The Department of Political Science and Public Administration of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is an institute for high quality academic research and education.
Within the area of Public Administration research is conducted into governance and public administration. These issues are highly relevant for society: How is our governance organised, how are decisions being made, on what content is decided, are decisions always executed, which interests are being served and are goals always achieved?
Within the research area of Political Science the three main subdisciplines of this academic field are covered: comparative politics, international relations and political theory. This research area also deals with issues which are relevant for society: How can we reform our political system, under which conditions do states decide to wage war and how do international organisations influence our national societies?
The Department of Political Science and Public Administration offers a range of internationally accredited bachelor's and master's programmes with different emphases on the relationship between politics and governance, and national and international policy. Within these programmes there is special attention for issues such as the welfare state and socio-economic redistribution, policing, sustainability, national and international security, and European integration.