research work in political science

Research Topics & Ideas: Politics

100+ Politics-Related Research Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

Political science research topics and ideas

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation or thesis. If you’ve landed on this post, chances are you’re looking for a politics-related research topic , but aren’t sure where to start. Here, we’ll explore a variety of politically-related research ideas across a range of disciplines, including political theory and philosophy, comparative politics, international relations, public administration and policy.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas. This is the starting point, but to develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. Also, be sure to sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic from scratch.

Overview: Politics-Related Topics

Political theory and philosophy
Comparative politics
International relations
Public administration
Public policy
Examples of politics-related dissertations

Topics & Ideas: Political Theory

An analysis of the impact of feminism on political theory and the concept of citizenship in Saudi Arabia in the context of Vision 2030
A comparative study of the political philosophies of Marxism and liberalism and their influence on modern politics
An examination of how the Covid-19 pandemic affected the relationship between individual freedom and collective responsibility in political philosophy
A study of the impact of race and ethnicity on French political philosophy and the concept of justice
An exploration of the role of religion in political theory and its impact on secular democracy in the Middle East
A Review of Social contract theory, comparative analysis of the political philosophies of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau
A study of the concept of the common good in political philosophy and its relevance to the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe
An examination of the relationship between political power and the rule of law in developing African countries
A study of the impact of postmodernism on political theory and the concept of truth, a case study of the US
An exploration of the role of virtue in political philosophy and its impact on the assessment of moral character in political leaders

Topics & Ideas: Comparative Politics

A comparative study of different models of federalism and their impact on democratic governance: A case Study of South American federalist states
The impact of ethnic and religious diversity on political stability and democracy in developing countries, a review of literature from Africa
An analysis of the role of civil society in promoting democratic change in autocratic regimes: A case study in Sweden
A comparative examination of the impact of globalization on political institutions and processes in South America and Africa.
A study of the factors that contribute to successful democratization in authoritarian regimes, a review of the role of Elite-driven democratization
A comparison of the political and economic systems of China and India and their impact on social development
The impact of corruption on political institutions and democracy in South East Asia, a critical review
A comparative examination of the impact of majoritarian representation (winner-take-all) vs proportional representation on political representation and governance
An exploration of Multi-party systems in democratic countries and their impact on minority representation and policy-making.
A study of the factors that contribute to successful decentralization and regional autonomy, a case study of Spain

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Topics & Ideas: International Relations

A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of diplomacy and military force in resolving international conflicts in Central Africa.
The impact of globalization on the sovereignty of nation-states and the changing nature of international politics, a review of the role of Multinational Corporations
An examination of the role of international aid organizations in promoting peace, security, and development in the Middle East.
A study of the impact of economic interdependence on the likelihood of conflict in international relations: A critical review of weaponized interdependence
A comparative analysis of the foreign policies of the EU and the US and their impact on international stability in Africa
An exploration of the relationship between international human rights and national sovereignty during the Covid 19 pandemic
A study of the role of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO)s in international politics and their impact on state behaviour
A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of international regimes in addressing global challenges such as climate change, arms control, and terrorism in Brazil
An examination of the impact of the rise of BRICS on the international system and global governance
A study of the role of ideology in shaping the foreign policies of states and the dynamics of international relations in the US

Free Webinar: How To Find A Dissertation Research Topic

Tops & Ideas: Public Administration

An analysis of the impact of digital technology on public administration and the delivery of public services in Estonia
A review of models of public-private partnerships and their impact on the delivery of public services in Ghana
An examination of the role of civil society organizations in monitoring and accountability of public administration in Papua New Guinea
A study of the impact of environmentalism as a political ideology on public administration and policy implementation in Germany
An exploration of the relationship between public administration and citizen engagement in the policy-making process, an exploration of gender identity concerns in schools
A comparative analysis of the efficiency and effectiveness of public administration, decentralisation and pay and employment reform in developing countries
A study of the role of collaborative leadership in public administration and its impact on organizational performance
A systematic review of the challenges and opportunities related to diversity and inclusion in police services
A study of the impact of corrupt public administration on economic development and regional growth in Eastern Europe
An exploration of the relationship between public administration and civil rights and liberties, including issues related to privacy and surveillance, a case study in South Korea

Topics & Ideas: Public Policy

An analysis of the impacts of public policy on income inequality and poverty reduction in South Sudan
A comparative study of the effectiveness of legal and regulatory, economic and financial, and social and cultural instruments for addressing climate change in South Korea
An examination of the role of interest groups in shaping public policy and the policy-making process regarding land-use claims
A study of the impact of globalization on the development of public policies and programs for mitigating climate change in Singapore
An exploration of the relationship between public policy and social justice in tertiary education in the UAE
A comparative analysis of the impact of health policies for the management of diabetes on access to healthcare and health outcomes in developing countries
Exploring the role of evidence-based policymaking in the design and implementation of public policies for the management of invasive invertebrates in Australia
An examination of the challenges and opportunities of implementing educational dietary public policies in developing multicultural countries
A study of the impact of public policies on urbanization and urban development in rural Indonesia
An exploration of the role of media and public opinion in shaping public policy and the policy-making process in the transport industry of Malaysia

Examples: Politics Dissertations & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a politics-related research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various politics-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

We, the Righteous Few: Immoral Actions of Fellow Partisans are Judged as Less Possible (Varnam, 2020)
Civilizing the State: Civil Society and the Politics of Primary Public Health Care Provision in Urban Brazil (Gibson, 2012)
Political regimes and minority language policies: evidence from Taiwan and southeast Asia (Wu, 2021)
The Feminist Third Wave: Social Reproduction, Feminism as Class Struggle, and Contemporary Women’s Movements (Angulo, 2019)
The Politics of Immigration under Authoritarianism (Joo, 2019)
The politics of digital platforms: Sour Dictionary, activist subjectivities, and contemporary cultures of resistance (Okten, 2019)
Vote choice and support for diverse candidates on the Boston City Council At-Large (Dolcimascolo, 2022)
The city agenda: local governance and national influence in the policy agenda, 1900-2020 (Shannon, 2022)
Turf wars: who supported measures to criminalize homelessness in Austin, Texas? (Bompiedi, 2021)
Do BITs Cause Opposition Between Investor Rights and Environmental Protection? (Xiong, 2022)
Revealed corruption and electoral accountability in Brazil: How politicians anticipate voting behavior (Diaz, 2021)
Intersectional Solidarity: The Political Consequences of a Consciousness of Race, Gender and Sexuality (Crowder, 2020)
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Coalitional Representation of Latinxs in the U.S. House of Representatives (Munoz, 2019)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. In other words, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

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If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your dissertation or research project, check out our Topic Kickstarter service below.

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The SAGE Handbook of Research Methods in Political Science and International Relations

Luigi Curini - Università degli Studi di Milano
Robert Franzese - University of Michigan
Description

The SAGE Handbook of Research Methods in Political Science and International Relations offers a comprehensive overview of research processes in social science — from the ideation and design of research projects, through the construction of theoretical arguments, to conceptualization, measurement, & data collection, and quantitative & qualitative empirical analysis — exposited through 65 major new contributions from leading international methodologists.

Each chapter surveys, builds upon, and extends the modern state of the art in its area. Following through its six-part organization, undergraduate and graduate students, researchers and practicing academics will be guided through the design, methods, and analysis of issues in Political Science and International Relations:

Part One: Formulating Good Research Questions & Designing Good Research Projects

Part Two: Methods of Theoretical Argumentation

Part Three: Conceptualization & Measurement

Part Four: Large-Scale Data Collection & Representation Methods

Part Five: Quantitative-Empirical Methods

Part Six: Qualitative & “Mixed” Methods

See what’s new to this edition by selecting the Features tab on this page. Should you need additional information or have questions regarding the HEOA information provided for this title, including what is new to this edition, please email [email protected] . Please include your name, contact information, and the name of the title for which you would like more information. For information on the HEOA, please go to http://ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html .

For assistance with your order: Please email us at [email protected] or connect with your SAGE representative.

SAGE 2455 Teller Road Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 www.sagepub.com

Supplements

For scholars seeking credible research designs, this is an indispensable volume. The methods are wide-ranging and on the cutting edge, and the authors are an all-star cast of leading experts.

This is an extraordinarily comprehensive handbook on the current state of the art in research methods for political science. The roster of authors is both stellar and extensive. No single person knows this much about all this material. So all serious researchers can benefit from having this handbook on their shelves, whether to expand the scope of their own work or to enhance their reading of the work of others.

Since the dawn of the twenty-first century there has been an explosion of methods in the social and natural sciences. As data has gotten bigger and bigger, we have been developing new tools to acquire, analyze, and synthesize all these bits and bytes, and this has led to nothing short of a revolution in political science. The very leaders of this revolution have come together in these volumes to show the way, with both deep insight and engaging connections to the biggest substantive problems of our day. This is literally the dream team of political science, and they are explaining in plain language exactly how to live on the cutting edge. As someone deeply committed to both learning and teaching new methods, I can't think of another book I would rather have on my shelf.

This handbook provides the reader with a very broad overview of research methods in political science. With chapters authored by notable senior and junior methodologists and applicants, it does not only cover a wide range of techniques, but also places methods within their context, such as research designs. This book is an excellent companion for researchers of all steps of their career who are about to find their way through the jungle of methodological offers.

This is a very impressive and broad collection of authors and essays. This book will be my, and my students’, first stop in exploring any topic in political methodology. The editors provide an important service to the discipline.

The Sage Handbook of Research Methods in Political Science and International Relations has wide coverage from leading scholars and practitioners. There is definitely something for everyone to learn while emphasizing accessibility for all as well.

