in the politics of
nationalism and identity. His teaching and research
interests include ethnicity and conflict, European
politics, transition from communism, human rights
and migration.
Dr Paul Dixon specialises in researching conflict.
In particular, he specialises on the Northern Ireland
conflict, theories of conflict management and
counterinsurgency strategy.
Dr Jonathan Gilmore specialises in international
relations and security studies. His recent research
investigated the links between human rights and
violent conflict, with specific reference to the
question of whether military force can or should be
used to protect human rights.
Dr Andrew Higginbottom specialises in Latin
America.
Professor François Nectoux’s research interests
include the French economy, French politics,
French sociocultural studies, European social
policies, European media and cultural policies,
international relations, and international aspects of
the environment.
Dr Hannah Miller lectures in human rights,
international relations and politics. Her research
examines the meaning and protection of human
rights, with a focus on forms of activism.
Dr Robin Pettitt is an expert on political parties
and political marketing.
Dr Sam Raphael specialises in international
security and human rights. His research expertise
covers US foreign policy, terrorism, energy
security, counterinsurgency, the arms trade, and
extraordinary rendition.
Mike Roberts specialises in social movements,
and popular music and political films. His research
interests include black music/black nationalism
and the politics of Bob Dylan.
Dr Robin Redhead researches human rights in
world politics. She is interested in how indigenous
people contest their rights against colonial
powers, and how human rights activists campaign
on behalf of the oppressed.
“Our emphasis on teaching subjects
that are relevant to the world today, and
on producing graduates able to make a
positive contribution to that world, makes
the educational experience on offer in
our Faculty at Kingston unique among
universities in the United Kingdom.”
Professor Martin McQuillan
Dean of Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Entry requirements
Typical offer
• Points: 240 UCAS points
• Units: to include two A-levels or equivalent
• Subjects: General Studies accepted as one of
three A-levels
• Key skills: points not accepted in tariff
• Plus GCSE: Mathematics and English
Language (grade A*–C preferred)
International students
All non-UK applicants must meet our English
language requirements. For this course it is IELTS
of 6.5 overall, with special conditions for students
who require a Tier-4 student visa. Please make
sure you read our full guidance about English
language requirements on the course webpage,
which includes details of other qualifications we’ll
consider. If you do not meet the English language
requirements, you may be eligible to join our presessional
English language course.
Other entry routes
• Access course
• International applicants and mature applicants
with relevant qualifications are welcomed.
UCAS codes
BA(Hons) Politics & International Relations – L245
Open days
Several open days are held each year. Please
contact the admissions office or visit the
University website for more details.
www.kingston.ac.uk/opendays
Contact details
Course enquiries
Modular Admissions Office
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Kingston University
Penrhyn Road
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey KT1 2EE
T: +44 (0)20 8417 2378/2361
F: +44 (0)20 8417 2292
E: fassundergrad-info@kingston.ac.uk
Accommodation
T: +44 (0)20 8417 3829
E: accommodation@kingston.ac.uk
www.kingston.ac.uk/accommodation
Student Funding Service
T: +44 (0)20 8417 3560
www.kingston.ac.uk/studentfunding
Disability and Dyslexia Support Services
T: +44 (0)20 8417 4284/4252
Minicom: +44 (0)20 8417 4447
F: +44 (0)20 8417 4443
www.kingston.ac.uk/disability-and-dyslexia
International Office
T: +44 (0)20 8417 3411
www.kingston.ac.uk/international
HS(13.062)L
T: +44 (0)8448 552 177 E: aps@kingston.ac.uk www.kingston.ac.uk