Political Science (Research unit)

Id: VUB_431

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

The 'Vakgroep Politieke Wetenschappen' (Department of Political Science) saw the light in 1998 as a fusion of the former Centre for Political Science and the Centre for Peace and Security Studies. The Centre for Political Science's expertise covered many different areas of political research and dealt in general with topics that can be labelled 'national politics'. It was involved in projects on the organisational forms of political parties, electoral behaviour, electoral systems, new parties, nationalism and regionalism, federalism, decision-making processes, social movements, local politics, evolution and consolidation of democracy, the Brussels region, immigration. The Centre for Peace and Security Studies has a long tradition of research into divergent and convergent powers in international systems. It has looked more in particular at the conflict potential and at techniques and strategies of conflict resolution and prevention. Several projects and publications dealt with the theoretical analysis of international relations, and especially with the development of arms systems. This centre thus focused on 'international politics'. With the creation of one single research department came a deliberate end to this neat separation between 'national' and 'international' politics. In an era of globalisation and growing interdependence such sharp division is becoming obsolete, not in the least because many aspects of political conflict and political decision-making have both a national and an international dimensions. Research topics like nationalism, regionalism, federalism, transnationalism or democracy - to name but a few - cut right across the old distinction.

Post addresses:

Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, BE

Electronic addresses:

+32-2-6292027

Electronic addresses:

+32-2-6292278

Electronic addresses:

http://poli.vub.ac.be/

Acronym:

POLI

Keywords:

Democracy,Eastern Europe,Ethnicity,Federalism,International Relations,Migrants,Nationalism,Political Parties

Discipline codes:

• SOCIAL SCIENCES (S)
  • Political and administrative sciences
    • Development cooperation
• HUMANITIES (H)
  • History and arts
    • Political history