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Select a purchasing option, related products.

This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge , the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial .

This title is also available on SAGE Research Methods , the ultimate digital methods library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial .

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The Top 10 Most Interesting Political Science Research Topics

Coming up with good political science research topics may seem like a daunting task. Whether you’re interested in foreign policy, international conflict, or immigration policy, it is worthwhile to take some time to research and find out which topics are currently relevant before diving into research. You want a topic that is manageable and meaningful. After all, you are going to invest a good deal of time and effort in answering the central questions of your project.

In this article, we will show you ten examples of political science research topics for bachelor’s degree students. We also show you how to craft political science research questions that work. With this list of currently relevant political science research paper topics, you can be sure you’ll work on something meaningful and relevant.

Find your bootcamp match

What makes a strong political science research topic.

A strong research topic is original and relevant. It builds on previous studies published by reputable sources. It’s broad enough to be relatable but narrow enough to be unique. To get some ideas, you can explore the most recent topics published in Cambridge University Press’s American Political Science Review . It covers all areas of political science, from American politics to foreign relations.

Ask teachers from your academic department what they are currently writing about. Talk to your academic advisor if you can’t find a strong topic. Finally, make sure that your topic follows the guidelines set by your teacher.

Tips for Choosing a Political Science Research Topic

Pick a meaningful topic. The research will be more enjoyable if you find it personally interesting. For instance, if immigration policy is a topic of personal value to you, you can center your research topic around it and this will help you stay engaged in your research.
Discuss research ideas with classmates. They can help you find insight from a fresh perspective.
Make sure your topic has a manageable size. One of the major requirements for choosing a topic is making sure that it will be manageable. Explore some key questions in your chosen field until you narrow your own topic down to something you can take on successfully.
Use reputable sources. Choose authoritative articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Make sure you choose the ones relevant to your topic, whether that is democratic governments, the political behavior of a particular group, or a particular authoritarian regime.
Join the current scholarly debate. Make your topic part of cutting-edge research. Discussing things like current forms of government or current political events will help you ensure your chosen topic will contribute to salient issues of political theory as well as critical policy debates.

What’s the Difference Between a Research Topic and a Research Question?

A research topic is a focused area of study in a scientific field or subfield. The goal of the research question is to narrow down that area even further. By answering the research question, you contribute to understanding the topic. The research question guides your research and writing, leading you to make a contribution to that particular topic and field.

How to Create Strong Political Science Research Questions

Gather information on your topic to get familiar with the current research. Find an interesting aspect to explore. Identify the gaps in the research mentioned in articles about your topic. Now, try to find a question that would address that gap.

Start your question with what, why, when, or how. The question must be clear and focused. You can also use guides to develop a research question by narrowing the topic to help you get started.

2. Influence of Social Movements and Advocacy Groups on Policymaking

The government often makes its policies behind closed doors. In response, social movements organize to get access to and take part in policymaking. Every representative democracy needs the participation of social movements and advocacy groups. They help to hold the American government accountable, ensuring the human rights of citizens are protected.

Social movements and advocacy groups have a powerful influence on public opinion, and can influence the political participation of specific groups. American politics has to consider their ideas to improve political attitudes. Political science researchers have to expand on this topic to understand collective action.

3. Effect of an Interdependent World on the Roles of Governments and Institutions

Many of the policy challenges at a domestic level are now global, and political leaders know this. Governments need policies to regulate institutions, promote international cooperation, and lessen political disputes. They need to train their workforce with a global mindset. This also has a direct impact on political campaigns and electoral politics.

As globalization influences the political development of all nations, government employees are now working on an international stage. They need knowledge of international relations to share knowledge and collaborate. Policymaking for an interdependent world is a relevant political science topic.

4. Prosperity and Equality Through Public Policy

The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging the financial stability of many families. Technological disruptions cause unexpected changes in the international markets. Clearly, we cannot take for granted the economic resilience of the country. The government uses economic policy to protect prosperity and equality. Economic development is a major topic in political science research.

5. Factors Influencing Policymaking Around Taxes, Regulation, and Trade

Tax policy affects economic development and social progress. Economic reform is part of the international conversation on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development . Trade regulation and immigration policies are frequently discussed in political science research, making them a great topic for any aspiring political scientist.

6. Influence of Gender, Race, Class, and Other Aspects of Identity on Policymaking

Diversity and intersectionality are becoming necessary topics in modern politics. Educational institutions and public companies are adopting equity and inclusion goals. The expectations for incorporating diversity in policymaking are higher than ever. Policymaking to prevent discrimination and create the grounds for fair immigration policy is a highly relevant topic.

7. The Role of Government in Providing Affordable Healthcare

Universal Health Coverage (UHU) is a World Health Organization (WHO) initiative to provide global access to healthcare services. The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving this goal.

The COVID-19 pandemic made clear the need for international cooperation in health. International relations theories have to change to make UHU possible. Global health policymaking is a pressing research topic in modern politics.

8. Mitigating Cyber Breaches And Security Challenges Through Policymaking

Countries are adopting cyber security strategies through policymaking. Some of them have a dedicated agency for cyber security. Worldwide, information and technology assets are growing in importance. Cyber security is now part of contemporary world politics and the economic development of nations.

Cyber regulation comes with a whole new set of policymaking challenges that contemporary world politics needs to tackle. It involves international cooperation and coordination. Policymaking to neutralize cyber threats is a growing topic in modern politics research.

9. Harnessing Data for Good Governance

Partnerships between public institutions and private companies facilitate the use of big data. This comes with several institutional challenges, like combining data sources. Regulating data access and addressing privacy concerns will need extensive policymaking. Modernizing data governance is a current topic in political science research.

10. Regulating Disinformation In the United States Through Public Policy

Americans are turning to social media and biased websites to make sense of politics. The proliferation of misinformation is fueling division and polarization, and can depress public confidence and discourage political participation. Regulating disinformation through public policy is becoming an urgent topic.

Regulating freedom of speech is not common in the American political tradition. Political scientists use cost-benefit analysis to find balanced solutions for these complex problems. There are growing opportunities for research on the topic of misinformation regulation and the role of government in the digital age.

Political Science Research Questions

How can public leaders balance political realities and policy priorities?
What developments in science and technology are changing political attitudes?
Will public-private partnerships change the approach of government to public problems?
How do policymakers navigate the tensions between private power and democratic values?
How can public policymaking integrate a human rights perspective?

Choosing the Right Political Science Research Topic

It is important to know how to choose a research topic if you want to pursue a political science degree . The right political science research topic is engaging and manageable. Choose a topic that is interesting to you. It will keep you engaged and motivated during the research process. Keep in mind that your initial research topic might change. As your expertise grows, your topic will become more precise.

Political Science Research Topics FAQ

Political science is a field of knowledge that studies political phenomena. American politics, political theories, and international politics are common topics in political science. Political scientists use comparative politics and policy analysis to improve public problems.

Political science research is important because it improves public policies and can lead to necessary legal reform. It helps citizens understand American politics and foreign policy issues. Research in political science improves international cooperation and global environmental policies, and helps us make sense of major world events.

Yes, you can get a political science degree online. You can get a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in political science without going to college. There are several online political science degree options from good universities. With a Graduate Equivalency Degree (GED), you can get a political science associate degree in two years.

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With a degree in political science, you can get a job as a legislative assistant or a campaign manager. Social media managers for political institutions are also in demand. With a graduate degree in political science, you can become a policy analyst or an urban planner. Political scientists can work in either academia or the private sector.

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Introduction to Political Science Research Methods (Franco et al.)

Last updated
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Page ID 76154

Josue Franco
Cuyamaca College

Introduction to Political Science Research Methods is an Open Education Resource Textbook that surveys the research methods employed in political science. The textbook includes chapters that cover: history and development of the empirical study of politics; the scientific method; theories, hypotheses, variables, and units; conceptualization, operationalization and measurement of political concepts; elements of research design including the logic of sampling; qualitative and quantitative research methods and means of analysis; and research ethics.

ProgramPage
Table of Contents

1.1: Welcome
1.2: The Social Network of Political Science
1.3: Organization of the Book
1.4: Analyzing Journal Articles
1.5: Research Paper Project Management
1.6: Key Terms/Glossary
1.7: Summary
1.8: Review Questions
1.9: Suggestions for Further Study

2.1: Brief History of Empirical Study of Politics
2.2: The Institutional Wave
2.3: The Behavioral Wave
2.4: Currents- Qualitative versus Quantitative
2.5: Currents- Politics- Normative and Positive Views
2.6: Emerging Wave- Experimental Political Science
2.7: Emerging Wave- Big Data and Machine Learning
2.8: Key Terms/Glossary
2.9: Summary
2.10: Review Questions
2.11: Critical Thinking Questions
2.12: Suggestions for Further Study

3.1: Philosophy of Science
3.2: Whats is the Scientific Method?
3.3: Applying the Scientific Method to Political Phenomena
3.4: Key Terms/Glossary
3.5: Summary
3.6: Review Questions
3.7: Critical Thinking Questions
3.8: Suggestions for Further Reading/Study

4.1: Correlation and Causation
4.2: Theory Constrution
4.3: Generating Hypotheses from Theories
4.4: Exploring Variables
4.5: Units of Observation and Units of Analysis
4.6: Casual Modeling
4.7: Key Terms/Glossary
4.8: Critical Thinking Problems
4.9: Review Questions
4.10: Critical Thinking Questions
4.11: Critical Thinking Questions

