Literature and Politics

Literature and politics is a degree that takes seriously the deep and enduring relationship between imaginative writing and political life. Literature has always been a space in which political questions are explored, contested, and reimagined: from the political philosophy embedded in Plato's dialogues and the satire of Swift and Voltaire to the novels of George Orwell, Chinua Achebe, and Toni Morrison, writers have used fiction, poetry, and drama to examine power, justice, identity, and the conditions of human freedom. Politics, in turn, shapes the conditions under which literature is written, published, and read.

At the University of the Highlands and Islands you will study part-time, taking fewer course units per week than a full-time student and progressing through the degree at a pace suited to your other commitments. The literary strand will develop your close reading skills and critical vocabulary, engaging with a range of texts across periods, genres, and cultures, and encouraging you to think carefully about how literature creates meaning and why it matters. The politics strand will develop your understanding of political theory, institutions, power, and the forces that drive political change, giving you the analytical tools to situate literary texts in their political contexts and to understand why literature and politics remain inseparable.

The Highlands and Islands context, with its distinctive cultural and political history, can inform both sides of the programme in unique ways.

Graduates of literature and politics enter careers that draw on both analytical and communication skills. Journalism, policy work, public affairs, education, publishing, and the arts and cultural sector are all common directions. The critical and interpretive skills the degree develops are also valued in law, the civil service, and human services roles.

Teaching literature and politics at secondary and college level is a well-supported pathway. Postgraduate study in literature, politics, cultural studies, or journalism is available for those who wish to deepen their expertise or pursue academic and research careers.