Coordinator: Professor Arthur Aughey

There is a strong focus on the politics of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The expertise in this area has been recognized within the University by the formation of a Research Centre on Contemporary Irish Politics. Connected areas are Anglo-Irish Relations, politics of identity, ethnic conflict and terrorism.

Other areas where members of staff are active researchers and where supervision is available are politics of the EU, French politics, women and politics, peacekeeping, Cambodian politics, conservative thought and the politics of constitutional change in the United Kingdom.

Research Facilities

The University library has an excellent collection of primary and secondary materials on Irish politics, the politics of Northern Ireland and British politics, including newspapers, pamphlets and political ephemera. There are also materials available to support research in political theory, economic policy-making, civil service, European politics, women's studies, conflict resolution, labour history and industrial relations.

In addition, the resources of the Centre for the Study of Conflict and those available for subjects involving research on women are available to students with a related research topic. Research training is undertaken by the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences for students registered for MPhil or DPhil degrees, including the acquisition of computer skills.

Computer rooms are available to students at Coleraine, Jordanstown and Magee College. Students may also gain access to the resources of INCORE, International Conflict Research, directed by Professor Gillian Robinson, which was founded though an agreement between the United Nations University and the University of Ulster to establish a research and training centre devoted to further understanding of the global problems of ethnic conflicts and their transformation.