Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge
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.
 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 |
History
editPOLIS, 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
editEleven specialised programmes and research centres are housed within the department: the European Centre at POLIS, the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, the YouGov-Cambridge Centre for Public Opinion Research, 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, and the Centre of African Studies. The department also publishes the Cambridge Review of International Affairs.[2]
Degrees and reputation
editPolitics 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 department prioritizes teaching over research performance, ranking top in the UK for the teaching of politics by the Complete University Guide.[9] As a result, in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise the department fell from 6th to 21st place in the UK,[10] ranking lower than nearby institutions such as the University of Essex or the University of East Anglia.
Since 2021, there has been a wave of departures from the department from scholars in political economy and development, including Ha-Joon Chang, Lucia A. Reisch and Chong Hua Professor of Chinese Development William Hurst.
Incidents and controversies
editMurder of Giulio Regeni[11] In 2016, POLIS PhD student Giulio Regeni was killed while carrying out research in Cairo, Egypt.[12] "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,[13] 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.[14] The University of Cambridge strongly rejected the claims in a statement released to Varsity, the Cambridge student newspaper.[15] 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.[16] 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".[17] 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.[18]"
Mistreatment of junior staff: In 2018, the department was found to be paying less than national minimum wage for examination work and supervision in a report that was conducted by the Cambridge branch of the University and College Union.[19]
In 2017, POLIS PhD student Tammy Chen, was one of 18 victims killed in a terror attack in Burkina Faso.[20]
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. 18 May 2015.
- ^ "MPhil in Public Policy, University of Cambridge". Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge. 20 January 2015.
- ^ "MSt in International Relations, University of Cambridge". Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge. 4 June 2024.
- ^ "PhD in Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge". Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge. 18 August 2022.
- ^ "Politics: SUBJECT LEAGUE TABLE 2025". The Complete University Guide.
- ^ Results: the overall quality profiles for each unit of assessment (PDF) (Report).
- ^ "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. 8 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. 4 December 2017.
- ^ "Vigil held for Giulio Regeni marks four years since his disappearance". Varsity, Sunday January 26, 2020, 10:38am.
- ^ Kirchgaessner, Stephanie (7 December 2017). "Giulio Regeni murder: Cambridge tutor agrees to speak to Italian investigators". The Guardian.
- ^ "Cambridge UCU calls for end to Cambridge's 'gig economy' contracts and unfair pay". Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "'Exceptional' Caius PhD student killed in Burkina Faso restaurant attack". Retrieved 6 June 2024.