Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge explained

The Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge (abbreviated POLIS) is the department at the University of Cambridge responsible for research and instruction in political science, international relations and public policy. It is part of the Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science.

History

The inductive study of political science at Cambridge was pioneered in the 19th century by John Robert Seeley.^[1] In 1928, the Rockefeller Foundation endowed the university's first chair in political science, which was situated in the Faculty of History and inaugurally held by Ernest Barker.^[2] The Social and Political Sciences Committee was formed in 1970 as an early attempt to unify research and instruction in political science at the university and, in 2004, the Department of Politics was established.^{[2] [3]}

POLIS, formed in 2009 by the merger of the former Department of Politics and the Centre for International Studies, is administratively housed at the university's Alison Richard Building on the Sidgwick Site.^{[4] [5]}

In 2016, POLIS PhD student Giulio Regeni was killed while carrying out research in Cairo, Egypt.^{[6] [7]}

Heads of department

• Geoffrey Hawthorn (Founder)
• Andrew Gamble (2009-12)
• Christopher J. Hill (2012-14)
• David Runciman (2014-18)
• Jason Sharman (2018-21)
• Jude Browne (2021-)

Degrees and reputation

Degrees

Politics and International Studies are taught at the undergraduate level through either the Human, Social, and Political Sciences Tripos^[8] or the History and Politics Tripos.^[9] At the postgraduate level, the department offers nine Masters' programmes and four PhD programmes.^[10]

Reputation

The 2024 edition of the QS World University Rankings ranked Cambridge seventh in the world for the study of politics.^[12] The 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked it sixth.^[13] The department has been ranked top in the UK for the teaching of politics by the 2025 Complete University Guide.^[14] Its masters and doctoral programmes have been ranked among the 25 "Best International Relations Schools in the World" by Foreign Policy.^{[15] [16]} In the 2021 UK government Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise, the department was ranked 21st out of 56 institutions.^[17]

Academic and research centres

The peer reviewed journal Cambridge Review of International Affairs is published by Taylor & Francis in academic affiliation with the department.^[18]

Ten specialised centres are housed within the department.

Centre		Focus	Director(s)	Official website	Reference(s)
Bennett Institute for Public Policy		Public policy	Michael Kenny	bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk	[19]
Cambridge Centre for Political Thought		Political theory	Duncan Bell, Richard Bourke, Annabel Brett, Duncan Kelly	polthought.cam.ac.uk	[20]
Centre for Gender Studies		Gender studies	Lauren Wilcox	gender.cam.ac.uk	[21]
Centre for Geopolitics		Geopolitics	Brendan Simms	cfg.polis.cam.ac.uk	[22]
Centre of African Studies		African studies	Adam Branch	african.cam.ac.uk	[23]
Centre of Development Studies		Development studies	Graham Denyer Willis	devstudies.cam.ac.uk	[24]
Centre of Governance and Human Rights		Human rights, Social justice	Ella McPherson, Sharath Srinivasan	cghr.polis.cam.ac.uk/	[25]
Centre of Latin American Studies		Latin American studies	Pedro Mendes Loureiro	latin-american.cam.ac.uk	[26]
Centre of South Asian Studies		South Asian studies	Shailaja Fennell	s-asian.cam.ac.uk	[27]
YouGov-Cambridge Centre for Public Opinion Research		Public opinion	Dr Joel Rogers de Waal	yougov.co.uk/cambridge	[28]

Notable people

Alumni

Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programmes

• Salman Ahmed — Director of Policy Planning at the U.S. Department of State^[29]
• Robyn Curnow — Journalist, CNN^[30]
• Hugh Evans — Founder, Oaktree^[31]
• Mirza Shakir Ispahani — Managing Director of M. M. Ispahani Limited^[32]
• Emily Kassie — Documentary filmmaker, recipient of the 2016 World Press Photo award^[33]
• Yuri Kim — United States Ambassador to Albania^{[34] [35]}
• Dan Markel — Professor, Florida State University^[36]
• Michael G. Masters — CEO, Secure Community Network^[37]
• Evan S. Medeiros — Professor, Georgetown University^[38]
• Julissa Reynoso Pantaleón — United States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra^[39]
• Stuart Peach — Chair of the NATO Military Committee^[40]
• Samir Rifai — Prime Minister of Jordan^[41]
• Rohan Sajdeh — Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group^[42]
• Elizabeth N. Saunders — Professor, Columbia University^[43]
• Andrew Shearer — Director-General of the Australian Office of National Intelligence^[44]
• Damian Williams — United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York^[45]