5.1: Conceptualization in Political Science
5.2: Operationalization
5.3: Measurement
5.4: Key Terms/Glossary
5.5: Summary
5.6: Review Questions
5.7: Critical Thinking Questions
5.8: Suggestions for Further Study

6.1: Introduction- Building with a Blueprint
6.2: Types of Design- Experimental and Nonexperimental Designs
6.3: Components of Design- Sampling
6.4: Components of Design- Observations
6.5: Key Terms/Glossary
6.6: Summary
6.7: Review Questions
6.8: Critical Thinking Questions
6.9: Suggestions for Further Study

7.1: What are Qualitative Methods?
7.2: Interviews
7.3: Exploring Documentary Sources
7.4: Ethnographic Research
7.5: Case Studies
7.6: Key Terms/Glossary
7.7: Summary
7.8: Review Questions
7.9: Critical Thinking Questions
7.10: Suggestions for Further Study

8.1: What are Quantitative Methods
8.2: Making Sense of Data
8.3: Introduction to Statistical Inference and Hypothesis Testing
8.4: Interpreting Statistical Tables in Political Science Articles
8.6: Summary
8.7: Review Questions
8.8: Critical Thinking Questions
8.9: Suggestions for Further Study
8.5: Key Terms

9.1: Ethics in Political Research
9.2: Research Ethics
9.3: Navigating Qualitative Data Collection
9.4: Research Ethics in Quantitative Research
9.5: Ethically Analyzing and Sharing Co-generated Knowledge
9.6: Key Terms/Glossary
9.7: Summary
9.8: Review Questions
9.9: Critical Thinking Questions
9.10: Suggestions for Further Study

10.1: Congratulations!
10.2: The Path Forward
10.3: Frontiers of Political Science Research Methods
10.4: How to Contribute to this OER

Detailed Licensing

Thumbnail: Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress in the Thomas Jefferson Building. (Public Domain; Carol M. Highsmith via Wikipedia )

Ethics in Political Science Research

Regulatory Practices and Practical Suggestions

Living reference work entry
First Online: 29 November 2019
Cite this living reference work entry

Daniela R. Piccio 2 &
Alice Mattoni 3

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Ethical dilemmas are much more common in political science than it is commonly envisaged. In this chapter we use the tripartite division between politics, polity, and policies and discuss the specific ethical concerns of these three core areas of research in political science. Additionally, we discuss some of the current and future challenges of research ethics in the field addressing ethics issues related to the use experiments, digital media, and the adoption of research designs that rest on action research. Overall, ethics considerations have become – and will become – increasingly important also in political science.

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Piccio, D.R., Mattoni, A. (2020). Ethics in Political Science Research. In: Iphofen, R. (eds) Handbook of Research Ethics and Scientific Integrity. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76040-7_65-1

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Interviews are a frequent and important part of empirical research in political science, but graduate programs rarely offer discipline-specific training in selecting interviewees, conducting interviews, and using the data thus collected. Interview Research in Political Science addresses this vital need, offering hard-won advice for both graduate students and faculty members. The contributors to this book have worked in a variety of field locations and settings and have interviewed a wide array of informants, from government officials to members of rebel movements and victims of wartime violence, from lobbyists and corporate executives to workers and trade unionists.

The authors encourage scholars from all subfields of political science to use interviews in their research, and they provide a set of lessons and tools for doing so. The book addresses how to construct a sample of interviewees; how to collect and report interview data; and how to address ethical considerations and the Institutional Review Board process. Other chapters discuss how to link interview-based evidence with causal claims; how to use proxy interviews or an interpreter to improve access; and how to structure interview questions. A useful appendix contains examples of consent documents, semistructured interview prompts, and interview protocols.

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What Can You Do With a Political Science Degree?

Political science is the study of politics, governance and power. A degree in this area can lead to a range of careers.

Options With a Political Science Degree?

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A political science degree is often a steppingstone to these positions, which are often in overseas charities and other private volunteer agencies.

Earning a degree in political science opens doors to jobs in both the public and private sectors, allowing graduates to use their knowledge, research abilities, and analytical and communication skills to collect and make sense of data in a range of jobs, from working with political campaigns to examining local, regional, national and global policies.

“One of the benefits of a political science degree is that it prepares students for a wide range of career paths. It’s not just one industry or sector,” says Michelle Allendoerfer, senior director of teaching and learning at the American Political Science Association in Washington, D.C. “The skills that are fostered in political science classes are transferable and reflect many of the skills that employers value, such as the ability to analyze an argument, evaluate claims, analyze data, communicate, problem-solve and work collaboratively.”

Allendoerfer and other experts in the field of political science say that data analysis – evaluating data, looking at its source and evaluating a claim based on the data – is emphasized in political science classes and is valuable to many types of employers.

Political science "has become more driven by data and it’s become more important for students of political science to know something about data analysis," says Robert Williams, a political science professor and dean of the social science division at Pepperdine University in California. "We have so much information these days that can be quantified, and so much of that is being used in political science. It’s become important for students to at least be able to read the studies based on quantitative analysis.”

Advantages of a Political Science Degree

Those who have studied political science have found that it helps them better understand events that happen in the world, experts say.

"If you care about those things," Williams says, "political science is a good major and it won’t steer you into something you don’t like because it’s taking this important stuff in the world and at the same time giving you research, analysis, writing and public speaking skills that are transferrable to anything you want to go into afterwards. It’s just a good all-purpose degree, particularly for those people who want to understand the world they live in.”

Political science majors, especially those who focused on U.S. politics, may pursue public-sector careers in politics or government agencies at all levels.

“Advocacy organizations, nonprofits, foundations and nongovernmental organizations offer opportunities for students interested in working on a specific issue or cause,” Allendoerfer says.

In the private sector, she adds, political science graduates can apply their skills in fields like consulting, data analytics, business and finance.

Careers in journalism, communications or opinion polling are also good fits for political science majors because of an emphasis on communication and writing in political science classes, says Donald P. Green, the Burgess professor of political science at Columbia University in New York.

“Students who focus on comparative politics or international relations might pursue careers in international affairs, either through the foreign service, international nongovernmental organizations or working abroad in a variety of ways,” Green says. “It gives undergraduates a broad-based exposure to world events and current issues.”

After graduating with a bachelor's degree in political science, some students go on to law school or graduate school to get an advanced degree. "Students that are particularly excited about research and are interested in a career in academia would go on to get a Ph.D. ," Allendoerfer says.

Many political science graduates, Green says, "go back to school to get master’s degrees in public administration or something that involves teaching people how to run things."

Potential Career Fields With a Political Science Degree

Here are some career sectors that people with a political science degree often choose.

Career opportunities in the legal profession are numerous. Although a number of majors can prepare someone for a legal career, political science is an especially appropriate background since law is an aspect of governments and the governing process.

Government Service and Politics

There are many career possibilities in government service, including elective office at local, state and national levels; positions on the staffs of elected officials; and staff positions with a political party.

Civil Service

There are many career possibilities in the civil service systems of national, state and local governments. Many political science majors who secure a civil service job do so in an executive or management training position. Such positions are often broad policy-making roles. Although an advanced degree isn't required for some of them, it's often beneficial to go to graduate school and obtain a master's degree in public administration.

Secondary Education

Some political science graduates obtain a secondary teaching credential and go on to careers teaching government or civics to junior high, high school or college students.

Political Science Research and Academia

An undergraduate major in political science can serve as a foundation to pursue graduate studies in political science leading to a Ph.D., which equips someone for a career as a professional political scientist. This could mean teaching and doing research at the college or university level, or obtaining a full-time research position with government or private agencies.

International Organizations

Opportunities for qualified employees with an interest in international organizations is growing, experts say. A political science degree is often a steppingstone to these positions, which are often in overseas charities and other private volunteer agencies, multinational businesses, international governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations and other international agencies.

Interest Groups and Associations

Lobbying by specific interest groups has grown significantly at both state and national levels in the U.S. since the 1960s. These groups range from traditional economic interest groups such as organized labor and business associations to groups centered around a commonality such as ethnicity, gender or sexual identity. A political science major is a natural for a position with such groups, experts say.

Covering community and political stories is a major part of a journalist's task, and political science can be an excellent background for a role in print or broadcast journalism, experts say. Those contemplating such a career should either double major in journalism or a related field, or plan to obtain a master's degree in journalism after completing a nonjournalism major.

A large number of political science graduates find work in the business sector in fields such as marketing, personnel, advertising and public or community relations. Others win management training positions with public and private corporations.

U.S. workers who majored in political science earn an average annual salary of $52,859, with those in the top 10% making more than $115,000 yearly and those in the bottom 10% coming in at below $24,000 a year, according to Zippia, a California-based job search service. Type of job, geographic location and years of experience are among the factors that cause wage differences.

Graduates working as political scientists earned an average median salary of about $128,000 in 2022, with the best-paid 25% making about $163,300 and the lowest-paid 25% earning just over $89,800, according to the U.S. News Best Jobs rankings .

For college students considering a political science major, Green says it's a broad program that includes international relations, political philosophy, comparative politics and American politics. “Very often," he says, "students will be asked to take courses in statistics and expected to be a broad-ranging intellect who is interested in history."

Green tells his students to try to embrace the intellectual breadth of political science and find courses in history, economics and psychology – some of the main fields that political science touches on – to fulfill the vision of a liberal arts education.

“I think there is a tendency to specialize, and I think that’s a mistake,” he says. “In the world of careers, one could imagine working either in government or groups connected to government such as think tanks, interest groups and policy institutes. One can also imagine going into corporate or clearly delineated private sector roles, and law is often among them.”

