Department of Political Science

Activities, main tasks and objectives

The aim of the Department of Political Science is to train specialists at the bachelor's and master's level who possess the theoretical background to become managers in state and local government institutions and in the diplomatic service. To achieve this goal, political science and international relations students learn the fundamental and methodological foundations of political science, while being given the opportunity to test them in the internships organised by the Faculty of European Studies (ESF).

The main tasks of the Department of Political Science are to facilitate the study process and to carry out research activities in the field of political science:

• To prepare academically highly educated and competitive specialists in the field of international relations and political science, who are able to carry out expert analyses of international processes and analytical research on international policy issues, as well as to participate in the development of concepts and strategies in international, public, local and private bodies on international policy issues and to take decisions related to international relations issues;
• to provide in-depth knowledge of the theory and practice of international politics, applying the theoretical knowledge and methods acquired to analyse, interpret and solve theoretical and practical problems in the context of international relations;
• to develop the research activities of academic staff and students through participation in practical and scientific projects;
• to promote the professional development, competences and career development of faculty and staff;
• to promote interdisciplinary and multi-level cooperation with other University departments, as well as with industry and professional organisations in Latvia and abroad.

Research directions

• Security and geopolitics
• Public health policy
• Sustainable democracy
• Environmental and climate narratives
• Governance and globalisation
• China in contemporary international relations
• Russia and transition studies

International and local partners in teaching and research

• The Eastern European Policy Research Centre (Austrumeiropas politikas pētījumu centrs, APPC)
• The European Consortium of Political Research (ECPR)
• The Latvian Institute of Foreign Policy
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia
• The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (Vides aizsardzības un reģionālās attīstības ministrija, VARAM)