Master of Studies (MSt) programme

• Massimo Ambrosetti — Ambassador of Italy to the People's Republic of China^[46]
• Marcus Bleasdale — Photojournalist, recipient of the 2014 Robert Capa Gold Medal^[47]
• Nadine Chahine — Typographer, Fast Companys 2012 "100 Most Creative People in Business"^[48]
• Janis Mackey Frayer — Journalist, NBC News
• Vin Gupta — Medical correspondent, NBC News^[49]
• Zach Nunn — Member of the U.S. House of Representatives^[50]
• Paul Paton — Dean of law, Chapman University^[51]
• Roxana Saberi — Journalist, CBS News^[52]
• Chae-Hyun Shin — Chair of the International Atomic Energy Agency^[53]
• Yusuf Tuggar — Foreign Minister of Nigeria^[54]

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes

• Peter Biar Ajak — Peace activist^[55]
• Ronen Bergman — Journalist and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize^[56]
• Reuben Brigety — United States Ambassador to South Africa^[57]
• Masuma Hasan — Chair of the Group of 77^[58]
• Asle Toje — Deputy Leader of the Norwegian Nobel Committee^[59]
• Paul Twomey — CEO of ICANN^[60]
• Daniel Yergin — Vice Chair of S&P Global, recipient of the Pulitzer Prize^[61]

Faculty, past and present

• Duncan Bell^{[62] [63]}
• Dame Diane Coyle^[64]
• John Dunn^[65]
• Andrew Gamble^[66]
• Cristina Penasco^[67]
• David Walter Runciman, 4th Viscount Runciman of Doxford^[68]
• Lauren Wilcox^[69]
• Ayşe Zarakol^{[70] [71]}

