Democracy and Representation Leiden University

Overview

Do political parties still perform their representational function? This is one of the main questions facing modern democracy. You will be addressing this issue both theoretically and empirically.

Almost everywhere political parties are facing an increasingly indifferent and even hostile electorate. Their monopoly on political representation is challenged by seemingly alienated citizens and populism. In this programme, you will explore the causes of the vulnerability of parties and examine the empirical indicators of their perceived decline. Does money rather than ideology determine which party or candidate wins elections? Do parties in parliaments reflect the diversity of today's societies sufficiently? Have members any influence on their parties? What is the role of the media in election campaigns? Perhaps most importantly, you will address the impact of the current state of parties and parliaments on democratic accountability and political legitimacy.

You study in one of the most highly ranked departments of its kind in Europe. Your lecturers are scholars from many countries with expertise in various areas of political science, including comparative politics, political psychology, and political theory.

What you will learn

As a MSc in Political Science graduate, you know and understand the ‘State of the Art’ in Political Science (with a particular emphasis on the field of your specialisation). You are able to think analytically, study independently, and work autonomously as well as collectively. Particularly, you have demonstrated your ability to develop and apply original ideas, predominantly within a research context. You have learned how to communicate the conclusions of your scholarly research to an audience beyond traditional academia. Furthermore, you are aware of the social and ethical responsibilities that arise from the applied side of Political Science.

Career prospects

Due to the comprehensive nature of this master's programme, you are prepared for a variety of careers in politics and public service, the media, non-profit organisations, consultancy, and (inter)national business.

The programme also offers an ideal preparation for further academic work in Political Science.

Examples of jobs

• Civil servant
• Policy officer
• Consultant
• Diplomat
• Instructor
• Journalist
• Lobbyist
• Teacher
• Researcher
• Politician
• Editor
• Manager

Accreditation

Accredited by NVAO, the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.