Programme History

60 Years of Leading Political Studies in New Zealand!

The VUW political science programme was the first of its kind in New Zealand, setting the standard for other politics departments around the country and providing New Zealand with some of its seminal works on its own domestic politics. Leslie Lipson, the founding professor of politics, produced one of New Zealand's key studies entitled The Politics of Equality. His successor, Professor K. J. Scott, also made a distinguished contribution to the study of New Zealand's constitutional arrangements in The New Zealand Constitution. Professor R. S. Milne later published New Zealand's first book length treatment of the country's parties in Political Parties in New Zealand. Today's staff include some of New Zealand's leading minds on voting behaviour, political sociology, leadership and foreign policy. An assortment of both current and past publications are on display at the Programme office at 90 Fairlie Terrace, which has established a collection in the name of Professor Lipson.

The Programme's links with its past are also reflected in many of its prizes and its teaching and research facilities. For example, the Programme's top undergraduate being in the name of Professor Scott (for whom the Common Room at 86 Fairlie Terrace is also named). In addition, the Programme's seminar room in 86 Fairlie Terrace is named for its late Professor R. H. Brookes, while its other seminar room in 82 Fairlie Terrace is named for Dr A. D. Robinson (formerly a Reader in the Department) in whose name the prize for the best Honours essay was established.

What is now the Political Science and International Relations Programme has gone by other names in the past and its staff's various research and teaching focuses have also changed over the years and with the times. Originally entitled the School of Political Science and Public Administration, with Professor John L. Roberts as its founding professor of public administration, the School was later renamed the Department of Politics.

In 1994, the University appointed Ralph Pettman as its first Professor of International Relations. Subsequently, Professor Pettman established two new degree programmes (the Master of International Relations and the Master of Asia-Pacific Affairs); the world's first electronic journal of international relations, AntePodium; the biennial Wellington Conference on World Affairs; and the annual "Diplomatic Conclusions" series, which provides a forum for ambassadors and high commissioners in New Zealand to address the University and the public at large.

Since these innovations in the IR programme, there have also been innovations at the university level. In 2000, the department joined the new School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations and was re-named the Political Science and International Relations Programme. We nonetheless maintain close links with researchers and lecturers in Public Policy and Public Management, who are now housed within VUW's School of Government.

Page Top