See also

• List of schools of international relations

Notes and References

1. Book: Bevir . Mark . A History of Political Science . 2022 . Cambridge University Press . 9781009043458.
2. Book: Gamble . Andrew . The Limits of Politics: An Inaugural Lecture Given in the University of Cambridge, 23 April 2008. December 1, 2024 . 2008 . Cambridge University Press . 978-0521145985.
3. Craig . John . The emergence of politics as a taught discipline at universities in the United Kingdom . . September 25, 2019 . 22 . 2 . 145–163 . 10.1177/1369148119873081 . October 17, 2024.
4. Web site: Welcome to POLIS. Department of Politics and International Studies. 7 March 2014 . University of Cambridge. 2 June 2015.
5. Web site: The official launch of the University of Cambridge's new Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) will take place on Tuesday, May 5th. The previously separate Centre of International Studies, with its major postgraduate programme, and the Department of Politics, with its very successful undergraduate course, are merging. . cam.ac.uk . 27 April 2009 . . October 17, 2024.
6. News: Giulio Regeni: Cambridge University tribute five years after murder. 6 June 2024.
7. News: Giulio Regeni murder: Cambridge tutor agrees to speak to Italian investigators . The Guardian. 7 December 2017 . Kirchgaessner . Stephanie .
8. Web site: Human, Social, and Political Sciences - HSPS Tripos, University of Cambridge . Human, Social, and Political Sciences - HSPS Tripos, University of Cambridge.
9. Web site: History and Politics BA (Tripos), University of Cambridge . University of Cambridge Faculty of History.
10. See:
    • Web site: 4 June 2024 . MSt in International Relations, University of Cambridge . Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge.
    • Web site: MPhil in Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge . Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge. 18 May 2015 .
    • Web site: MPhil in Public Policy, University of Cambridge . Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge. 20 January 2015 .
    • Web site: Weik . Judith . 2013-07-23 . MPhil in African Studies Overview . 2024-10-24 . www.african.cam.ac.uk . en.
    • Web site: Williams . Helen . 2016-03-30 . MPhil in Development Studies . 2024-10-24 . www.devstudies.cam.ac.uk . en.
    • Web site: Evans . H. J. . 2023-10-27 . MPhil in Latin American Studies . 2024-10-24 . www.latin-american.cam.ac.uk . en.
    • Web site: MPhil Course . 2024-10-24 . www.s-asian.cam.ac.uk.
    • Web site: 2014-08-27 . MPhil Overview . 2024-10-24 . www.gender.cam.ac.uk . en.
    • Web site: MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History Faculty of History University of Cambridge . 2024-10-24 . www.hist.cam.ac.uk.
    • Web site: PhD in Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge . Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge. 18 August 2022 .
    • Web site: Williams . Helen . 2016-03-30 . PhD in Development Studies . 2024-10-24 . www.devstudies.cam.ac.uk . en.
    • Web site: Evans . H. J. . 2023-10-27 . PhD in Latin American Studies . 2024-10-24 . www.latin-american.cam.ac.uk . en.
    • Web site: 2014-08-30 . PhD Overview . 2024-10-24 . www.gender.cam.ac.uk . en.
11. Web site: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024: Politics . topuniversities.com . . October 16, 2024.
12. Web site: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024: Politics . topuniversities.com . . October 16, 2024.
13. Web site: World University Rankings 2024 by subject: social sciences . timeshighereducation.com . 18 October 2023 . . October 18, 2024.
14. Web site: Politics: SUBJECT LEAGUE TABLE 2025 . The Complete University Guide .
15. News: The Best International Relations Schools in the World . October 16, 2024 . Foreign Policy . February 20, 2018.
16. News: Tierney . Michael J. . The Top International Relations Schools of 2024, Ranked . October 17, 2024 . . July 30, 2024.
17. Web site: 12 May 2022 . REF 2021: Politics and international studies . . 3 . 16 November 2024 .
18. Web site: Cambridge Review of International Affairs . cria.polis.cam.ac.uk . 25 January 2016 . . October 25, 2024.
19. Web site: Our Team . bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk . . October 25, 2024.
20. Web site: Cambridge Centre for Political Thought . polthought.cam.ac.uk . 8 February 2019 . . October 25, 2024.
21. Web site: University of Cambridge Centre for Gender Studies . gender.cam.ac.uk . 17 September 2014 . . October 25, 2024.
22. Web site: Center for Geopolitics . cfg.polis.cam.ac.uk . 12 September 2023 . . October 25, 2024.
23. Web site: Centre of African Studies . african.cam.ac.uk . . October 25, 2024.
24. Web site: Centre of Development Studies . devstudies.cam.ac.uk . . October 25, 2024.
25. Web site: CGHR . cghr.polis.cam.ac.uk . . October 25, 2024.
26. Web site: Centre of Latin American Studies . latin-american.cam.ac.u . 27 October 2023 . . October 25, 2024.
