International Public Policy

This course provides students with the understanding and skills necessary to use research, whether within a research career or outside of it. Building on other training in the details of specific methods, it focuses on two sets of broader questions. First, it critically analyses central concepts such as truth, power, ethics, and uncertainty in social research. When addressing these issues, the module engages with how they are dealt with and approached in qualitative and quantitative research. In the module, students will engage actively with these issues and critically reflect upon their own views and how they apply them in their own research projects. We particularly discuss the difficulties of causal inference and generalisation, coming to conclusions from research reviews, and philosophical issues around ‘truth’ and values. Second, it looks at the link between research and action. In doing this, it goes from the very practical (how to ensure that your research is used by policymakers and/or practitioners, and to deal with the political pressures on researchers) to the conceptual (in what ways does evidence get used by wider society?) to the normative (should researchers be ‘critical’, and if so, what are their ethical obligations in doing this?).

On this course, you will take a deep dive into the world of comparative public policy where students develop tools allowing them to critically analyse the pressing challenges of our day and how they influence the policy landscape, including globalisation, populism, the intersection of labour markets with society, and the evolving dynamics between welfare systems, social structures, and economic trends. On the module, you will develop a comprehensive understanding of comparative public policy theories and methods, and an in-depth understanding of what approaches to use in what circumstances. You will learn about the theoretical frameworks that shape the field, illustrated by captivating examples from diverse national, regional, and international perspectives. You will also get an understanding of how comparative public policy is shaped, by which institutions at these different governance levels, in other words, analysing organisations such as the EU and the UN. Overall, the module will equip you with the theoretical, methodological, and analytical tools needed to analyse comparative public policy issues. You will gain an in-depth understanding of policy developments, drivers, constraints, and responses to key challenges within and across countries and over time.

Asking questions about society is primary to the work of a social scientist. However, how we go about asking those questions is not straightforward. When planning reliable and generalisable research, many steps need to be taken to ensure robust results. This course provides students with the tools to do just that. The course introduces students to the logic and methods of social research, including the central topics in research design, understanding the methodological choices necessary when designing social research, and the realities of ensuring ethical research from the start. Throughout this process, students will be introduced to both the positivist and critical/interpretive debates behind social research. Additionally, both qualitative and quantitative methods will be covered. This will prepare students to design a research proposal, including selecting appropriate methods, formulating a research plan which covers data collection and analysis, and ultimately allowing them to successfully conduct their own research.

Globally, we are seeing a wide range of pressures and challenges to national, regional, and international public policies, including rising social and economic inequalities and climate change. This course delves into the critical challenges faced in international public policy by systematically examining and differentiating key areas and issues. It does so by taking a deep dive into key policy areas of contemporary international public policy through critical discussions of empirical examples.

The module engages empirically and theoretically with contemporary international public policies, equipping students with skills the enable them to apply their knowledge on ‘real life’ public policy issues. You will get a structured overview and critical discussion of the primary domains where international and national public policy agendas intersect and evolve and critically analysis variations in international policy responses. Specific areas of public policy covered include climate change and environmental issues, demographic changes including ageing societies, health, social security, migration policy, social and political exclusion and urban versus rural policies.

On the module you will enhance your employability by gaining knowledge about how various policy sectors grapple with transformative political, environmental and socio-economic processes their responses to these challenges will differ based on a range of internal and external socio-economic and political factors.

Understanding what works, why, where and for whom remains a fundamental inquiry across diverse organizations and financial sectors, especially in the realm of designing and implementing policies with far-reaching impacts across populations, locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally.

This module equips you with a comprehensive grasp of qualitative and quantitative tools, and other research methodologies crucial for executing evidence-based evaluations. Thereby it equips you with critical employability skills for anyone working with policies and evaluations across sectors. You will gain invaluable skills in applying evaluation methods, understanding the process of a policy and assessing it.

You will delve into the analysis of policies, examining their design, outcomes, and impacts to determine whether they effectively achieve their intended goals and objectives. Exploring key principles of impact evaluation and experimental design enable you to develop essential skills for understanding and critically assessing the policy process, enhancing your ability to navigate the challenges and political dynamics in policy.

The aims of this module are twofold:

First, to provide students with the opportunity to independently carry out an in-depth inquiry to investigate a research question(s) of their choice, producing a coherent review of the relevant literature, a logical discussion and a clearly communicated set of conclusions in the form of a dissertation.

Second, to prepare students to become ‘research-minded’ practitioners in order that they have the capacity to undertake research in practice settings and/or take a lead role in supervising others in such work.

The resolution of deep-rooted international conflict remains a challenge to the rapidly evolving field of international conflict resolution. This module responds to this challenge by providing students the opportunity to explore international conflict resolution methods such as mediation, negotiation, collaborative problem solving, and alternative dispute resolution. The approach is interdisciplinary and juxtaposes traditional approaches in conflict management with the scientific study of conflict and cooperation. Through a combination of lectures, seminars, role-plays, and practical exercises, students will develop essential negotiation and mediation skills while gaining a deeper understanding of conflict resolution processes. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to navigate complex negotiations and mediate disputes effectively in various professional settings.

