Testimonials
The international classroom is a great addition to the atmosphere and gives me more in-depth knowledge.
- Previous education
- BSc Politicologie (Radboud University)
- Programme
- Diversity and Inequality in Politics
- Study start date
What do you like about the specialisation and why?
I really like that this Political Science specialisation is interdisciplinary and different from the common tracks in Political Science. I was ready for some new perspectives after finishing the Bachelor's of Political Science and this programme provides that. I find it super interesting to learn about gender studies and deepen my knowledge of Political Science at the same time. This combination makes this specialisation unique within the Netherlands. I especially appreciate all the new insights I have already gained. I enjoy learning about gendered implications in various aspects of society, and the (business) reasons for improving equality, diversity and inclusion.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
This Master’s programme consists of small classes which allows for great discussions. Everyone is open and eager to learn which creates a nice and comfortable atmosphere. I find the teachers and my fellow students very inspiring and the relationship between students and teachers is informal. The international classroom is a great addition to the atmosphere and it gives me more in-depth knowledge. It is amazing to meet people from all over the world and learn from people with different backgrounds and cultures!
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s specialisation?
The subjects of gender, race, class and ethnicity were new to me in an academic context and in relation to Political Science. It takes some time to familiarise yourself with these concepts but the new course ‘Current Debates on Gender, Race, Ethnicity’ really helps with this. Besides that, it took some time to get used to the workload of preparing all readings and assignments every week. It is different from a bachelor’s programme, but in a good way. You have to do the readings when discussing them in small classes, so everyone is always prepared and ready to share their thoughts. This ensures interesting and profound discussions.
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree? What are your plans once you have received your Master's degree?
I believe that knowledge of what gender, race, class and ethnicity mean for people and what consequences these aspects have, is crucial to achieving a society with equal opportunities for all. This way we can create a society that is sustainable for ourselves and future generations. My personal goal is to be a part in making the world a better place and you can do this at various places and levels: governments, NGOs, international organisations or the private sector. The practical and theoretical aspects of this Master’s programme combined give me the tools and knowledge for that. You learn to critically look at policies and design them with a focus on improving equality, diversity and inclusion. This is super valuable for various organisations and sectors.
It is important to have people who are well versed in the material who then can support or advise against certain decisions by governments, organisations or other relevant actors.
- Previous education
- BSc Political Science - Radboud University
- Programme
- Diversity and Inequality in Politics
- Study start date
- Study end date
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?
What I enjoy about the programme most is it’s multidisciplinary nature. It is not just political science but it is combined with a gender and diversity perspective which gives it a unique dynamic. In different courses you are often together with students from other specialisations or even other Master's programmes which results in many different perspectives. Although these sometimes clash with your own, you might find them too economically driven for example, it also allows you to take other viewpoints into account and understand where others are coming from, which is important when studying diversity and inclusion.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class (for example the relationship between students and with the teachers/researchers)?
Classes are small, smaller than in the Bachelor’s, so there is much more room for discussion amongst students. This also means that you have a more direct relation with the teacher(s). A consequence of this is that you need to be prepared for classes. If you haven’t done the readings, it will be very obvious you don’t know what you are talking about and it will be much harder for you to participate in the discussions and understand the material.
The number of students in this Master's specialisation is quite small which means you get to know your fellow students well, which is nice, as you can easily share both your interests and enjoyment of the programme as well as your frustrations and struggles.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
What is perhaps challenging about the Master's is the fact that you have to be well prepared for classes. But this goes for any (political science) Master's. What is perhaps a bit of an obstacle for this specialisation in particular is that it does not have its “own” course. The specialisation combines courses from different programmes which all somehow relate to gender, diversity and inclusion. This does however mean that there is, as of yet, no “Introduction to Gender theories” course or something similar. When starting the Master's some knowledge on these topics is assumed. Another consequence is that you sometimes have courses which have less to do with gender, diversity and inclusion then you might like, or does focus on them but in a different way. Nevertheless, the Master's gives you a deeper insight into political science from a different point of view, rather than the more common perspectives such as conflict or international relation perspectives.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
I am currently not doing an internship or writing my thesis as I am planning on following two Master's programmes, which means that I will start on those later. It might be good to know that although the specialisation is scheduled to take one year, this does not automatically have to be the case. Many students decide to spent more time on an internship, study abroad, follow other courses and so on. So, if this is something you want to do, there is room to do so. Just talk to your study advisor and see what can be arranged. (And be creative with it!)