Here are some common jobs where experts say a political science degree is a plus:

Diplomat or foreign service officer
Urban or regional planner
Legislative assistant
Political scientist
Political science professor
Political consultant
Policy analyst
Business executive
Politics or government journalist
Communications/public relations professional
Public opinion researcher or pollster
Nonprofit executive
Nongovernmental organization executive

Although law remains a popular field for political science majors, Williams says, “law schools have become less concerned about admitting political science majors."

"Overall, I think there has been a lot of growth in the kind of careers that are open to political science majors,” Williams says. “I’ve had students who have gone into banking and investing and done very well because their political insights gave them something that the economics and finance majors they were working with just didn’t have.”

A political science degree opens the doors to many careers beyond politics, Williams adds.

“Whatever career path we choose, political science is going to prepare us for one of our central roles in life. It’s important for us to understand our rights and obligations within a political system because you can’t go anywhere without escaping duties as a citizen.”

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Political science plays an important role in how we shape the world around us. It offers insight into governments, political systems, public policies, international relations, and more. This makes it a broad subject to explore. But it can also be challenging to find a captivating political science research topic.

To make things easier, we’ve collected multiple political science research paper topics that suit any taste and need. We made a step further and divided these ideas into accessible categories. Choose the area you are most interested in and get ready to find a bunch of political science research topics in your domain.

But first things first, let’s figure out what politics is all about.

What Are Political Science Research Topics?

Politics is the study of governments, public policies, and political processes. It investigates how societies make decisions. Political science also examines how decisions affect people, both on a small scale, like a neighborhood, and on a global scale, like international relations.

Political science research paper topics can range widely within this discipline. Depending on your interests and goals, you could explore anything from voting behavior to gender equality in politics. You can also study global diplomatic relations, electoral systems, or the influence of media on political outcomes.

Characteristics of Good Political Science Research Paper Topics

Politics shapes our world in myriad ways. Every aspect of it bears relevance and offers a platform for thoughtful discourse, making it a fertile field for academic exploration.

However, good political science topics aren’t just about selecting a subject itself. Great ideas require elements of intrigue, relevance, and potential for in-depth examination, all while showcasing your input. So, what should you consider while choosing between different political research topics? Well, your passion and expertise are pivotal. Your topic should resonate with your interests and align with your academic focus.

Here's a brief overview of characteristics that make up engaging political science research topics:

Relevant and contemporary
Balanced in its scope
Well-documented and containing enough material
Interesting to you as well as your readers
Suitable for follow-up studies and/or additional research.

How to Choose a Political Science Research Topic?

Stumped about which political science topic to choose for your research paper? It's a common dilemma for many students. You shouldn’t just pick a theme. You must ensure that your topic sustains your interest, meets academic requirements, and resonates with your audience.

No need to stress, though! This blog is here to help you navigate these tricky waters. Our online essay writer team has shared these step-by-step guidelines to help you choose a successful topic for your political science paper:

Start with something you’re passionate about. Your enthusiasm and interest will animate the project and guide you to success.
Come up with an original idea that hasn’t been explored in depth before or is still relevant today.
Find something that’s timely and engaging to a wider audience. This should be something that people care about and are actively discussing.
Look for hidden connections, patterns, and solutions. Make sure your political science research topic is complex enough to ensure in-depth research.
Gather the necessary materials beforehand. Ensure availability of information before you begin analyzing your theme.

List of Political Science Research Topics

Before you plunge into our expertly compiled list, remember to double-check your instructor's guidelines. Aligning your choice with your course requirements is vital. Now, prepare to browse through the most captivating politics research topics that could be the launchpad for your future paper.

Understanding democracy: An evolving concept.
Rise of populism in 21st-century politics.
Climate change and global governance.
Role of United Nations: Effectiveness and criticisms.
Politics behind nuclear disarmament.
Influence of social media on political campaigns.
Immigration policies: A comparative study.
Human rights and foreign policy.
Impact of political instability on economic growth.
Cybersecurity in international relations.
Decoding political symbolism in public spaces.
Feminism and its political impact.
Role of youth in politics.
Is healthcare a political issue?
Examining political bias in media.

Easy Political Science Research Topics

While the field of political science can seem intricate, there are areas within it that are more accessible, yet equally intriguing. If you're new to the discipline or prefer less complex issues, this list of simple political science paper topics could be your go-to. Each topic is designed to offer an easy entry point into political science, but still, provide room for critical analysis .

Defining basic political ideologies: Liberalism, Conservatism, and Socialism.
How does voting work? An overview.
Impact of political cartoons on public opinion.
Presidential vs. parliamentary systems.
Role of lobby groups in shaping policy.
Political satire and its influence.
Environmental policy: Understanding basics.
What role does local government play?
Does every vote count in elections?
How accurate are public opinion polls?
Politics in sports.
Privacy rights in a digital era.
Gender representation in politics.
Patriotism vs. nationalism: Understanding the difference.
Role of celebrities in political campaigns.

Interesting Political Science Research Topics

Political science never falls short of captivating topics. With its dynamic nature and its intricate connection to real-world issues, there's always something noteworthy to explore. We've done our utmost to curate a list of topics in political science that will pique anyone’s curiosity:

Lessons from literature on dystopian governance.
The war on drugs policy.
What influence does propaganda have on contemporary governance?
How governing ideologies influence art.
Balancing national security with personal freedoms.
Importance of whistleblowers in democratic societies.
Rhetoric and reality behind political speeches.
Implications of artificial intelligence on governance.
Attainability of world peace: A critical perspective.
Dynamics of power in non-democratic systems.
Global pandemics and their effects on governance.
Competing for Mars: A new space race.
Impact of religion on governance.
Perspective on animal rights from a political viewpoint.
Food accessibility: Who decides who gets to eat what?

Good Topics for a Political Science Research Paper

Scoring points with your professor often comes down to choosing compelling and thought-provoking research paper ideas . The following list includes good political science research questions that are in tune with contemporary discourse. Each topic offers plenty of room to showcase your analytical skills and knowledge.

Evaluating e-democracy: Benefits and drawbacks.
How migration policies shape nations.
Media as a tool for political persuasion.
Political philosophy in science fiction literature.
Trade wars and global relations.
Is there a global shift towards autocracy?
Understanding diplomatic immunity: Rights and abuses.
Role of non-state actors in shaping international policy.
Rise of nationalism in globalized societies.
Impact of climate change on national security.
Examination of censorship laws across nations.
Can blockchain technology revolutionize voting systems?
Decoding political rhetoric in campaign promises.
Gender pay gap: A policy analysis.
Influence of economic inequality on social unrest.

Best Political Science Research Topics

We have curated an irresistible list of political science topics for a research paper. These ideas range from pressing international issues to more granular policy questions, all guaranteed to challenge your analytical skills.

Exploring causes and effects of global populism.
Transparency as a key to ethical political leadership.
Evaluating the role of social media censorship in political landscapes.
Influence of multiculturalism on policy development.
Unpacking the outcomes and justifications of military interventions.
Corruption's destructive role in democratic systems.
Merits and pitfalls of technocracy.
Interplay of bureaucracy and governance.
Pathways to address political polarization.
Effects of historical colonization on current government structures.
Role of extremism in shaping international relations.
How global climate commitments affect nations.
Using sanctions as a diplomatic tool.
Conflict resolution through international law.
Geopolitics in outer space exploration.

Current Research Topics in Political Science

Political science is a progressing field, so the problems you research will always be relevant. Our list of up-to-date topics of political science will help you make sure your paper is on point.

Artificial intelligence in global governance.
Global health governance in pandemics.
Impact of digital currencies on economies.
Changes in contemporary immigration attitudes.
Climate crisis' role in diplomatic dialogues.
Social movements and societal change.
Tech giants and information control.
Civil liberties in pandemic responses.
Gender disparities in political representation.
Decolonization trends in the 21st century.
Cyber warfare and national security.
Ethics of drone warfare.
Crypto-anarchy and state sovereignty.
Right-wing extremism in the digital age.
Power dynamics in international space law.

Political Science Research Topic Ideas for Students

Navigating politics can be overwhelming for students, given its broad nature and intersecting disciplines. With the right research topics for political science, however, this complexity transforms into an opportunity for a decent study. Our list of political science research topics ideas is designed with students in mind, focusing on engaging, relevant, and manageable themes.

Political Science Research Paper Topics for College Students

For college students, political science topics for research papers should strike a balance between complexity and approachability. With that in mind, here's a collection of college-level political topics to write about.

Leadership styles across governments.
Impact of gender roles in election campaigns.
Role of think tanks in shaping public opinion.
Studying historical revolutions and their aftermath.
Influence of socio-economic status on voting behavior.
Exploring ethical dilemmas in international relations.
Cultural diplomacy and its effectiveness.
Sovereignty disputes and their resolution.
Rise and implications of digital citizenship.
Evaluating meritocracy as a system of governance.
Role of peacekeeping operations in conflict resolution.
Comparing capitalist and socialist economies.
Decoding cyber diplomacy in the digital age.
Relationship between economic crises and political changes.
Minority rights in democratic societies.

Political Science Research Topics for University

When it comes to political topics to talk about in university, politics offers a variety of interesting options. Here's a list of captivating research ideas that are sure to get you top grades:

Political revolutions in the digital age.
Comparative study of political systems.
Effectiveness of international climate agreements.
Unraveling political consequences of economic sanctions.
Studying neocolonialism in modern economies.
Impact of income inequality on social stability.
Debating political implications of universal basic income.
Role of international courts in global governance.
Influence of cultural diversity on national policies.
Dissecting geopolitics in Arctic resource exploitation.
Understanding post-conflict reconciliation processes.
Evaluating state responses to refugee crises.
Study of civil disobedience in democratic societies.
Role of soft power in international relations.
Disentangling politics of global water disputes.