Qualitative methods allow us to explore and understand complex phenomena in-depth. They are particularly well-suited for situations where the aim is to gain insights into the meanings, attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of individuals or groups. This module focuses on the theory and practice of qualitative research and will give you a chance to develop and apply state-of-the-art qualitative research methods skills. The module allows you to apply your skills, readying you for using these as a researcher and in future employment. It explores the various aspects of using and collecting qualitative data, how to analyse your findings, and how to present them. The aim of the module is to illustrate a range of practical techniques while considering related problems of evidence and inference in qualitative analyses. Students will be versed in a range of qualitative techniques in an interactive and real-life focused teaching and learning environment, and will have the opportunity to practice some of them, such as:

- the theory and practice of interviewing and different varieties of interview;

- focus groups;

- oral history;

- case study methods;

- ethnographic theory and method;

- action research;

- critical discourse analysis;

- narrative analysis;

- visual methods.

Quantitative research is a vital part of social science. Without understanding quantitative research and quantitative evidence, a substantial fraction of the social scientific literature will be closed to you. This module will teach you how to conduct quantitative research in the social sciences and how to interpret the findings of quantitative research.

You will learn the fundamental principles that lie behind statistics and statistical techniques. You will also learn how to produce descriptive statistics, and how to use statistical techniques to examine relationships between social variables. You will also learn how to use regression methods to answer causal research questions.

By completing this module you will be equipped both to interpret quantitative research conducted by others, and to carry out your own quantitative studies and describe them in a scientific format. You will also understand the limits of statistical techniques and what different kind of claims are (and are not) warranted by different kinds of statistical evidence.

The skills you learn  on this module are highly sought after in the job market, in particular the ability to apply them to real life scenarios, and critically assessing which quantitative methods work to study a particular issue arising in your job. At Kent we are a leading social research methods team, working with government, third sector and private sector organisations who seek students with these skills.

How are ideas about resistance translated into political action? What forms does resistance take? What are its costs and consequences of this process? In this module you will look at specific instances of resistance to political authority. You will examine the techniques of resistance employed, the assumptions that underpin these techniques, and the tensions and problems that arise as ideas are actualised in political reality. Studying historical and contemporary examples of resistance will help you reflect on the complex relationship between theory and practice in political reality.

Dive into a fascinating exploration of terrorism, counterterrorism, and human rights. Uncover the the many challenges that surround the study of terrorism, including the interplay between knowledge and power that has shaped this vital area of academic inquiry. You will engage with compelling case studies from the 20th and early 21st centuries, analyzing the way terrorism and counterterrorism manifest in different contexts. You will be challenged to connect these real-world examples back broader debates, including on the contentious idea of state terrorism. This thought-provoking module will expand your understanding and help you make sense of these crucial topics.

What is harm? How does it shape global society? On this module, you’ll examine various forms of harms prevalent in global society while exploring their underlying causes, manifestations, and impact on individuals, communities, and societies at large. You will adopt a broad approach to examining the origins and impacts of harms, from those perpetrated on an interpersonal or state-sanctioned basis, through to the harms arising through political conflict and social unrest. Drawing from interdisciplinary perspectives including criminology, sociology, psychology, political science, and law, you will critically analyse case studies, empirical research, and theoretical frameworks to develop a nuanced understanding of harm-based phenomena and strategies for prevention and intervention.

This is a module that set you aside employability wise, as it equips you with advanced quantitative methods skills that are lacking in the job market. The skills acquired in this module are highly relevant across various disciplines and professions where statistical analysis and causal inference play a crucial role. The skills you learn on this module are particularly sought after in private, third sector and government jobs that requires the analysis of data, from social to political and financial data. The module provides you with advanced knowledge and skills in statistical analysis, focusing on two key topics: the General Linear Model (GLM) and Causal Analysis. The GLM serves as a fundamental framework for modelling relationships between variables, encompassing techniques such as linear, logistic, nominal, ordinal and various log-transformed regression techniques. The module also delves into causal analysis, addressing the complex relationship between variables and identifying causal mechanisms. Topics include causal inference methods, counterfactual reasoning, and the potential outcomes framework. You will learn how to design studies, identify causal relationships, and assess causality in observational and experimental settings.

What is social justice? Why does it matter? On this module, you will engage in a critical examination of key debates surrounding social justice in contemporary society. Through an interdisciplinary lens, you will explore theoretical frameworks, historical contexts, and practical implications of social justice movements, policies, and interventions. Taking an international approach, potential topics for debate include economics and welfare; identities and discrimination; rights and equalities; citizenship and governance; ethics and advocacy; and the climate crisis. Emphasising critical analysis and dialogue, the course will invite you to address controversial topics and competing perspectives to foster a deeper understanding of the complexities inherent in pursuing social justice.

What determines environmental outcomes and what are the obstacles to achieving pro-environmental outcomes? This module looks at the politics of global environmental change at the international, national and individual level. Whether it is global environmental governance, national environmental policy making, or individual attitudes and behaviour, we need to understand what motivates actors and how a combination of motivations, interests, and structure translate into environmental outcomes in various contexts and societies. In this module you will gain the tools to explain the politics of global environmental change and environmental outcomes at the international, national and individual level. The module equips you to develop political strategies to improve environmental outcomes by considering, for example, the design of international environmental institutions, the role of leadership, mobilisation, and climate communication. At the end of the module you will also be able  to provide political advice based on the latest available (political) science related to global environmental issues. We consider among other issues global environmental governance, international leadership, the role of NGOs and lobbies in policy making, public support for environmental policy making, individual environmental attitudes and behaviour, and the nexus between environmental degradation and violent conflict.