Politics and Society

Introduction to European Politics and Society

To deal with the many issues that touch us all in today’s society, Europeans have built many rules, institutions and procedures. It is the result of centuries of attempts to overcome violence, war and anarchy and create peaceful, fair and democratic societies. To understand how this works, this course introduces key concepts in political science and applies them to Europe today. To answer the questions: “Who gets what, when and how?” in politics and “How do we create legitimate ways of living together?”, we study power, the state, political parties, social movements and the ups and downs of democratisation.

Academic Skills and Perspectives

This course introduces students to core academic skills essential for conducting research in the social sciences. Students will learn how to formulate research questions, locate and evaluate scholarly sources, and apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, academic writing, and ethical research practices. In the second part of the course aimed at the Politics and Society track, we will learn about the advantages and disadvantages of different methodologies, ranging from historical and discursive to visual and quantitative methods.

Comparative European History and Politics

This course examines European politics through a comparative and historical perspective, structured around four core dimensions: Polity, Politics, Policy, and Society. It builds on first-year foundations and deepens students’ analytical skills by combining historical developments with contemporary political science theories. Students will explore how European political systems have evolved and how they function today across different national contexts.

European Union Politics

This course introduces students to the institutions and politics of the European Union. More precisely, the course familiarises students with: a) the historical development and trajectories of European integration; b) the key institutions of the European Union and their links with European society; c) the main problems and players of European Union politics; d) the EU’s political economy. At the end of the course, students will have gained a good understanding of what the European Union is and does, its key political actors and dynamics, and the main public debates and challenges surrounding it.

Politics and Society Thesis Lab

Writing a thesis based on independent research on a topic of your own choice is the capstone of the undergraduate experience. Thesis Lab helps students take the first major step towards a successful BA thesis by guiding them in the development of a clear research proposal and a well-designed research plan. Students learn how to formulate a focused research question, engage with relevant academic literature, build a suitable theoretical framework, and select appropriate methods and sources. Through presentations, peer feedback, and guided discussion, they sharpen their ideas, position their project within existing scholarship, and lay a strong foundation for independent research.

Politics and Society Impact Lab

How can your academic research make a difference beyond the classroom? In Impact Lab, students learn to connect their own research in European politics and society to real-world debates, stakeholders, and societal challenges. The course helps students identify who could benefit from their work, why their research matters, and how to communicate its relevance to audiences outside academia. Impact Lab gives students practical tools to think strategically about the broader impact of their research in light of the pressing political and social issues of our time.

At the end of the programme, students also write a Bachelor Thesis related to their profile on the topic of their choice; some examples from past topics include:

• Education under Populism: How Left-Wing Populism Influences Education in Slovakia

• Xenophobic Discourses on Refugee Integration in the Netherlands: An Analysis of Integration Theories and Interviews with Refugees

• Italians First? Public versus Experts on the Impact of Immigration

• Gendered Representations - The Influence of Stereotypes on the Media Portrayal of Politicians

• Tweeting Populism: Analyzing Political Communication in Poland before the 2023 Parliamentary Elections

• International Security and Military Cooperation: A Comparative Analysis of Radical Right Parties in the Netherlands and Sweden (2014–2023)

• Welfare Populism in Europe: Left- and Right-Wing Iterations in the Netherlands and Germany

• ‘Those Were the Days’: Far-Right Imperial Nostalgia in Britain, the Netherlands, and France, 2006-2024

• “La bordélisation de l’Assemblée Nationale”: A carnivalesque manœuvre facilitating the rise of the far-right.

• Romaphobia in Romania: the antagonization of culture

• Legitimizing Injustice: Meritocracy and the Dutch Childcare Benefits scandal.

• Jong Geleerd, Oud Gedaan: gendered far right radicalisation in youth organisations and political parties in the Netherlands

• “We believe in Europe because we are Europe”: European identity and ambivalent Euroscepticism. A critical discourse analysis of the AfD and Vox in the last two European elections

• Applying ‘Stoic Leadership’ and the ‘Cardinal Virtues’ to Contemporary Leadership in The Netherlands

• Remnants of Empire: Exploring the Socio-Political Legacy of Imperialism and Colonialism in Haiti

• The Influence of Politics of Antisemitism on Political Discourse Regarding Israel/Palestine in Germany

• Identity and Chinese Young Adults in the Netherlands