International Relations, War Studies & Politics

What is War Studies?

It has become something of a truism to say that war is as old as humanity itself, but such observations do not really help us to understand the causes, impact and outcomes of war and conflict. War Studies is multi-disciplinary subject which draws from history, politics, international relations and philosophy and helps us to understand and question the world we live in.  During the degree we will consider war and conflict in historical and contemporary contexts.  We examine both the immediate impact of the ‘bombs, bullets and battles’ of violent conflict as well as wider questions regarding why they occur, whether they are ‘just’, how they may end and the impact they have on states, societies and individuals. 

Why Study War Studies?

War Studies’ students engage in key debates on fundamental questions of how societies are organised and interact.   The subject enables students to evaluate the strategic, ethical and philosophical uses of war in both historical and contemporary settings.  In addition to subject-specific knowledge, the multi-disciplinary nature of War Studies helps students develop key transferable skills. The subject encourages intellectual curiosity and independent thought; honing students’ analytical and communication abilities.  The necessity to find, evaluate and use evidence to construct arguments and advocate positions develops skills that serve our graduates well in future careers or further study. 

What is Politics?

Politics is about parliament and parties but it is also about much more. It’s about power and its distribution – whether at the local, national, regional, or global level – and it’s about conflict and how to resolve it. You will explore these issues through examples and case studies drawn from contemporary political practice across the world. You will study not only states, but also major global institutions such as the United Nations in their role as political actors.

Why Study Politics?

Studying politics also challenges you to analyse and understand the major political and sociological traditions through which we make sense of the modern world. Here at Wolverhampton you will study the dominant schools and traditions in political theory, and the principal ideologies shaping the contemporary political landscape, and you will be encouraged to think about how these help us understand the practice of politics.

What is International Relations?

Why study International relations?