Politics & Democracy (MSc)

Overview

Democratic systems around the world face mounting pressures: the rise of populist movements, the rapid spread of misinformation via social media, and eroding public trust in institutions all pose serious challenges. At the same time, the apparent economic successes and growing influence of authoritarian states have prompted debate about the privileged status of democracy as a form of government. These trends make the future of democracy uncertain and underline the need to understand both what sustains democratic systems and how they can weaken or collapse.

This master's programme prepares students to investigate those questions rigorously. You will gain theoretical and practical tools to analyse, critique, and contribute to the improvement of democratic governance on a global scale. A central feature of the programme is its comparative outlook: in close cooperation with scholars from the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) in Hamburg, the curriculum examines democracy in contexts across the Global North and the Global South, paying attention to differing debates about the desirability and legitimacy of democratic rule.

Why this matters for international students

Studying here gives you a broad, comparative perspective on contemporary challenges to democracy and exposes you to leading research networks through GIGA collaboration. Instruction is in English, and the programme is structured to support students who want to pursue advanced research, policy analysis, or roles that require a deep understanding of democratic processes across diverse regional contexts.

Requirements (what the programme expects from applicants)

• Interest in studying contemporary challenges to democracy (e.g., populism, misinformation, institutional trust)
• Openness to comparative perspectives covering both the Global North and Global South
• Ability to engage in analytical and critical inquiry into political institutions and legitimacy
• Proficiency in English (instruction language)

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Graduates are prepared for careers in research institutes, think tanks, policy consultancies, international organisations, non-governmental organisations and government/public administration roles where expertise on democracy, governance and comparative politics is required. The programme’s research orientation and ties with GIGA also make it a solid preparation for doctoral studies and academic careers.

The curriculum’s methodological and analytical training equips students for roles in political analysis, advocacy, programme design and evaluation, international development, and media/journalism focused on governance and democratic processes. The international and comparative perspective additionally facilitates employment in transnational organisations and positions that require cross-regional expertise on democratic resilience and decline.