Political violence, inadequate education and health systems, and failed livelihoods have profoundly exacerbated social inequalities and led to widespread political disenchantment in large parts of the world. Gains made previously by women, LGBT communities, and historically disadvantaged ethnic and racial minorities have in some instances been lost. There has therefore never been a more important time to understand the nature of political institutions, their role in shaping human society, and social mobilisation at the grassroots. Geographers have a key role to play in showing how place, space, and the environment shapes and is in turn shaped by politics and social action.

Subjects in this pathway explore government and governance, civil society, health, education, migration, housing, cities, demography, youth, and inequality, building both on detailed regional knowledge and awareness of wider global, comparative trends.

Recommended course structure

Pathways are designed to help students identify geography subjects focused on a specific theme. Pathways are not formal degrees or qualifications, rather they are recommended groupings of similar or related subjects that students may choose to enrol in if they wish to develop an expertise in a specific topic of interest, or to build a particular skill base for their preferred career path.