Political Science Research Topics by Subjects

Political science is a diverse field, consisting of multiple subdomains. To help you spot a fitting theme, we've organized research paper topics for political science according to these subjects. From international relations to public policy, this assortment promises a treasure trove of research opportunities just waiting to be explored.

Philosophy Political Science Research Topics

Philosophy politics research topics explore the intersection of political science and philosophical thought. These themes focus on fundamental questions, such as the purpose of politics and its effects on society. Here are a few ideas to get your started:

Relevance of Machiavelli's theories today.
Understanding justice in Plato's Republic.
Influence of Kantian ethics on governance.
Are human rights universal or culturally relative?
Interplay of liberty and equality in societies.
Exploring Hobbes' notion of social contract.
Rawls versus Nozick: theories of justice compared.
Feminist perspectives on political participation.
Role of ethics in bureaucratic institutions.
Marx's theory of capitalism: A critical review.
Foucault's perspectives on power and control.
Locke's influence on modern democracies.
Concepts of civil disobedience in Thoreau's writings.
Arendt on violence, power, and authority.
Exploring Gramsci's theory of cultural hegemony.
Derrida's deconstruction: A political tool?
Nietzsche’s perspectives on societal structure.
Understanding politics through Spinoza's lens.
Evaluating communitarianism in contemporary societies.
Habermas on communicative action in politics.

>> View more: Philosophy Paper Topics

Political Science Research Topics on Public Law

Public law is one of the most popular subdomains of political science, as it focuses on legal systems and state power. It's a domain that lets you explore how laws are formulated, implemented, and impact society. Below you can find various political research questions in public law, including constitutional issues, administrative governance, and individual rights, among others.

Role of constitution in shaping governance.
Impact of judicial activism on democracy.
Analyzing separation of powers in governments.
Free speech rights in digital platforms.
Repercussions of surveillance laws on privacy.
Comparative study of electoral laws.
Analyzing federalism in constitutional law.
Police power and civil liberties.
Effectiveness of anti-discrimination laws.
Administrative discretion: Power and accountability.
Impact of immigration laws on societies.
Understanding lawmaking process in parliamentary systems.
Role of supreme courts in constitutional interpretation.
Law enforcement and minority rights.
Legal aspects of environmental protection.
Hate speech laws and freedom of expression.
Public health laws in times of crisis.
Legal mechanisms to fight corruption.
Analyzing gun control laws across nations.
Legal challenges in the implementation of welfare policies.

>> Learn more: Law Research Topics

Research Topics in Political Science on Public Administration

Public administration is the study of how governments and other public institutions are managed. It examines their structures, operations, policies, and politics to understand how they work in practice. Here's a collection of project topics for political science on public administration worth attention:

Understanding bureaucracy in modern governance.
Role of public administrators in policy implementation.
Effect of administrative reforms on public services.
Importance of ethics in public administration.
Evaluating public financial management systems.
Role of e-governance in public service delivery.
Analyzing gender representation in public administration.
Public administration in urban planning.
Role of public-private partnerships in governance.
Crisis management strategies in public administration.
Leadership challenges in public organizations.
Role of transparency in public service delivery.
Organizational culture in public administration.
Analyzing the politics-administration dichotomy.
Decision-making processes in public organizations.
Evaluating accountability mechanisms in public administration.
Human resource challenges in public services.
Impact of corruption on public administration.
Role of citizens' participation in public administration.
Comparative study of public administration models.

Political Science Research Paper Topics on Comparative Politics

Comparative politics research topics offer a window into how different political systems operate, what works, and what needs reevaluation. It encourages you to step outside the boundaries of your local context and grasp a more global perspective on political processes. The following political essay topics and paper ideas will fit any compare and contrast essay or project.

Social welfare measures across democracies.
Examining stability in different governmental systems.
Comparative analysis of electoral mechanisms.
Impact of societal culture on governance.
Federalism versus unitary systems: A comparative study.
Scrutinizing corruption in diverse economies.
A cross-nation study of education systems.
Protection of minority rights across countries.
Comparing freedom of the press globally.
Role of armed forces in various governmental structures.
Analyzing constitutional designs across nations.
A study on decentralization efforts in different countries.
Comparative research on party systems.
Gender and leadership: A cross-country examination.
Populism in different societal contexts.
Comparative view of environmental conservation measures.
Human rights protections in different nations.
Influence of colonial history on modern governance.
Cross-national study of immigration rules.
Role of religion in different governance systems.

Political Science Research Topics on Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is an essential field in political science, focusing on the methods and strategies used to mitigate disputes on local, national, and international levels. It opens up opportunities to explore how peace is achieved, maintained, and sometimes lost. Below you can find political issues to write about if you want to focus on different disputes.

Peacebuilding strategies in post-war societies.
Role of diplomacy in averting conflicts.
Effectiveness of international arbitration.
Power sharing as a tool for peace.
Influence of civil society on conflict resolution.
Role of United Nations in global peacekeeping.
Mediation strategies in intra-state conflicts.
Women in peace negotiations.
Strategies for resolving territorial disputes.
Analyzing post-conflict reconciliation processes.
Impact of economic sanctions on conflict resolution.
Role of international law in conflict mitigation.
Effectiveness of non-violent resistance.
Analyzing the success of peace treaties.
Study of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration processes.
Resolving resource-based conflicts.
Role of third parties in conflict resolution.
Approaches to addressing ethnic conflicts.
Influence of climate change on conflict resolution.
Cyber conflict resolution strategies.

Political Science Research Topics on Meditation and Negotiation

Mediation and negotiation sit at the heart of conflict resolution, focusing on peaceful strategies to address disputes and foster cooperation. These techniques find wide application in various contexts, from local disagreements to international conflicts. These interesting research topics in political science allow you to understand how these processes work in theory and practice:

Role of intermediaries in peace processes.
Strategies for successful diplomatic discussions.
Comparative analysis of negotiation techniques.
Dialogue styles in international diplomacy.
Analyzing the success of secret diplomatic talks.
Role of non-state actors in negotiation.
Gender dynamics in discussion processes.
Influence of cultural factors on dispute resolution.
Role of international organizations in diplomatic dialogues.
Arbitration in maritime territorial disputes.
Use of discussions in trade agreements.
Role of trust in successful dialogues.
Addressing power asymmetry in discussions.
Track II diplomacy in mediation.
Impact of communication technology on dispute settlement.
Role of empathy in successful negotiation.
Influence of domestic politics on international mediation..
Conflict resolution strategies in labor disputes.
Role of transparency in negotiations.
Evolution of dispute resolution techniques over time.

>> View more: Communication Research Topics

International Relations Political Research Topics

International relations explores connections among nations, the roles of sovereign states, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and multinational corporations. This field offers a multitude of engaging research topics ranging from issues of diplomacy, international conflict, global cooperation, to international trade. Here are some political science research ideas that focus on international relations:

Role of multinational corporations in global governance.
Cross-border environmental cooperation.
Effectiveness of international law enforcement.
Influence of globalism on sovereignty.
Impact of digital diplomacy in foreign relations.
Evolution of global power structures.
Influence of cultural diplomacy in global partnerships.
Strategies for global poverty reduction.
Understanding geopolitics in Arctic exploration.
Challenges to global health collaboration.
Role of non-state actors in global governance.
Interplay of economics and international relations.
Humanitarian interventions: A critical analysis.
Cross-border migration and its global implications.
International responses to global pandemics.
Role of international courts in justice delivery.
Diplomacy in the age of information technology.
Analyzing global disarmament efforts.
Global efforts in counter-terrorism.
Evolution of international trade agreements.

American Politics Research Paper Topics

American politics is a wide-ranging field, including issues from the local, state, to national levels. It incorporates diverse aspects like public opinion, public policy, ideological shifts, and more. The United States' unique political system offers abundant potential for research. Here are American politics research topics for your next project:

Evolution of American federalism.
Impact of Supreme Court decisions on society.
Understanding American political polarization.
Role of third parties in U.S. elections.
Influence of social movements on legislation.
Examining executive orders' effectiveness.
Shifts in public opinion on climate change.
Impact of lobbying on American health care reform.
Influence of Presidential debates on voters.
Effects of gerrymandering on electoral outcomes.
Analyzing campaign finance reform in U.S.
Role of think tanks in shaping U.S. policy.
Implications of immigration reform on U.S. economy.
Gun control debate and policy outcomes.
Social justice and law enforcement reform.
Influence of race and ethnicity on voting patterns.
Role of the media in shaping public opinion.
Analyzing the U.S. response to global pandemics.
Examination of U.S. trade policies.
Impact of technology on U.S. governance.

Government Research Paper Topics

Government is a broad field that includes many different subdomains and politics topics to discuss. It revolves around the structures, processes, and functions of governing bodies, allowing you to explore the inner workings of various political systems. Here are some useful ideas on government:

Evaluating the meritocracy in civil services.
Digitization of public services: Impact and challenges.
Understanding state surveillance: Balancing security and privacy.
Impact of decentralization on local development.
Government's role in disaster management.
Analyzing the government's role in fostering innovation.
Study on government initiatives for financial inclusion.
Role of government in mitigating income inequality.
Government strategies in promoting renewable energy.
Analysis of government responses to recessions.
Public-private partnerships in infrastructure development.
Government regulation of the gig economy.
Role of government in promoting cultural heritage.
Public sector reforms for better governance.
Government interventions in housing markets.
Assessing government transparency initiatives.
Government's role in universal health care provision.
The impact of political term limits on governance.
Government initiatives in curbing the opioid crisis.
The role of governments in combating online misinformation.

