International Security and Global Governance (MSc) - 2013/2014 entry

Notions of international security and their relationship to structures of global governance are being redefined in response to a huge – and sometimes contradictory – array of forces in world politics. The spread of terrorism, threats to economic security, wars over natural resources, nuclear proliferation – these and other highly contested phenomena have prompted a re-evaluation of how societies can best adapt to conflict and uncertainty, both across and within national boundaries.

Core modules will examine the changing nature of war, violence and security, and their relationship with state and society. They provide a historical understanding of the evolution of global military, political and economic forces and the ideas that shaped them. You will develop the capacity to analyse political debates and issues in a critical manner, while improving teamwork and both written and oral communication skills.

Find out more about studying at Birkbeck's Department of Politics.

• Provides the analytical tools required to examine security issues in their broad context, linked to research on security, governance and international relations.
• A good foundation for undertaking a PhD/MPhil related to international security and governance in the social sciences.
• Ideal if you are planning a career in international organisations, policy research, journalism, economic and political forecasting or private sector management.

You will take core and option modules, and will write a dissertation.

Core modules:

• International Security and Global Governance: provides a grounding in the evolution of notions of international security and its governance
• War, Politics and Society: focuses on the relationship between warfare, the military and the state.

Option modules are normally available in:

• British, US and European government and politics
• international relations, international security, and US foreign policy
• politics of globalisation and international political economy
• politics, policy and administration of the EU
• political theory and political sociology
• war, conflict, nationalism, politics and religion
• policy analysis, policy-making processes and comparative public policy
• public management and public sector reform
• research methods.

Birkbeck Library has an extensive teaching collection of books and journals in politics and sociology. It also has an impressive range of electronic resources, including bibliographic databases and over 17,000 electronic journals. Most of these resources can be accessed online 24-hours a day. It is worth spending some time on the library website to familiarise yourself with its collections and services.

Students can also take advantage of the rich research collections nearby, including those of the Senate House Library, the British Library of Political and Economic Science (LSE Library) and the British Library. 

The Department of Politics organises a lively programme of seminars and conferences.

Find out more about our learning resources and student support.

If you are interested in further research, we offer a PhD/MPhil in Politics/Sociology.

Graduates go on to careers in local and national government, the diplomatic service, policy work, the voluntary sector, and as researchers or journalists.

• Applications from January.
• UK-based candidates satisfying entry requirements interviewed March–September.