Modern Political Culture: Ideas and Discourses in Context

The MA in Arts and Culture specialisation in Modern Political Culture explores key problems in contemporary politics within their broader cultural and social contexts. We are living through an era that has shattered many certainties about political cultures: new movements have emerged; Western democracy is challenged by socio-political forces; the environmental question is ever-present; awareness of social inequality has grown; and armed conflict is a reality in many parts of the world, such as Ukraine and the Middle East.

This programme equips you with analytical tools to understand this complex present and its contested origins. Courses focus on pressing political challenges: tensions in democratic governance; national identity construction and representation; political violence origins and legacies; post-colonial issues; and cultural responses to inequality.

This specialisation is for those unsatisfied with easy answers, eager to tackle complex subjects, and wanting an academic toolkit to think critically about contemporary issues. You will approach politics interdisciplinary, using methods from history, political philosophy, cultural studies, and political science, and be trained in advanced research and writing skills. The programme includes opportunities for internships and culminates in an original thesis on a chosen topic, supervised by an expert.