Political science
Political science at Linnaeus University deals with core issues concerning how societies are governed and how power is divided. The world we live in today is characterised by many challenges and transformation processes. In many states, established political parties are being challenged and in some cases also the democratic system itself. The European collaboration is facing an uncertain future and increased divisions among the member states. On a global level, there are critical issues like global warming, refugee crises and terrorism. These are some examples of complex issues that are in focus in political science analyses.
Political systems and actors can be identified at a number of different levels and arenas – from the local level to the global – and, consequently, political scientists study the political processes that take place in municipalities as well as within international organisations. Politics has a number of different dimensions and these are reflected in the different sub-disciplines of political science. Within political theory, it is political ideas, concepts and ideologies that are in focus. Comparative politics focuses instead on the mapping out of differences and similarities between political systems in different countries. Administrative policy studies the design, steering and control of public administration. Within international politics, it is the relations between different states and other actors on the global stage, as well as what type of order is in place on that stage, that are in focus.
Education
At Linnaeus University we offer a broad selection of courses within political science as well as specialisations within subjects like European politics, corruption and human rights. Most of our courses are available as both single-subject courses and as part of a degree programme. The department of political science offers a number of degree programmes and the possibility to choose a profile based on your interests. Courses in political science are also included on a number of programmes offered by other departments.
Programmes within political science
Courses within political science
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Challenges of DemocracyCourse 7.5 credits
- Spring 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- 1SK203
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Challenges to sustainable and democratic governanceCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- 1SK135
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Cancelled Cultural Perspectives on PoliticsCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SK108
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Cultural Perspectives on PoliticsCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SK108
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Democracy and DictatorshipCourse 7.5 credits
- Spring 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SK404
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Development theory and economic developmentCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Full-time
- 4FU416
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EU Policy-making and its ImplementationCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SK105
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EU Policy-making and its ImplementationCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SK105
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European (dis)integrationCourse 7.5 credits
- Spring 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- 1SK116
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European Human Rights LawCourse 15 credits
- Spring 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Half-time
- 1SK156
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European Political EntrepreneurshipCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Distance learning
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SK107
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European Political EntrepreneurshipCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2024
- Växjö
- Distance learning
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SK107
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European Union PoliticsCourse 7.5 credits
- Spring 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- 1SK117
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Foreign Policy AnalysisCourse 7.5 credits
- Spring 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SK402
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Governance and corruptionCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SK409
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Governance and corruptionCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SK409
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Independent Study Course: Sustainable Democracy and GovernanceCourse 7.5 credits
- Spring 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- 1SK136
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International Affairs, Master ProgrammeProgramme 120 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Full-time
- SAIA2
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International Affairs, Master ProgrammeProgramme 120 credits
- Autumn 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Full-time
- SAIA2
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International law and human rightsCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- 1SK134
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International law and human rightsCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- 1SK134
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International OrganizationsCourse 7.5 credits
- Spring 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SK401
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International SecurityCourse 7.5 credits
- Spring 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SK403
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Peace and Development ProgrammeProgramme 180 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- SGFRU
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Peace and Development ProgrammeProgramme 180 credits
- Autumn 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- SGFRU
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Peace and Development Studies ICourse 30 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- 1FU123
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Peace and Development Studies IICourse 30 credits
- Spring 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- 1FU203
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Peace and Development Work, Master ProgrammeProgramme 60 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Full-time
- SAFU1
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Peace and Development Work, Master ProgrammeProgramme 60 credits
- Autumn 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Full-time
- SAFU1
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Political AnalysisCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- 2SK301
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Political AnalysisCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- 2SK301
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Political corruptionCourse 7.5 credits
- Spring 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- 1SK169
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Postcolonial Migration and Citizenship in Multi-cultural SocietiesCourse 7.5 credits
- Spring 2024
- Växjö
- Distance learning
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SA721
-
Social Work in Contexts of Postcolonial Migration: Perspectives on Policies, Institutions and PracticesCourse 7.5 credits
- Spring 2024
- Växjö
- Distance learning
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SA722
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Solidarity, exclusion, and resistance: the contemporary questioning of democracyCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Distance learning
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SK109
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Solidarity, exclusion, and resistance: the contemporary questioning of democracyCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2024
- Växjö
- Distance learning
- Master’s level
- Half-time
- 4SK109
-
Sustainability and multilevel governanceCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- 1SK133
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Sustainability and multilevel governanceCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Full-time
- 1SK133
-
Swedish Politics for International StudentsCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2024
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Half-time
- 1SK165
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Swedish Politics for International StudentsCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Campus
- Bachelor’s level
- Half-time
- 1SK165
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The international context and the politics of peace and developmentCourse 7.5 credits
- Autumn 2023
- Växjö
- Campus
- Master’s level
- Full-time
- 4FU415
Third-cycle education within political science
Research in political science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. The research in political science at Linnaeus University focuses on the representative democratic chain from citizens via political rulers to the consequences of the decisions, through studies of political behaviour, parties, parliaments, corruption, and the EU. The Department of political science centers this research on three research environments: Varieties of Political Representation, Europe Research and Governance, Ethics, and Corruption (GEC).