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
In our current society there is great polarization when it comes to the topic of diversity and inclusion. Therefore, it is important to have people who are well versed in the material who then can support or advise against certain decisions by governments, organisations or other relevant actors. This is something you immediately notice once you get into the topic of diversity and inclusion. Once you tell someone what you study, discussions arise. “Yes, but don’t you think we are taking things too far?” (a question which was posed to me during a job interview) or “But we have already achieved gender equality, why are you complaining” and so on. Thus, it is important to have people who can guide/navigate these ongoing discussions from a scientific perspective in order to ensure an inclusive and just society for all.
I always try to integrate gender into the courses I teach, using examples from my own research, and I also teach guest lectures on gender and conflict.
- Nationality
- Dutch
- Programme
- Diversity and Inequality in Politics
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Sanne Weber and I am an Assistant Professor in Peace and Conflict Studies. I work at the Centre for International Conflict Analysis and Management (CICAM) which is part of the Department of Political Science. I teach courses on research methods, terrorism and an introductory course on peace and conflict studies.
My research analyses how gender impacts conflicts, and how conflicts affect gender relations. I am particularly interested in the period after conflicts have ended. How do countries move on after serious human rights abuses? How can post-conflict policies, like justice and reconciliation programmes, or reintegration processes for former combatants, help to transform gender inequality? I always try to integrate gender into the courses I teach, using examples from my own research, and I also teach guest lectures on gender and conflict.
Why did you choose to work in this field? What makes this field so interesting?
Before I started working in academia, I worked in human rights and development organisations. I spent more than five years working in Guatemala, doing research and lobbying work in the field of transitional justice. This is a set of measures, consisting of truth, justice and reparation processes, which aim to support post-conflict societies to deal with their past and move on towards a more equal future. Within this, I specifically worked on the issue of gender. How did women experience conflict? Why are their experiences often unheard and unaddressed? How can we help survivors to obtain a better life, in a fairer and more equal country? As an organisation, we worked a lot with survivors' movements to help them get their demands across, and we did lobbying work with the government and international organisations to support these goals. This prior work experience inspired me to do academic research in this field of transitional justice and gender.
What are you currently doing your own research on?
In my doctoral and postdoctoral research, I researched what gender-just peace looks like for both survivors and ex-combatants of the long conflict in Colombia. Using qualitative research methods, including photography as a method, I explored what the gendered dynamics of reparation and reintegration programmes were. Unfortunately, I found that policies that seem to be gender-sensitive, in practice often reinforce gender inequality and thus weaken the chances of achieving holistic and durable peace. Together with the participants in Colombia, I explored how these policies could be improved to really combat and transform gender inequality. My research was published in a book, ‘Gender and Citizenship in Transitional Justice: Everyday Experiences of Reparation and Reintegration in Colombia’.
Since then, I have also studied which resources and support systems young Afro-Colombian people have access to or lack to support their mental health, in a violent and conflict-affected region of Colombia. As a team, we used creative research methods, leading to the creation of murals in the young people's community and at their university.
Most recently, I have started a new field of research, studying how the Netherlands deals with its colonial and slavery past. Also here, I aim to research what role gender plays in the effects of historical injustices like slavery and colonialism, and in how we commemorate and address them.
What advice do you have for students making their study choice?
When choosing a study programme, try to not only think of job prospects, but let your interests and curiosity guide you. Most Master programmes will equip you with a set of transferrable skills like writing, presentation and critical analysis skills, which will help you find a job in a range of sectors. So now is your chance to actually follow your own interest, and spend time diving into a theme or topic that really fascinates you!
What is the best part of working with students?
Since I teach a lot on elective courses, which bring together students from diverse study programmes, it is really exciting how students bring different backgrounds which shed different lights on the topics I teach. I really enjoy having discussions with students, and learning from their different insights. Supervising Master theses can also be really interesting. Through the different and often original topics that students decide to research, I learn about new topics, theories and methods.