27. Web site: Centre of South Asian Studies . s-asian.cam.ac.uk . . October 25, 2024.
28. Web site: Jondorf . A. . 2020-08-25 . Dr Joel Rogers de Waal . 2024-11-25 . www.polis.cam.ac.uk . en.
29. Web site: Getting It Right at Home and Abroad: The Future of Diplomacy . harvard.edu . . October 19, 2024.
30. Book: Arena . Suzanne . Dyslexia and the Journalist: Battling a Silent Disability . 2021 . McFarland . 978-1476682402 . 88.
31. Web site: Hugh Evans . luc.edu . . October 17, 2024.
32. News: The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 1134. The Daily Star. 2020-05-23.
33. Web site: 13 Gates Scholars to join POLIS in 2016 — Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS). www.polis.cam.ac.uk. en.
34. Web site: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Individual to Key Administration Post. National Archives. whitehouse.gov.
35. Web site: AOLG grad to be named US ambassador. Gaynor D.. Daleno. The Guam Daily Post. 30 June 2019 .
36. News: Markel, Adelson sparred up to the end . October 20, 2024 . . June 4, 2016.
37. Web site: Michael Masters | Columbia Jewish Federation . Columbia Jewish Federation . October 20, 2024 .
38. Web site: Issues . Initiative for U. S.-China Dialogue on Global . Evan Medeiros . 2023-08-12 . uschinadialogue.georgetown.edu . en . 2023-08-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230812002400/https://uschinadialogue.georgetown.edu/people/evan-medeiros . live .
39. Web site: Julissa Reynoso Pantaleon . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20201119053625/https://buildbackbetter.com/the-administration/white-house-senior-staff/julissa-reynoso-pantaleon/ . November 19, 2020 . November 19, 2020 . Biden-Harris Transition .
40. Web site: Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach GBE KCB DL . nato.int . . October 16, 2024.
41. News: Derhally . Massoud A. . 10 December 2009 . Jordan's king picks prime minister . . Boston Globe . 276 . 163 . Boston, Massachusetts . A27 . 4 February 2024 . Newspapers.com.
42. http://www.bcg.com/careers/working_at_bcg/diversity_networks/asian_initiative.aspx BCG "ASIAN INITIATIVE"
43. Web site: Elizabeth N. Saunders . brookings.edu . . October 17, 2024.
44. Web site: Andrew Shearer . house.gov . . October 20, 2024.
45. Web site: Questionnaire for Non-Judicial Nominees. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. October 8, 2021.
46. Web site: The Ambassador . esteri.it . . October 16, 2024.
47. Web site: About. Marcus Bleasdale – Photographer. en-US. 2018-11-09.
48. Web site: A trailblazer in Arabic type design – inside look at Dr. Nadine Chahine's journey to success . aub.edu.lb . . October 16, 2024.
49. Web site: Vin Gupta . October 16, 2024.
50. Web site: State Senator Zach Nunn. Iowa Legislature. August 5, 2022.
51. News: Dino . Angelica . University of Alberta law professor Paul Paton named as Chapman University's new dean . 16 March 2024. Canadian Lawyer . 23 March 2023.
52. Web site: Imprisoned Journalist Roxana Saberi . 7 May 2009 . . October 16, 2024.
53. Web site: IAEA Board of Governors Elects New Chairperson for 2021-2022 . IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication . September 27, 2021 . International Atomic Energy Agency . March 16, 2024.
54. Web site: Curriculum- H.E. Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar . March 3, 2023.
55. Web site: fionaholland . 2020-10-23 . Dr Peter Biar Ajak receives Cambridge PhD: a first for South Sudan . 2023-05-09 . Trinity College Cambridge . en-GB.
56. Web site: Green . David . 2008 . A conversation with Ronen Bergman . 8 March 2010 . Haaretz.
57. Web site: Reuben E. Brigety II. March 9, 2015. Biographies of Department Officials. U.S. Department of State.
58. News: Ground breaking chapter on the Punjab Boundary Commission published in Pakistan in a Changing World . The Pakistan Institute of International Affairs . 1978 . Karachi.
59. News: Bakken . Laila Ø. . Frp vil ha forskningsdirektør Asle Toje i Nobelkomiteen . 18 November 2021 . NRK . 7 February 2018.
60. Web site: Paul Twomey . ICANN . 14 December 2020.
61. News: April 22, 2013 . A Conversation with Daniel Yergin . . December 23, 2017.
62. Web site: Steele . Brent . 2022-05-17 . Duncan Bell . 2023-12-26 . The Duck of Minerva .
63. Web site: 2024-11-15 . Duncan Bell . 2024-11-15 . .
64. Web site: 2024-11-15 . Diane Coyle . 2024-11-15 . .
65. Web site: Professor John Dunn . 7 June 2023 . . October 18, 2024.
66. http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/g/4612/Andrew+Michael.aspx "Prof Andrew Gamble Authorised Biography"
67. Web site: 2024-11-15 . Cristina Penasco . 2024-11-15 . .
68. Web site: The History of Ideas by David Runciman review — lobbing thought bombs at western civilisation . 22 June 2024 . 22 June 2024.
69. Web site: 2024-11-15 . Lauren Wilcox . 2024-11-15 . .
70. Web site: Tschiggfrie . Sarah . 2012-03-05 . W&L's Zarakol Wins International Fellowship from Council on Foreign Relations . 2024-09-08 . The Columns .
71. Web site: 2024-11-15 . Ayşe Zarakol . 2024-11-15 . .