Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge
The Alison Richard Building, in which the department is located | |
Parent institution | Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science |
---|---|
Affiliation | University of Cambridge |
Head | Jude Browne (2021-) |
Undergraduates | 612 |
Postgraduates | 439 |
Location | , England |
Administrator | Emma King (2021-4) Louisa Bailey (2018-21) Suzanne Frances Adcock (2013-8) |
Website | www |
The Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge (abbreviated POLIS) is the department at the University of Cambridge responsible for research and instruction in political science, international relations and public policy. It is part of the Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science.
History
[edit]POLIS, formed in 2009 by the merger of the former Department of Politics and the Centre for International Studies, is administratively housed at the university's Alison Richard Building on the Sidgwick Site.[1] Its primary predecessor, the Department of Politics, was formed in 2004, prior to which political science had been spread across other departments.
Centres and programmes
[edit]Nine specialised programmes and research centres are housed within the department: the Centre of Governance and Human Rights, the Cambridge Centre for Political Thought, the Centre of Development Studies, the Centre for Geopolitics, the Centre for Gender Studies, the Centre of South Asian Studies, the Centre of Latin American Studies, the Centre of African Studies, the Bennett Institute for Public Policy and YouGov-Cambridge Centre for Public Opinion Research. The department also publishes the Cambridge Review of International Affairs.[2]
Degrees and reputation
[edit]Politics and International Studies are taught at the undergraduate level through either the Human Social and Political Sciences Tripos[3] or the History & Politics Tripos.[4] At the postgraduate level, the department offers nine Masters' programmes including the MPhil in Politics and International Studies,[5] an MPhil in Public Policy,[6] and an MSt in International Relations[7] as well as four PhD programmes including the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Politics and International Studies.[8]
The University of Cambridge is currently ranked top in the UK for politics by both The Guardian[9] and the Complete University Guide [10] The University is also ranked in the top 5 for international relations[11] and public policy.[12]
Incidents and controversies
[edit]Murder of Giulio Regeni[13] In 2016, POLIS PhD student Giulio Regeni was killed while carrying out research in Cairo, Egypt.[14] "On 8 June 2016, the Italian news agency ANSA reported that Regeni's tutors at Cambridge University had declined to collaborate with the inquest into Giulio Regeni's murder,[15] to the disappointment of investigators and Regeni's family. This had been anticipated by coverage in the Italian weekly L'Espresso on 7 June 2016, which reported that Regeni's tutor Maha Abdelrahman had followed advice from University lawyers not to collaborate with the inquest.[16] The University of Cambridge strongly rejected the claims in a statement released to Varsity, the Cambridge student newspaper.[17] Despite commitment on behalf of Cambridge University, as of early December 2017, British authorities had denied requests by the Italian prosecutors concerning the interrogation of specific individuals in Britain; on a similar note, Abdelrahman had refused to speak to the Italian prosecutor.[18] Such British inaction in the aftermath of the incident was later described by Cambridge Member of Parliament and Labour Party politician Daniel Zeichner as "lack of tenacity".[19] Following the controversy that played out in the media, Abdelrahman eventually agreed to be questioned by Italian authorities and received praises from Angelino Alfano, Italy's then Minister of Foreign Affairs, for having chosen to cooperate.[20]"
In 2017, POLIS PhD student Tammy Chen, was one of 18 victims killed in a terror attack in Burkina Faso.[21]
References
[edit]- ^ "Welcome to POLIS". Department of Politics and International Studies. University of Cambridge. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Cambridge Review of International Affairs", Wikipedia, 18 October 2023, retrieved 18 June 2024
- ^ "Human, Social, and Political Sciences - HSPS Tripos, University of Cambridge". Human, Social, and Political Sciences - HSPS Tripos, University of Cambridge.
- ^ "History and Politics BA (Tripos), University of Cambridge". University of Cambridge Faculty of History.
- ^ "MPhil in Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge". Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge.
- ^ "MPhil in Public Policy, University of Cambridge". Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge.
- ^ "MSt in International Relations, University of Cambridge". Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge.
- ^ "PhD in Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge". Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge.
- ^ "Best UK universities for politics – league table 2023". The Guardian: News provider of the year.
- ^ "Politics: SUBJECT LEAGUE TABLE 2025". The Complete University Guide.
- ^ "63 Best universities for International Relations and Diplomacy in the United Kingdom". EduRank. 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Public Policy: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024". QS Top Universities.
- ^ "Murder of Giulio Regeni", Wikipedia, 6 June 2024, retrieved 18 June 2024
- ^ "Giulio Regeni: Cambridge University tribute five years after murder". Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Regeni family disappointed by Cambridge teachers (3)". ANSA. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ ""Caso Regeni, anche la facoltà di Cambridge sceglie di non collaborare alle indagini"". L'Espresso. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ "Exclusive: Cambridge University 'fully committed' to assisting Giulio Regeni investigation". Varsity, TUESDAY 18 JUNE 2024.
- ^ "The Regeni case, La Repubblica responds to Cambridge: Our commitment to find the truth". La Repubblica, 04 DICEMBRE 2017.
- ^ "Vigil held for Giulio Regeni marks four years since his disappearance". Varsity, Sunday January 26, 2020, 10:38am.
- ^ "Giulio Regeni murder: Cambridge tutor agrees to speak to Italian investigators". The Guardian. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ "'Exceptional' Caius PhD student killed in Burkina Faso restaurant attack". Retrieved 6 June 2024.