Political Science - Applied Political Theory Radboud University

Overview

This specialisation will help you comprehend and explain the complexity and diversity of today's democratic challenges, from the level of the individual and the city to that of the nation-state and the global sphere. By focusing on political concepts such as power, justice and recognition you will learn to critically assess political values, policies and aspirations in terms of their desirability and soundness. Our emphasis on both (normative) political theory and empirical knowledge will allow you to imagine and design policies that are both viable and defensible. You will be prepared for any career or calling in service of the public good.

Future career opportunities

After graduation, our students quickly take up positions as policy advisors, strategic consultants, or analysts for governments, NGOs, and think tanks. Others bridge theory and practice as journalists, teachers, managers or ethics officers in media, tech, and healthcare. Whether in international institutions, local governance, or academia, you will turn political critique into real-world solutions — helping to build more inclusive, just, and democratic societies.

Research

To indicate the type of research in this specialisation, a few examples:

• What, if anything, do we owe to future generations, the Global South, minority groups, planet Earth?
• What can and should be our ambitions for city governance, given urgent urban challenges such as segregation, gentrification and homelessness?
• Why do we accept domination and dictatorship in the workplace, and what perspective is there for democratisation of work?
• Do corporations have a responsibility for justice, and to what extent are political activities of firms in our democracies desirable and legitimate?

Accreditation

This programme is accredited by the NVAO (the Dutch-Flemish accreditation organisation).