Political Science

Power shapes politics, but what shapes power in the 21st Century? The Radboud Master's programme in Political Science offers a unique opportunity for highly motivated students to prepare for a rewarding career in leading positions in the public and private sector. Within the Master's Political Science, you have a choice between seven Master's specialisations. Moreover, our Master's programme offers Dual Degree programmes with the American University in Washington, DC and with the University of Glasgow.

Specialisations

Comparative Politics: Democracies and Autocracies. The Comparative Politics Master’s provides new insights into configurations of political power around the world. We study changes in democracy and political representation, modern authoritarianism and populism, and how political parties, citizens and social movements achieve political change.

Conflict, Power and Politics. In this specialisation you will become familiar with the nature of violent conflict in the 21st Century. How can we explain the origins and development of violent conflicts? What are the effects of international interventions in violent conflicts? What are the conditions for an enduring peace?

European Union Politics and Governance | Political Science. How can the effectiveness of EU policy be ensured? How does the EU engage with societal actors, and what effect does this have on the EU's legitimacy? This multidisciplinary Master's equips you with cutting-edge insights from politics and governance to tackle questions like these.

Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Politics. This specialisation introduces you to issues and ongoing debates in the field of gender and diversity studies in organisations and politics. It also offers the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the state of the art in the field.

Global Political Economy. Learn to understand and explain the interrelatedness of global politics and global economics. Uncover the power struggles behind policy choices in the field of trade, finance, climate and investment.

International Relations. Tackling global issues in the 21st century, such as war, human rights, and climate change, requires a deeper understanding of the essential players that shape global politics: states, intergovernmental organisations, media, multinationals, and NGOs.

Political Theory. Political Theory is not just about interpreting or explaining the world, but also about changing it. From climate change to homelessness, great societal challenges require that we make decent and legitimate political choices. But how can we determine that? This specialisation provides you with the tools to evaluate whether and how the exercise of power by political actors and institutions can be justified.