The aim of the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) program is to provide research training in a manner that fosters the development of independent research skills in candidates. On completion of the period of research, the student should possess the ability to formulate a significant problem, mastery of appropriate conceptual and methodological frameworks, and the capacity for articulate and critical analysis. The MPhil thesis provides evidence of significant research as the culmination of 1.5-2 years full-time equivalent study and research training. 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. Our researchers are certainly interested in deepening our understanding of the established research puzzles that already define our discipline. We care about understanding and finding solutions to wicked policy problems. We want to know more about how we might inform policy decisions with better evidence. 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 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 Our studies examine how formalised state militaries and non-state militias engage in conflict, multilateral institutions' contributions to conflict management, indigenous as well as gendered perspectives on conflict and peace building, the evolving nature of humanitarian responses to conflict and insecurity, and media representations of war and peace. Politics of Development Our research in this field contributes to new efforts at thinking about the politics of development as a historically constituted global project. Researchers adopt approaches that combine analyses of macro-political frameworks and micro-political experiences and struggles to understand and explain global social change, and identify possibilities for positive transformations. Specifically, this work involves theoretical, methodological, and empirical reorientations as part of a new shift towards relational analysis.