Political Science Research Questions

Research questions provide a clear direction to your studies, defining what you want to achieve. Here are some unique research questions for political science that span a wide array of sub-areas:

How does social media shape public opinion on climate change policy?
How can local governments boost civic engagement?
How does income inequality impact political participation?
How do trade policies affect domestic industries?
How do immigration laws influence national identity?
How does political advertising affect voter turnout?
How does corruption impact public trust in government?
How does gender representation in government influence policy decisions?
What role does education play in political awareness?
How does political satire influence public perception of politicians?
How have government responses to pandemics evolved over time?
How does foreign aid impact the donor-recipient relationship?
How can governments leverage technology to improve public services?
How does cybersecurity impact national defense strategies?
How do international treaties impact national sovereignty?
How do political ideologies shape foreign policy?
How can governments promote sustainable urban development?
What is the role of youth in shaping future politics?
How does political stability affect economic growth?
How does political rhetoric shape public perception of immigration?

Extra Political Science Topics for Research Papers

Although the topics for political science research papers given above should help you kickstart your project, here are a few extra ideas to make sure you write an excellent project:

Green parties' influence on environmental sustainability.
Significance of political graffiti in social movements.
Virtual reality's potential in public engagement.
Role of cognitive psychology in voter behavior.
Understanding biopolitics: control and manipulation.
Space law's implications for international cooperation.
Implications of Internet of Things (IoT) for national security.
Analysis of language used in peace treaties.
Incorporating indigenous governance in modern state systems.
Decoding humor in political satire.
Political underpinnings in fantasy literature.
Political landscapes in virtual communities.
The politics of cryptocurrency regulation.
Using machine learning to predict election outcomes.
Role of street art in political protests.
Exploring the politics of veganism.
Political dimensions of genetic engineering ethics.
Pop culture's influence on political consciousness.
Influence of climate fiction ("cli-fi") on environmental policy.
Geopolitical consequences of the commercialization of space.

Bottom Line on Political Science Topics

We did our best to provide you with an assortment of good topics for political science research paper in every subdomain. Whether you're interested in philosophy, public law, international affairs, or something else entirely – this collection should have it all. We hope that at least one of these themes motivates you to do your best work yet! Remember that you can buy coursework or any other academic paper from certified writers with solid experience.

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Exploring 70+ reMarkable Political Science Project Topics for Students

Explore a diverse array of engaging political science project topics. From political theory to international relations, discover thought-provoking subjects to fuel your research and discussions.

Hey there, fellow explorers of the political world! Welcome to the exciting universe of political science, where we uncover the mysteries of governance, the pulse of politics, and the ever-shifting landscape of power.

We’re all students here, and we’ve been on that quest for the perfect project topic, right? It’s the one that doesn’t just meet class requirements but also lights a fire in your belly and makes you want to dig deeper.

Picking a project topic isn’t just about grades; it’s your chance to follow your curiosity, peel back the layers of political history, and maybe even cook up some fresh solutions to the challenges our world faces.

In this nifty collection of political science project topics, we’ve got a smorgasbord of ideas to spark your enthusiasm and help steer your intellectual journey.

We’re talking about topics that cover the full spectrum of political goodies, from global shenanigans in international relations to how different places do politics, political theories that make your head spin, public policies that shape our lives, and more.

Each topic is like an open invitation to have fun exploring the world of politics and embark on your unique adventure in political science.

So, if you’re the curious type who’s itching to learn about global diplomacy, or you’ve got a thing for how different political beliefs shape the world, or maybe you’re all about the role of technology in modern politics – you’re in the right place. Studying political science isn’t just about books; it’s about getting the keys to be part of shaping the ever-evolving political scene.

No more delay – let’s jump right in! This list of project topics is your golden ticket to the captivating world of politics, where each topic is like a treasure chest of new insights, broader horizons, and a chance to make a splash in the exciting world of politics.

Table of Contents

The Significance of Political Science Projects

Let’s talk about why political science projects are such a big deal. They’re not just those assignments you do for a grade; they have a real impact and help you grow in a bunch of awesome ways. Here’s why they’re so important:

Applying What You Know

Political science projects let you take all that theory and actually use it in the real world. You get to see how politics and policies work in action, not just in books.

Boosting Brainpower

These projects are like mental workouts. You learn to think critically, analyze stuff, and make smart conclusions. Those skills come in handy not just in class but in life.

Research Ninja

You become a research whiz. You’ll know how to find, understand, and use all sorts of sources – from books to news to data. Trust us, this skill is gold for any career.

Smart Citizen

Political science projects make you a more informed citizen. You’ll understand the political stuff happening around you, which means you can get involved and make a difference.

Learning from Everywhere

Politics isn’t just about politics. It touches on history, economics, society, and law. Your projects give you a peek into all these cool fields.

Solving Real Problems

Many projects ask you to solve real-world problems. That’s where the creative genius in you comes to life. You can come up with fresh ideas and make things better.

Speak Your Mind

Your projects teach you how to share your ideas well, whether in writing or presentations. It’s a killer skill for getting your point across – something you’ll need in any job.

Contributing to the World

Sometimes, your research might add something new to political science. You could come up with fresh viewpoints or cool ways of studying things. That’s like leaving your mark.

Future-Focused

If you’re thinking about a career in politics, international relations, or public service, these projects are your stepping stones. They can open up exciting job opportunities and further studies.

Seeing the Big Picture

Politics often means thinking on a global scale. Your projects will give you a worldwide outlook and show how everything’s connected in our global village.

To sum it up, political science projects aren’t just schoolwork. They’re your path to becoming a smarter, more informed, and more capable human being. They help you navigate the complex world of politics and empower you to create a positive impact on society. It’s not just about good grades; it’s about becoming a real-life superhero with the power to change the world.

Political Science Project Topics

Check out some of the best political science project topics:-

Political Theory

The Influence of Machiavellian Thought on Modern Political Strategies.
Human Rights and Cultural Relativism: A Theoretical Analysis.
Democracy and its Critics: An Examination of Populism and Authoritarianism.
John Rawls’ Theory of Justice: Application in Contemporary Political Debates.
Environmental Ethics and Political Decision-Making.
Anarchism as a Political Ideology: Its Past and Present Relevance.
Feminist Perspectives on Political Power and Patriarchy.
The Concept of Freedom in Liberal Political Theory.
The Ethics of Political Protest: A Philosophical Investigation.
The Role of Political Socialization in Shaping Political Beliefs.

Comparative Politics

The Impact of Ethnicity on Political Stability in African Nations.
Populist Movements in Europe: A Comparative Analysis.
The Dynamics of Coalition Governments: Case Studies from Different Countries.
Political Corruption and Its Variations in Developing Nations.
Democratic Backsliding in Established Democracies: A Comparative Study.
The Role of Media in Shaping Political Discourse: A Cross-National Perspective.
Women’s Political Participation: A Comparative Examination.
The Influence of Political Culture on Government Effectiveness.
Populist vs. Technocratic Approaches to Economic Policy in Emerging Markets.
Political Parties and Voter Behavior: A Comparative Analysis.

International Relations

Nuclear Proliferation and International Security: A Comparative Study.
The Impact of Globalization on National Sovereignty and Identity.
Regional Powers in International Relations: Case Studies from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Diplomacy in the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities.
Refugee Crises and the Responsibility to Protect: A Global Analysis.
The Geopolitics of Energy Resources: Implications for International Relations.
Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution: A Comparative Assessment.
International Trade Agreements: Benefits, Challenges, and Future Prospects.
The Role of Non-State Actors in Global Politics.
The Influence of Soft Power in International Relations: A Case-Based Study.

Public Policy and Administration

The Efficacy of Universal Healthcare Systems: Comparative Case Studies.
Education Policy Reforms and Student Achievement: A Longitudinal Analysis.
Navigating Public Health Crises: Government Responses to Pandemics.
Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development: A Cross-Country Evaluation.
Administrative Burden and Government Efficiency: A Comparative Assessment.
Public-Private Partnerships in Infrastructure Development: A Policy Analysis.
Social Welfare Policies and Poverty Alleviation: An International Perspective.
Immigration Policies and Integration Outcomes: A Comparative Study.
Criminal Justice Reform and Its Impact on Recidivism Rates: A Longitudinal Analysis.
Digital Government: The Use of Technology in Public Administration.

Political Economy

The Political Economy of Economic Inequality: An International Perspective.
Trade Policies and Economic Growth: A Comparative Study of Emerging Economies.
Financial Regulations and Financial Crises: Lessons from the Great Recession.
Multinational Corporations and Their Influence on National Governments.
Economic Policies and Resilience in Times of Crisis: Case Studies from Various Nations.
The Political Economy of Development Aid: Efficacy and Challenges.
Labor Market Policies and Employment Outcomes: A Comparative Analysis.
Currency Exchange Rate Policies and Their Impact on International Trade.
The Role of Political Factors in the Global Stock Market.
Taxation Policies and Their Impact on Income Distribution: A Cross-National Assessment.

Political Psychology

The Role of Cognitive Biases in Shaping Political Beliefs and Decision-Making.
The Influence of Social Media on Political Polarization and Behavior.
Leadership Styles in Political Leadership: A Psychological Analysis.
The Psychology of Political Persuasion: A Study of Campaign Messages.
Fear and Anxiety in Political Communication: An Emotional Appeal Analysis.
The Role of Identity in Shaping Political Attitudes and Behavior.
Conspiracy Theories in Political Belief Formation: A Psychological Exploration.
The Impact of Political Socialization on Political Identity: A Longitudinal Study.
Cognitive Dissonance in Political Decision-Making: A Case-Based Analysis.
Political Trust and its Relationship with Civic Engagement: A Cross-Country Study.

