Politics influences the lives of individuals everywhere, impacting access to wealth, education, employment, housing, healthcare and vital resources within and among nation states. With a longstanding reputation as one of the country's foremost centres for political studies, this course focuses on the institutions, people, power, policies and processes involved in global political relations. Preparing you for a career in politics, diplomacy or foreign affairs, it examines different political systems and their impacts. You'll have opportunities to hear direct from diplomats and development officers, conducting research alongside our leading political scientists, who'll share political theories, discourse and analysis.<br>Better cooperation between nations is key to developing the solutions to some of society's most pressing challenges – peace, security, protection of human rights and fair distribution of goods and resources. The world needs individuals with a desire to make a positive impact, whose understanding of politics and international relations can inform, develop and negotiate the mutually agreed rules, regulations and standards of conduct to achieve them.<br><br>The flexible structure of our suite of MA/MRes Politics and International Relations programmes provides a high degree of focus, enabling you to engage with specific issues and carry out research into subjects of interest and relevance. You can build a tailored, systematic programme of study, choosing from our diverse collection of four different pathways – in Global Security, Politics, US Politics and International Relations – as well as a wide range of module choices. We also offer an MSc in International Diplomacy.<br><br>On this Politics pathway, you can learn more about the nature and role of fundamental political structures in Europe, the most regionally integrated political and economic environment in the world. Alternatively, you may wish to focus on issues of personal interest, environmental concerns like climate change, for example, or the impact of immigration policies on human rights.<br><br>There is an increasing demand in government, non-profits and academia for professionals skilled in politics and international relations – two subject specialisms in which Keele has enjoyed a longstanding reputation for teaching and research excellence.<br><br>International relations has been taught here for over 50 years, founded by Professor Alan James, one of the first chairs of the British International Studies Association. While some of the best known political scientists in the UK and Europe have worked at Keele since the 1950s, including Samuel Finer, Jean Blondel, Hugh Berrington and Jack Hayward.<br><br>Sharing experiences and studying alongside students from all the world, you'll become part of a dynamic academic community, which benefits from small class sizes, strong student-staff relations and expert research supervision. As well as the in-depth research carried out for your dissertation, the action research project allows you to investigate a specific issue or topic of relevance to your chosen pathway. Past students on the Politics pathway have examined the politics of climate activist camps, for example, national identity versus European identity, and who is responsible for homelessness.<br><br>The course is likely to be of interest to a wide range of graduates and professionals interested in pursuing research or professional careers related to development, social policy, governance, diplomacy, advocacy, security and communications.