The education and training of doctoral students is one of the most important aspects of a university's activities. The pursuit of knowledge through research higher degree programs not only leads to a well-educated society and a highly trained professional work force, but also contributes significantly to the University's research and scholarship. Governance & Public Policy The School’s governance and public policy research is diverse and at its core is a concern to deepen and broaden our understanding of the decisions and the institutions which shape our world. Political Economy The School has considerable strengths in domestic, comparative and international political economy. The main focus of this work has been on the way in which states and markets interact and how institutional and political forces shape economic policy and economic outcomes. International Relations The School is world renowned for its research in international relations. Current transformations in world politics—from the shift in power from the ‘West’ to the ‘East’ and the rise of militant transnational actors, to the restructuring of the world economy and the new politics of religion—are challenging what constitutes ‘international relations’, undermining our established concepts and theories, and raising profound historical and ethical questions about global change. Political Theory Political theory plays a central role in the School’s intellectual life by providing a conceptual vocabulary that is shared across diverse areas of research. Political theory has long been integral to studies of politics and international relations. It helps clarify and appraise arguments, to reflect on modes of reasoning, and to attain a better understanding of the historical reasons for the ways we think and do politics today. Peace and Conflict Studies In an infinitely complex world, the causes of conflict in global and local politics are intricate and the pathways to peace are contested. The community of peace and conflict studies (PACS) researchers within the School of Political Science and International Studies leads cutting-edge work on these contemporary challenges. Politics of Development The School has significant research strengths in the politics of development and social change, broadly understood. ‘Development’ has always been a contested concept, and yet has been central to world political change. This rich research field engages with important issues and concerns in development – theoretical and empirical - in relation to both global and local frameworks and contexts.