Policy Evaluation and Impact Analysis

Assessing the Effectiveness of Early Childhood Education Programs.
The Impact of Minimum Wage Policies on Income Inequality.
Immigration Reforms and Their Societal Impact: A Longitudinal Study.
Renewable Energy Policies and Environmental Sustainability: A Comparative Assessment.
The Outcomes of Anti-Drug Policies on Drug Addiction Rates.
Welfare-to-Work Programs and Their Effect on Poverty Reduction.
Environmental Conservation Policies and Biodiversity Preservation: A Global Review.
Housing Policies and Their Impact on Housing Affordability.
Education Policy and Student Outcomes: A Comparative Analysis.
Gun Control Measures and Their Influence on Violent Crime Rates.

These project topics should provide a diverse range of options for research and exploration in the field of political science. You can select a topic that aligns with your interests and the specific focus of your project.

What are good political topics?

Choosing captivating political topics is the first step to igniting thought-provoking discussions and debates. These topics should be both timely, reflecting current events and public conversations, and personally interesting and familiar to you. Here are some examples of intriguing political topics that tick these boxes:

Government’s Hand in the Economy

Delve into how government policies shape economic growth, income distribution, and market oversight.

The Dynamic Dance of U.S.-China Relations

Explore the evolving relationship between the United States and China, encompassing economic ties, geopolitical competition, and global influence.

Automation and the Workforce of Tomorrow

Discuss how automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping the world of work, impacting jobs, skills, and education.

Climate Change and Political Responses

Investigate the political reactions to climate change, including international agreements, environmental policies, and the concept of climate justice.

Rise of Populism and Nationalism Worldwide

Examine the surge of populist and nationalist movements around the globe, considering their implications on international relations and local politics.

Technology’s Influence on Elections and Democracy

Uncover the role of technology in electoral processes, from digital campaigning to concerns about cybersecurity and misinformation.

Intersectionality in Politics

Explore the intricate connections of race, gender, and class in political matters, from representation to policy decisions.

Governing in a Divided Society

Analyze the intricacies of governance in polarized and fragmented societies, emphasizing the art of compromise and unity.

These topics are just the tip of the iceberg, and there are plenty of other exciting political subjects worth exploring. When choosing a topic, always remember to consider your passion, knowledge, and the interests of your audience.

Here are some tips for crafting an engaging political essay:

Choose a topic that truly fascinates you and plays to your strengths in terms of knowledge.
Dive deep into research to amass strong evidence to back up your arguments.
Keep your writing clear and to the point, organizing your thoughts logically.
Stay away from using inflammatory language or resorting to personal attacks, maintaining a respectful and courteous tone.
Acknowledge and address opposing viewpoints to promote a constructive and enlightening debate.

Political essays offer a platform to voice your opinions and ideas on pressing issues. They not only initiate crucial conversations but also foster understanding and productive dialogues in society. So, go ahead, pick a topic that fires up your enthusiasm, and let your ideas shine!

What are the main topics of political science?

Political science, the captivating realm of government and politics, covers a wide landscape of thought-provoking subjects, including:

This is where we dive deep into the very essence of politics and governance. We ponder over questions like “What is power?”, “How should individuals and the state relate?” and “What makes a government effective?”

Political Institutions

Think of this as the gears and levers that drive the machinery of governance. We’re talking about legislatures, executives, judiciaries, and the fascinating world of political parties.

Public Policy

This is where theory meets real-world action. It’s all about the goals and actions that governments take to solve societal problems. We study how policies are made, put into practice, and how they impact society.

Ever wondered how politics looks in different corners of the globe? This is the area where we explore various political systems, institutions, and cultures, comparing and contrasting them to unravel their uniqueness.

This is like the backstage pass to the world stage. We investigate how countries and international players like organizations and even non-state actors interact. This means digging into the causes and outcomes of global events, from peace to conflict.

And guess what? This is just the tip of the iceberg. Political scientists also delve into intriguing topics such as political behavior, development, and economics.

Why does all this matter? Well, it helps us decode the world we live in. Political science arms us with the skills to dissect political systems, institutions, and policies. It’s a key to understanding the behavior of political players and the ripple effect of political events.

As for the folks in this field, they wear many hats – from educators to researchers, consultants, and advocates for change. If you’re the kind of person who dreams of making the world a better place, political science is your ticket to an impactful and rewarding journey.

How do I choose a topic for political science research?

Selecting a captivating topic for your political science research should feel like finding a treasure map to an exciting adventure. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you unearth that perfect topic:

Follow Your Passion: Start with what genuinely piques your interest. Think about the political issues or areas that you’re truly passionate about. It’s easier to navigate research when you’re fired up about the subject.
Narrow It Down: Political science is like a massive library with countless books. Narrow your focus to a specific subfield that intrigues you the most. Are you into international relations, public policy, or perhaps political theory?
Go with the Times: Seek topics that are hot off the press. Researching issues that are making headlines right now adds a real-world relevance to your work.
Find the Gaps: Check out existing research. Where are the holes, the unanswered questions? Your research can shine by filling in these gaps.
Reality Check: Ensure your topic is realistic. Do you have access to data or sources? Can you feasibly research your chosen subject?
Innovate: Aim for a topic that lets you introduce fresh ideas or angles. Original research is like a bright, shiny gem in the world of academia.
Link to Goals: Think about your academic and career aspirations. Does your research topic align with where you want to go? Can it build your expertise or make a difference in your field?
Ask the Experts: Talk to your advisor or mentors. They’re like seasoned explorers in this academic jungle. They can help you navigate, provide maps (i.e., relevant literature), and point you in the right direction.
Know Your Audience: Who are you writing for? Consider the needs and interests of your audience, whether it’s fellow researchers, policymakers, or the general public.
Test the Waters: Before you commit to a topic, do a little “pilot research.” Explore sources, see what’s out there, and confirm that your topic has enough depth to dive into.
Refine and Focus: When you’ve got a broad idea, refine it into a clear and concise research question or thesis. The sharper your focus, the clearer your path.
Jot Down Keywords: Start brainstorming keywords related to your topic. These will come in handy when you’re searching for sources.
Talk to Others: Discuss your ideas with friends, professors, or colleagues. A fresh perspective can help you polish and shape your topic.
Stay Flexible: Be ready to adapt as you delve deeper into your research. Sometimes, your topic will evolve into something even more intriguing as you uncover new insights.

Picking a political science research topic should be an exciting journey of exploration. Let your curiosity guide you, and remember that a well-chosen topic can lead to discoveries that make a real impact in the world of politics. Happy researching!

What do you research in political science?

In the vibrant world of political science, researchers are like detectives, delving into a multitude of captivating subjects. These investigations span various areas:

Imagine this as the realm of political philosophy. Think of it as a place where thinkers ponder big questions about power, justice, and governance. You’ll find discussions about ideologies, ethics, and justice theories like liberal, conservative, and feminist perspectives.

This is where we peek behind the curtains of government machinery. You’ve got legislatures, executives, and judiciaries; it’s all like a grand political orchestra. Researchers in this field try to understand how these institutions work and how they shape the policies and decisions that affect us.

Public policy is all about solving real-world problems. Researchers examine how governments create, implement, and assess policies. This could involve topics like healthcare, education, or environmental protection.

Ever wanted to travel the world without leaving your desk? Comparative politics is like a global tour guide. It’s about comparing political systems, cultures, and institutions across different countries and regions. Researchers explore issues like democracy, authoritarianism, and political cultures.

This is like the United Nations of research. It’s all about the interactions between countries, international organizations, and even rogue agents. Think diplomacy, peace, conflict, and global economics.

Political Behavior

Political scientists in this area are like mind readers for politicians. They study how individuals and groups behave in the political arena. It’s all about voting patterns, public opinion, and the power of the media.

Imagine this as the place where politics and economics have a coffee chat. Researchers investigate the relationship between politics and money. This could involve trade, inequality, and even the influence of big corporations on political decisions.

Ever wondered what makes people vote the way they do? That’s what political psychologists try to figure out. They delve into political attitudes, persuasion, and how our minds influence our political choices.

Think of this as the quality control department. Researchers here assess whether government policies actually work as intended. They measure the effects and consequences, both intended and unintended.

Area Studies

Some political scientists choose to focus on specific regions or countries. They become experts in Middle Eastern politics, African governance, or Latin American dynamics, for example.

Environmental Politics

Ever concerned about the planet? Researchers in this field explore politics surrounding environmental issues like climate change, conservation, and sustainable development.

Security Studies

These folks look into national security, defense policies, terrorism, and how to keep the peace.

Political science research is an adventure of exploration, analysis, and understanding. Researchers employ a mix of methods, from surveys and interviews to data crunching, to unearth the secrets and nuances of the political world. The goal? To contribute to knowledge, inform policymakers, and unravel the mysteries of politics and governance.

In the realm of political science project topics, we’ve embarked on a fascinating journey through the intricacies of governance, policy, power dynamics, and human behavior. These topics aren’t just academic quests; they’re windows into the ever-evolving landscape of our political world.

Whether your heart beats for political theory’s deep philosophies, the thrilling global scenarios in international relations, or the nitty-gritty of public policy, there’s a topic waiting to ignite your curiosity and passion.

The importance of political science projects goes beyond just scholarly pursuits; it’s about igniting conversations, guiding decision-makers, and igniting the flames of positive change.

