Philosophy and Politics

Philosophy and politics is a combination with a long pedigree, rooted in the observation that thinking clearly about how societies should be organised and how political life should be conducted requires the kind of rigorous conceptual analysis that philosophy provides. Political philosophy asks the fundamental questions that underlie every policy debate and institutional choice: what justifies political authority, what does justice require, how should freedom and equality be balanced, and what do we owe each other as members of a political community? Alongside this, the empirical study of politics examines how actual governments, parties, and institutions function, how power is distributed and contested, and what drives political change.

At Keele this three-year full-time BA brings the two disciplines together in a programme that develops both conceptual rigour and empirical knowledge. You will analyse key philosophical concepts including ethics, the philosophy of religion, and questions about the nature of reality, while also developing a deep understanding of political systems, theories of justice, and the dynamics of power at national and international levels. The programme takes a global perspective, encouraging you to examine political and philosophical questions across different cultural and institutional contexts rather than from a purely Western vantage point.

A sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement experience are all available within the programme, giving you the opportunity to develop professional skills and international experience alongside your academic studies.

Graduates pursue careers in government and politics, the civil service, law, diplomacy, policy research, think tanks, journalism, international organisations, and public affairs. The combination of philosophical rigour and political knowledge is valued wherever clear thinking about contested questions is required. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in philosophy, political science, law, or public policy.