Personal Statement:Politics/Philosophy

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Growing up under corrupt military dictatorships strongly shaped my conceptions of, and interest in politics. Seeing how ill-governance by corrupt and illegitimate regimes engendered economic hardships and political strife made me realise that politics is essentially about power, who gets it, how they use it and what makes society fair. I thus began to ponder over ideas such as legitimacy, justice, equality and what the 'ideal' form of Government was in light of the failure of the prevailing one.

While many facets of politics interest me, political theory has mainly drawn my attention, as it leads one to consider the foundations of state legitimacy. Jonathan Wolff's 'Introduction to Political Philosophy' has led me to question the relevance of Hobbes' work to modern society and the morality of the role of the state. I particularly found his assertion that an absolute and indivisible "Soveraigne Power" justified to stop society from returning to an anarchic 'war of all against all' very intriguing, as some nations still grapple with ethnic civil wars and conditions comparable to a 'Hobbesian State of nature'. In Plato's 'Republic' the idea of a 'Philosopher-King' creating an 'ideal' society was thought-provoking, in that without a democratic voting system, how were people's interests to be known and advanced to create that ‘ideal’ society? In the context of democracy, I realise that J.S Mill's warning of the 'tyranny of the majority' effectively contrasts with Plato’s idea, in that the ‘tyranny of the majority’ may be a price worth paying for self-determination, as opposed to enlightened but unaccountable governance which Plato seems to advocate.

In light of the contemporary political climate, I feel that the Government’s abuse of civil liberties on the grounds of security, in the fight against terrorism, is a crucial issue. Interested in A.C Grayling's rebuttal of this, I attended his RSA civil liberties lecture, which re-enforced my fears of authoritarianism seeping into Britain and the urgent need to maintain the balance between liberty and security. World politics and international relations also interest me greatly; the increasing polarisation of political power in the hands of the west, particularly the USA, is a major issue in its implications for the freedoms and economic capacities of poor nations. George Monbiot's idea, of radically replacing the current ‘world order’ to ensure democracy in world politics is, for me, an interesting departure.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

Studying in the U.K has also introduced me to a completely different perspective of politics; unitary Government, un-codified constitutions and parliamentary Government are not features of Nigerian politics. Being an active member of a school political society has also further enhanced my political awareness, particularly through participating in debates. I look forward to continuing my political participation at university. Furthermore, I have been able to gain an effective insight into party politics through shadowing a local party councillor. Studying the interactions between political systems such as fascism and communism in A-level History has also been intellectually stimulating, and I look forward to exploring them further. History has also honed my critical and intellectual abilities, and I feel this is relevant to the rigorous analysis of arguments Politics entails.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

Aside from academics, I also gained a certificate of merit in the MAN 'O'WAR Leadership scheme and was a runner up in the New Era Foundation "Who is God?" poetry competition. Undertaking voluntary work and a summer internship at HSBC enhanced my interpersonal, leadership and organisational skills; these are some of the qualities which I will bring to university life. Lastly, given my open-minded, probing, and diligent nature, I hope to one day make a difference to Nigeria's still beleaguered and corrupt political system.

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

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