The Politics and International Relations (PIR) department has an international reputation for research, with its academic staff having won numerous teaching, research and advising awards. PIR staff scholarship covers a diverse range of research areas on Scotland, Europe, and the world, and is published in highly-rated journals and books.
The department has a strong tradition of advising, informing and debating policy with key decision-makers at Scottish, UK, European and international levels, and has a notable concentration of political theorists. Research in Politics and International Relations explores the theory, practice, and ethics of politics and governance.
We cover a broad area of expertise, from local politics and policy to global governance, political theory to empirical studies, constructivism to rational choice approaches. Our staff also use a wide range of methods to gather and analyse data for a better understanding of various topics.
Interdisciplinary research focus
Our Politics & International Relations group has close links with cross-disciplinary and internationally recognised research centres.
Major focuses of research include:
- sub-state and supranational dimensions of politics and public policy
- British and territorial politics and the impact of devolution in the UK and elsewhere
- the constitution and governance of the European Union
- international politics, including:
- changing relations
- the new security agenda
- transatlantic relations
- political economy
- migration politics
- feminist foreign policymaking
- global governance
- nationalism, democratic transition, civil society, and institution-building
- health, welfare, environment, competition, migrations and citizenship, and equal opportunities policies
- political theory, especially war ethics, environmental ethics, and theories of freedom
- conflict, peacebuilding, and security
- gender and politics, including:
- feminist approaches to institutionalism, political economy, policymaking and political theory
- women’s movements
- gender-based violence
- intersectionality
Our intellectual community
PhD research in Politics and International Relations at Edinburgh is located in the School of Social and Political Science. The School benefits from the broader University of Edinburgh community of world-class researchers. A flourishing programme of events, seminars, and research groups complements our postgraduate courses and doctoral supervision.
We have a large, vibrant, diverse, and international community of postgraduate students. We direct active research institutes, including:
- Europa Institute
- Centre on Constitutional Change
- Centre for Science, Knowledge and Policy (SKAPE)
- Centre for Security Research (CeSeR)
- Centre for Ethics and Critical Thought (CRITIQUE)
Politics and International Relations postgraduate researchers significantly contribute to our academic community, productivity and acclaim. Our PhD students are involved in a range of initiatives within the University and beyond, including government and non-profit programmes.
Past and current cohorts of postgraduates have actively sought to publish their innovative research, drawn from their PhD studies, related work, and collaborative work with other academics and organisations. Our PhD students also attend workshops and conferences at universities and other events.
Our dedication to students
We are deeply committed to our students at all levels and offer individualised supervision, mentoring, and support at all stages of the doctoral programme. We warmly welcome postgraduate students to participate in our research, our working groups and centres and in the daily life of the department.