Our students study what orders global politics, and what drives change. They encounter the theories and methods needed to understand the present, as well as imagine the future.
Michael Strange, Programme Coordinator
The master's programme Global Politics aims towards you who are interested in global political issues. You will learn how an increasingly complex world, where the global and the local meet, presents us with new challenges and opportunities. The programme provides you with a solid practical base concerning concepts like justice, peace, security, power, culture and democracy. You will learn how to analyse conflicts, international relations and human rights claims and violations.
This is a multi-disciplinary programme with a core of political science that addresses aspects of international relations, human rights and peace and conflict studies. The focus lays on the transformation of society, especially concerning the relationship between the state and other actors such as international organisations and companies.
Changes in political control, from reduced central control towards a greater degree of network control will also be addressed. You will analyse the growing importance of international norms, such as human rights. The emergence of other conflict patterns than those related to socio-economic resources (such as culture, ideology and religion) is important parts of the courses.
We live in interesting times. Our news tells us that the world is changing rapidly – political and economic institutions once seen as permanent appear increasingly fragile and subject to change. Yet, despite various moments of so-called ‘crisis’ in which change might be expected, we see significant levels of continuity with respect to the underlying policies and actors governing that world.
Is the US losing power? Are the so-called BRICs taking over? What is the future of democracy? Is conflict increasing? And why does neoliberalism remain so resilient despite the financial crisis and ongoing economic instability? Only through developing expertise and forming new knowledge can we begin to understand these questions with the aim of ensuring the world is managed optimally.
This two-year master's programme draws on the one-year master’s in political science, with additional opportunities for an internship, exchange studies or elective courses. This provides you with the opportunity to deepen your knowledge and gain practical experience, as well as the chance to develop relationships and network with people and organisations working with political and global issues.
The programme is thoroughly interdisciplinary and draws on the different strengths from fields within the Department of Global Political Studies, including international relations, peace and conflict studies, human rights, public policy, but also ethnography and philosophy. To gain a deeper understanding of the changes in political science, we consider four key development areas:
The programme should be of interest to individuals committed to a career in which knowledge of our changing world is an evident benefit, with relevance to employers including international agencies, non-governmental organisations, transnational businesses, and local/national administrative agencies.
Here you can find the entry requirements, as well as how the available study places are distributed between applicants in the selection.
For general admissions enquiries please contact the Admissions Office: admissions@mau.se
A Bachelor’s Degree within a social science field, e.g., Political Science, Peace and Conflict Studies, International Relations, Human Rights or a related major field. Equivalent of English 6 from Swedish secondary school.
University credits completed 100%
Originally from the Netherlands, Elina Natobidze-Airiian moved to Sweden to study the master’s programme in political science. After graduating, she moved back to work for the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in the Netherlands. Today she lives in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Originally from the Netherlands, Elina Natobidze-Airiian moved to Sweden to study the master’s programme in political science. After graduating, she moved back to work for the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in the Netherlands. Today she lives in Tbilisi, Georgia.
"After doing some online research, I came across Malmö University and this particular programme, which immediately caught my attention. I liked the fact that it is a multi-disciplinary programme which addresses aspects of international relations, human rights and peace and conflict studies. As the world is more interconnected than ever before, I think it is important to understand how social, economic and political transformations affect local, national, European and global governance. Apart from that, political science graduates can work for a wide range of employers, such as the United Nations, the European Union, multinationals and NGOs."
"I really liked the fact that the programme has a good balance between lectures and seminars unlike many other master’s programmes. In this way, students are encouraged to participate in group discussions and ask the teacher questions. In addition, I appreciated the informal nature of Swedish society where students are free to think creatively and choose how to approach an assignment. I liked that the examination largely relied on doing your own research and academic writing rather than sit-in exams. There was also less emphasis on grades, which made studying less stressful and more enjoyable."
"After completing my bachelor’s programme I worked full-time for approximately a year. This break from studying gave me an opportunity to reflect on my goals. I realized that I really wanted to invest in my future and to pursue my interests in more depth. Also, I believe that having extra qualifications will make you stand out in the job market. Furthermore, it is a great way to build your network and to connect with likeminded people.
"In my opinion, the importance of studying at master’s level depends primarily on your career ambitions and your interests. A master in Political Science is more an in-depth study of the broader topics that are covered in a bachelor’s programme. Personally, I found it very interesting to pursue politics at a more advanced level. In addition, a master in political science has definitely improved my research and writing skills, which are required in many job positions."
"When I first arrived in Malmö, I felt at home right away. The flat landscape, the green areas and the many cycle routes felt pleasantly familiar to my home town in the Netherlands. Apart from that, Malmö is a very diverse and international city and you can easily communicate in English with people. Also, I was surprised by how well-organized, egalitarian and environmentally-conscious Sweden is. In addition, the public transportation works very well and can take you in less than 30 minutes to Copenhagen. Lastly, it is often said that Sweden has a reputation for being an expensive country. However, I believe that it is totally possible to find cheaper options in Malmö as well."
Dr Michael Strange is an Associate Professor in International Relations at the Department of Global Political Studies. He believes the programme — which has an option to do an internship, go on an exchange study, or choose an elective course — will suit students interested in deepening their...
Dr Michael Strange is an Associate Professor in International Relations at the Department of Global Political Studies. He believes the programme — which has an option to do an internship, go on an exchange study, or choose an elective course — will suit students interested in deepening their knowledge in global political issues.
To understand what ‘Political Science: Global Politics’ implies, it helps to consider four key developments we see in our modern world.
First, it is increasingly clear that a number of actors, other than nation-states and the institutions they create (whether international or intergovernmental organisations), impact politics that go beyond the domestic state – that is, transnational or global.
Second, while new information technologies and surveillance legislation mean that the administrative powers of the state have never been stronger, the concept of ‘government’ has become increasingly surpassed by ‘governance’ at the transnational level. Few decisions affecting our lives are taken exclusively within the local national context.
Third, there has been a significant change in how actors, such as NGOs and individuals, challenge existing governance and modes of power. For example, social media has radically changed the transnational political landscape to both enable new forms of protest and contestation, as well as facilitate new political identities.
Fourth, pressing issues such as climate change and terrorism, show that the kinds of problems requiring policy solutions far exceed the confines of any nation-state. That is to say, policy problems are increasingly transnational and therefore require transnational solutions.
The global pandemic seen during 2020 shows these tensions, where we have witnessed both the apparent return of the nation-state as a central political unit, but also its abject failure to protect human welfare, and the desperate need to develop new transnational institutions.
Students must have an interest in these developments, as well as be willing to engage with challenging questions as to how we can better understand our contemporary world.
In addition to the usual demands of a master’s-level course, you can also choose between a one-semester professional internship, exchange studies, or an elective course. That means our students must be able to work independently and have the initiative to make the most of these options.
The programme should be of interest to individuals committed to a career in which knowledge of our changing world is an evident benefit, with relevance to employers including international agencies, non-governmental organisations, transnational businesses, and local or national administrative agencies.
The two-year programme builds upon the one-year programme, but the additional year ensures we can provide a much more ambitious range of learning activities; these include the options of an internship, exchange studies, or an elective course.
A lengthened study programme has the additional benefit of providing a more stable academic community among the students, who are expected to engage fully with the range of extra-curricular activities available at Malmö University.
