POLITICS plays a fundamental part in society, and the study of its history, its theories and its dynamics has an important role in passing down the lessons of our past to the decision-makers who will shape our lives in the future.

It is a sad day, therefore, when a great seat of learning like the University of Liverpool announces that it is planning to bring its political studies to an end.

The university’s philosophy, communications and statistics departments are also facing closure, and, according to internal documents seen by this newspaper, civil engineering, cancer studies, dentistry, American studies and sociology may also come under threat.

The University of Liverpool is one of Britain’s great educational institutions, and this city is rightly proud to have it here. It is also a major employer and a very significant driver of the regional economy, both through its business enterprises and the thousands of students it attracts here.

The moves proposed would weaken its educational offering, and end a long history of distinguished academic endeavour in the city in some of the threatened disciplines.

Universities, like everyone else, have budgets to hit, and are not run on a purely altruistic basis. Much of their prestige, and much of their income, comes from ground-breaking research.

It appears that the decisions to close down these important educational areas are being driven by the fact that they are not driving sufficient research revenue.

One understands those concerns, particularly in the challenging economic climate we all face in 2009, but it must be remembered that universities also have a higher purpose, to educate the future leaders who will carry our civilisation forward. We lose sight of that at our peril.