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School of Government and International Affairs

Combining a long tradition of expertise within politics, political theory, political economy and international relations, we provide an exceptional environment for learning, training and research.
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Welcome to the School of Government and International Affairs (SGIA)

The School of Government and International Affairs is a research-intensive department that uses innovative teaching techniques to ensure we combine our latest world-leading research into the programmes we deliver.

Our key areas of teaching cover the wide range of sub-fields in Political Science and International Relations in which we deliver expertise, including government, political theory, political economy, and international relations with a depth of specialisms in regional expertise, covering multiple regions of the world such as such as Europe, East Asia, the Middle East and the wider Muslim world, Africa, and America. We welcome a wide range of visiting professors who are experts in their field and regularly work with our students.

Find out more about us
1st Politics Department to hold an Athena Swan Bronze award
Top 100 Politics department QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
8th for Politics in the UK Complete University Guide 2024
50+ countries We currently have students from over 50 countries studying with us

  

Study with us

  • Undergraduate study

    We offer the opportunity to develop a thorough and deep knowledge of the diverse and fascinating world of Political studies. Our students tackle subjects across this broad discipline, taking modules in political theory, comparative politics, and international relations.

    A group of students discussing their thoughts

  • Postgraduate study

    We pride ourselves on turning students into independent researchers who take responsibility for their own learning. We offer students training that will allow them to develop the skills required to understand, evaluate and produce knowledge about politics and international relations.

    Cluster of staff and students taking a group photo in a classroom

Undergraduate study

We offer the opportunity to develop a thorough and deep knowledge of the diverse and fascinating world of Political studies. Our students tackle subjects across this broad discipline, taking modules in political theory, comparative politics, and international relations.

A group of students discussing their thoughts

Postgraduate study

We pride ourselves on turning students into independent researchers who take responsibility for their own learning. We offer students training that will allow them to develop the skills required to understand, evaluate and produce knowledge about politics and international relations.

Cluster of staff and students taking a group photo in a classroom
The MSc in Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding offers a program that has a great balance between scholar and practitioner-minded debates in the field of peace and conflict studies. Students benefit not only from academics with vast experience in several regions of the world, but also from visiting lecturers who work as practitioners at international NGOs, government institutions and international organisations in the peace and conflict field. The diversity of the staff and students in the MSc made the experience at SGIA extremely rich.
Germán
MSc Conflict Prevention and Peace Building

Our Research

Our institutes and research centres promote key research agendas. They are focal points for networking and encouraging a diverse mix of collaborations between leading researchers and courses taking place across the world.
Find out more about our research centres

Explore...

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World’s military must accurately report carbon emissions

The world’s military must more accurately report its carbon emissions or measures to cut the greenhouse gas risk becoming “guesswork”.

Global research
Military fighter jets on an aircraft carrier

Examining the protests in Iran

Iran has seen weeks of anti-government protests which began following the death of Mahsa Amini in mid-September, days after her arrest for allegedly not complying with the country’s strict rules on head coverings. Professor Anoush Ehteshami, the Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah Chair in International Relations, in Durham University’s School of Government and International Affairs, examines the current wave of protests.
Research news
A map showing the word Iran

What long-term economic stagnation means for climate change

Current economic problems are bad for green investment, but according to Dr Jack Copley, Assistant Professor in International Political Economy in our School of Government and International Affairs, the economic obstacles to effective decarbonisation are more deeply entrenched.
Research news
A solar panel array in the sunshine

Somalia: Puntland state port is getting a revamp - this is key to its future

Professor Jutta Bakonyi, in our School of Government and International Affairs, and Dr May Darwich, of the University of Birmingham, say the modernisation of the port is critical for Puntland to ensure it keeps a significant position within the fragmented political landscape of Somalia.
Research news
Aerial view of a cargo ship full of shipping containers

Debunking the myth of the ‘evil people smuggler’

Dr Corey Robinson, in our School of Government and International Affairs, and Yvonne Su, Assistant Professor in the Department of Equity Studies, York University, Canada, examine the narrative of the "evil people smuggler" in the context of the global refugee crisis and people’s attempts to claim asylum.
Research news
A banner saying refugees welcome at a protest march

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS - WRITING WORKSHOP Amplifying African Voices in Peacekeeping and Statebuilding

Research news
More news

  • Ernst Otto Czempiel Award 2023 for Roger Mac Ginty

    The Leibniz Peace Research Insti­tute Frankfurt (PRIF) is awar­ding this year's Ernst-Otto Czempiel Award to poli­tical scientist Roger Mac Ginty. In doing so, the jury recog­nizes his 2021 mono­graph “Every­day Peace: How So-Called Ordi­nary People Can Disrupt Vio­lent Conflict”, in which Mac Ginty explores how people in conflict zones can resist and disrupt tota­lizing war logics in every­day actions - even in combat.
    Research news
    Roger Mac Ginty

  • How 'survival arrogance' has put Iranian hardliners in confrontation with the public

    Almost a year ago, the death of young Mahsa Amini in moral police custody, sparked widespread unrests across many parts of Iran, capturing the attention of the world towards the plight of Iranians, especially women. Dr Marzieh Kouhi Esfahani, whose research focuses on women in the Muslim world and international relations of the Middle East, analyses the situation today.
    Research news
    Two people standing by a banner which says #MahsaAmini - Woman, Life, Freedom

  • The Islamic Republic a year after Mahsa Amini’s death

    On 16 September 2022, Mahsa Amini died in police custody which sparked protests across Iran. One year on, Anoush Ehteshami, Professor of International Relations in our School of Government and International Affairs, takes a look at what has changed.
    Research news
    A woman wearing a headscarf waving a small Iranian flag

Ernst Otto Czempiel Award 2023 for Roger Mac Ginty

The Leibniz Peace Research Insti­tute Frankfurt (PRIF) is awar­ding this year's Ernst-Otto Czempiel Award to poli­tical scientist Roger Mac Ginty. In doing so, the jury recog­nizes his 2021 mono­graph “Every­day Peace: How So-Called Ordi­nary People Can Disrupt Vio­lent Conflict”, in which Mac Ginty explores how people in conflict zones can resist and disrupt tota­lizing war logics in every­day actions - even in combat.

Roger Mac Ginty

How 'survival arrogance' has put Iranian hardliners in confrontation with the public

Almost a year ago, the death of young Mahsa Amini in moral police custody, sparked widespread unrests across many parts of Iran, capturing the attention of the world towards the plight of Iranians, especially women. Dr Marzieh Kouhi Esfahani, whose research focuses on women in the Muslim world and international relations of the Middle East, analyses the situation today.
Two people standing by a banner which says #MahsaAmini - Woman, Life, Freedom

The Islamic Republic a year after Mahsa Amini’s death

On 16 September 2022, Mahsa Amini died in police custody which sparked protests across Iran. One year on, Anoush Ehteshami, Professor of International Relations in our School of Government and International Affairs, takes a look at what has changed.
A woman wearing a headscarf waving a small Iranian flag

Student updates

Find out what our graduates and current students are getting up to on our Durham blog.

Highlights

I lobbied in Parliament: here’s what it’s like…

International Relations graduate, Marina tells us about her experience as a ONE Youth Ambassador.
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Calling all international students – could you be a leader?

Philosophy and Politics student, Lijie explores international leadership and running in an NUS Election.
A group of students standing in the NUS elections

Get in touch

Contact us to find out more about admissions, placements and postgraduate research.

Durham University

The Palatine Centre
Durham University
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LE

Switchboard: +44 (0)191 334 2000

 

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