What a time to be a politics student! Britain is on the cusp of leaving the EU, and for many of this student generation, it feels like uncharted territory. Terrelle Iziren explains what it’s like to study on the BA Politics and International Relations programme in the creative environment of Goldsmiths.
Similarly to many other UK universities, politics at Goldsmiths is not all Eurocentric. The beauty of being surrounded by students from such a diverse range of cultures is that you get to discover others’ personal experiences first-hand. This serves us well when the course require us to compare different governments in China and the US, and explore how they have created different legislation throughout history to protect their citizens. We are encouraged to think independently, critically, and analytically about historical events like the Cold War, and explain how they may have shaped modern-day global society.
Brexit protestors outside the Palace of Westminster (Pic: John Cameron)
“What if I am wrong? What if others disagree with me?”
In first year, giving your opinion on political philosophers like Thomas Hobbes or John Locke can be daunting, especially if you are hearing about the state of nature for the first time. “What if I am wrong? What if others disagree with me?” A core tenet of being a politics student at Goldsmiths is sometimes agreeing to disagree. Overcoming this first-year-fear helped build me up to delivering a second-year group presentation in my seminar. This was part of a Global Governance assignment on how effective the United Nations has been in protecting human rights worldwide since its creation in 1945. The Academic Skills Centre at Goldsmiths is always on hand to support students throughout their course, whether that is one-to-one essay writing support, or identifying strategies to improve note-taking and research skills.
House of Lords & House of Commons Lobby, Houses of Parliament (Pic:Jorge Royan / )
It’s not all work though – students have the opportunity to become involved in many societies including Debating, and Politics, in addition to social events. Last February, the Politics department offered students a free tour of the Houses of Parliament. We learned about the history of British politics, and how the Battle of the Commons during the 1620s caused divisions in Westminster, as the King tried to arrest MPs. After Parliament went to war with King Charles I, the king was tried, and eventually executed. Since then, royal family members have not been allowed to take seats in the House of Commons.
Last year, Politics student representatives organised a trip to a Jeremy Bentham exhibition at University College, London, and a free Italian meal. There are always opportunities for you to get outdoors and explore your degree beyond the lecture theatre.
If you are interested in studying Politics at Goldsmiths, check out the department’s webpage, and the BA Politics and International Relations page on the Goldsmiths website. For more information on Goldsmiths societies, please visit the Students’ Union website.