Research groups
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Governance, Ethics, and Corruption (GEC) Studying the bright side AND the dark side of public governance. The issues that we study broadly concern governance, challenges to sustainable democratic…
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Swedish Network for European Studies – Lnu The Swedish Network for European Studies (SNES) at Linnaeus University (LNU) conducts research on European politics by focusing on the EU as Foreign…
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Varieties of Political Representation The principal purpose of the research environment Varieties of Political Representation (VPR) is to be a forum for research on the study of political…
Research projects
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Doctoral project: Predictors of political activism in social media This project is focused on the factors influencing people to participate in online activism and other online political activities,…
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Project: Decreased ideological polarization and conflict in Western Europe? (DIPAC) In this project, we are studying whether the dominant thesis on decreased ideological polarization – that the…
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Project: New roles in a hostile world? With an increasing level of confrontation in world politics, small liberal states face the challenge of balancing normative liberal beliefs against the need for…
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Project: New wine in new bottles: Preconditions for a modern civil defence This project aims at producing new knowledge about and better understanding of the preconditions to develop, strengthen and…
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Project: The EU’s Commission Regulatory Scrutiny Board This project explores the role of the European Commission’s Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB) and analyses to what extent it influences the EU…
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Project: The strategic use of public procurement The research project aims to map variations in the practical application of public procurement rules in the EU member states. This will give us new…
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Seed project: Sustainable procurement in supply chains of companies The project examines to what extent organizations review their suppliers in relation to their societal and environmental impact and…
Completed research projects
Current
News
- Four researchers at Linnaeus University make onto IVA’s 100-list News
- Why don’t more people become politically engaged in semi-authoritarian regimes like Russia? News
- Revealing research about the EU body that has great power over legislation – but that few know about News
- Individual leaders and their relationships have great impact on international politics News
- Questions and answers about the war in Ukraine News
- The university's new professors lecture about their research News
Staff
- Anders Persson Senior lecturer
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- Anne Haglund Morrissey Senior lecturer
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- Brigitte Pircher Associate professor
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- Charlotte Silander associate professor
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- Daniel Silander Associate Professor
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- Douglas Brommesson Professor
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- Elizaveta Kopacheva Doctoral student
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- Elvis Bisong Tambe Senior lecturer
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- Emma Ricknell Postdoctoral Fellow
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- Erik Wångmar Associate Professor
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- Evelina Möllenborg Senior lecturer
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- Gerard de Castro Coll Doctoral student
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- Helena Ekelund Senior lecturer
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- Henrik Enroth Associate Professor
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- Joacim Martinsson Rikner Development strategist
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- Joel Martinsson Doctoral student
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- Johanna Jormfeldt Senior lecturer, head of department
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- Jonna Arenlind Doctoral student
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- Magnus Hagevi Professor
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- Maria Owiredu Doctoral student
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- Martin Nilsson Senior Lecturer
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- Mats Sjölin Senior professor
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- Mattias Gunnarsson Analyst
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- Mattias Örnerheim Senior lecturer
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- Natia Gamkrelidze Senior lecturer, Phd
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- Patric Lindgren Senior lecturer
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- Per Strömblad Professor
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- Sofie Tornhill docent
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- Staffan Andersson Associate Professor
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- Stefan Höjelid Associate Professor
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- Tobias Bromander Senior Lecturer, Head of department
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- Torgny Klasson Senior Lecturer
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- Yonhyok Choe Associate Professor
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