As you set sail on your own research voyage in the realm of political science, remember that choosing the right topic is like plotting your course. It should reflect your interests, resonate with your audience, and, most importantly, inspire you to unravel the mysteries of politics.

In the grand tapestry of political science, projects aren’t just about knowledge. They’re about understanding and transforming our world. They’re the roadmap through the intricate web of power, the dynamic arena of governance, and the intricate dance of individuals and institutions.

So, whether you’re delving into political theories or navigating the twists and turns of international diplomacy, know that your quest for knowledge has the power to shape our collective future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a good political science project topic.

A good topic is one that aligns with your interests, challenges you, and contributes to political science knowledge.

Are there any specific guidelines for crafting a political science project?

Projects should have a clear research question, a strong methodology, and a well-documented presentation of findings.

10 Qualitative Research in Political Science

Julie Zahle is Professor in the Department of Philosophy at University of Bergen. Previously, she taught at Durham University and University of Copenhagen. She received her PhD from the History and Philosophy of Science Department at the University of Pittsburgh in 2009. Her research areas include the philosophy of qualitative methods, values and objectivity in social science, the individualism-holism debate, and social theories of practices.

Published: 23 February 2023
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Abstract : In this chapter, the current state of qualitative research in political science is first characterized through an examination of three forms of research that are widely regarded as qualitative, namely research that employs the methods of qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), process tracing, and ethnography. Next, the current state of qualitative research is characterized through a discussion of different conceptions in political science as to what is distinctive of qualitative research in general. Lastly, this twofold characterization is put into perspective by looking into how the current state of qualitative research in political science compares to that in other social sciences.

1. Introduction

In political science, qualitative research has been on the rise roughly since the mid-1990s ( Bennett and Elman 2006 :455). This means that even though quantitative research is still the dominant approach and has been so from around the early 1960s, qualitative research has at least come to occupy a more central role in political science (see, e.g., Vromen 2018 :237ff; Johnson et al. 2008 :49ff).

In this paper, I provide a twofold characterization of the current state of qualitative research in political science. Further, I briefly consider how political science and other social sciences compare in terms of qualitative research. The first part of the characterization is a presentation of three prominent methods, namely qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), process tracing, and the ethnographic method. In political science, research involving these methods is widely regarded as exemplary instances of qualitative research. In Sections 2–4 , I discuss the methods in turn while focusing in particular on how they work in practice. The second part of the characterization is an examination of what is taken, in political science, to be distinctive of qualitative research in general. As there are diverse conceptions to this effect, I outline four influential ones. Moreover, I show that the conceptions do not agree on the classification of QCA, process tracing and the ethnographic method as forms of qualitative research. In this fashion, the discussion brings out that though the use of the methods is commonly taken to instantiate qualitative research, there is no consensus on this matter in political science. Lastly, I put this twofold characterization into perspective in Section 6 . Here, I briefly discuss how the state of qualitative research in political science compares to that in other social sciences. I wrap up in Section 7 .

Before embarking on this task, one comment is in order. Many discussions of qualitative research in political science take as their starting point or consider Gary King, Robert O. Keohane, and Sidney Verba’s Designing Social Inquiry: Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research from 1994 (see, e.g., Mahoney 2010 ; Koivu and Damman 2015 ). In the book, King, Keohane and Verba maintain that qualitative research should be improved by bringing it more in line with the tenets of quantitative research. The book became highly influential and sparked an intense debate (see, e.g., Brady and Collier 2004 , 2010 ). Due to lack of space, and since the approach has already been extensively discussed, I do not consider it in the following.

2. Qualitative Comparative Analysis

QCA is a method of data analysis that involves the comparison of data about a (typically limited) number of cases with the aim of identifying causal relations. Charles Ragin is the originator of the method, which he laid out in The Comparative Method: Moving beyond Qualitative and Quantitative Strategies from 1987 ( Ragin 2014 [1987]). Today, the method is often called crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis (csQCA) in order to distinguish it from later versions of the method such as fuzzy-set QCA (see Ragin 2000 ) and multivalue QCA (see, e.g., Cronqvist and Berg-Schlosser 2009 ). In the following, I focus exclusively on crisp-set QCA and so I simply refer to it as QCA. Until recently at least, it has been the most widely used version of QCA ( Marx et al. 2014 :126, Ryan 2018 :283).

In The Comparative Method , Ragin states that QCA bridges, and goes beyond, the divide between qualitative and quantitative research ( Ragin 2014 [1987]: xix). In political science discussions, however, QCA is widely described as a qualitative approach: to use the method is to conduct qualitative research (see, e.g., Bennett and Elman 2006 :455; Mahoney 2010 :133; Koivu and Damman 2015 ; Blatter et al. 2016 ). For now, I set aside the status of QCA as a form of qualitative research; I examine this issue at length in Section 5 . Instead, I focus on presenting the method, its basic assumptions, and some criticisms of it.

QCA is a method for the identification of causal relations so a good place to start is by explicating its conception of causation. To this end, it is instructive to consider John Mackie’s notion of an INUS condition. According to it, a cause is an INUS condition, that is, “an insufficient but necessary part of a condition which is itself unnecessary but sufficient for the result” ( Mackie 1993 :34). Or, to put these points in slightly more colloquial terms, a cause does not, on its own, bring about some effect; it is only when it teams up with other causes, that an effect is produced. Moreover, a cause is a nonredundant part of such a combination of causes: without it, the rest of the combination fails to produce the effect. Finally, the combination, which a given cause is part of, is not alone in being able to bring about some effect: other combinations of causes may do so too.

Mackie’s formulation succinctly captures the view of causation that informs QCA (see, e.g., Mahoney and Goertz 2006 :232, Thiem 2017 :422). Its proponents maintain that the successful application of QCA results in the identification of causal relations in the sense of representations of how different combinations of causes, with all the features listed by Mackie, bring about some effect or outcome. In particular, they often highlight that QCA is able to accommodate two of the features stated by Mackie. One is that a cause combines with other causes to produce an effect: causation is conjunctural. The other is that multiple different combinations of causes may produce a given type of outcome, that is, causation is equifinal. QCA-proponents put these two points together by saying that QCA is compatible with multiple conjunctural causation (see, e.g., Berg-Schlosser et al. 2009 :8).

This clarified, how does QCA purport to identify causal relations? What should a researcher who employs the method do? One prominent answer is outlined in a widely used textbook edited by Benoît Rihoux and Ragin (2009) . 1

In preparation of the application of QCA, a researcher defines the outcome she is going to explain (the outcome variable) and selects a (typically small or intermediate) number of relevantly similar cases, some in which the outcome occurred and some in which it didn’t occur ( Berg-Schlosser and De Meur 2009 ). Further, she settles on the conditions (explanatory variables) to look into, that is, the likely causes of the outcome to examine. Lastly, she generates data about each of the cases using various data generating methods like the collection and reading of documents, interviewing, surveys, and participant observation.

The researcher is now in a position to build a dichotomous data table ( Rihoux and De Meur 2009 :39ff). To this end, she dichotomizes her data, that is, codes her variables so that they have either the value “1” (indicating the presence of a condition or outcome) or “0” (indicating its absence). The resulting data are then displayed in a dichotomous data table where each row corresponds to a case and each column to a variable.

QCA is a computer-aided method and the first stage in its application consists in the computer software transforming the dichotomous data table into a truth table ( Rihoux and De Meur 2009 :44ff). The latter displays each of the actual and possible combinations of conditions associated with a positive outcome (the outcome occurred) and each of those associated with a negative outcome (the outcome didn’t occur). That is, the truth table lists both observed configurations and unobserved ones—ones not found in any of the examined cases and called logical remainders. The truth table also shows if a combination of conditions is associated with a positive outcome in some cases and a negative one in others. Here, the researcher has to make adjustments so that the contradictory configurations, as they are called, disappear.

Next, the computer software uses Boolean minimization algorithms to perform its key operation: it minimizes, and hence expresses in the shortest possible way, the different observed configurations of conditions associated with a positive and negative outcome respectively ( Rihoux and De Meur 2009 :56). The software also performs minimizations that include logical remainders. By including logical remainders as simplifying assumptions, the software is typically able to generate expressions that are even more parsimonious. In both cases, the upshot of the minimizations are referred to as minimal or solution formulas. Proponents of QCA contend that minimal formulas may typically be given a causal interpretation: a formula represents how different configurations of conditions caused the same type of outcome.

Following the application of QCA, the researcher may in different ways employ and elaborate on her findings. For instance, the researcher may return to her cases and use the identified causal relations as a basis for further study of the cases (a point to which I return in the next section), or she may consider to what extent her findings generalize to other cases ( Rihoux and Lobe 2009 :235ff).

In order to illustrate the method, the example presented in Rihoux and Ragin’s textbook may be slightly modified ( Rihoux and Ragin 2009 ). The example draws on a study of why some European democracies survived in the period between World War I and World War II, whereas others perished ( Rihoux and De Meur 2009 ). Its simplified—and hence fictionalized—version goes as follows: the researcher first selected 18 European countries as her cases and decided to focus on five explanatory variables, namely level of wealth, industrialization, education, urbanization, and governmental stability. Then she generated her data. On this basis, she produced a dichotomous data table with rows corresponding to each of the eighteen countries and with columns corresponding to each of the conditions and the outcome. In this connection, she dichotomized her data such that “1” represented a high level of wealth, industrialization, etc. and “0” a low level of wealth, industrialization, etc. Also, she used “1” to denote the survival of a democracy, and “0” to represent its demise. Next, the software produced a truth table, which listed each of the actual and possible configurations of conditions associated with the survival of democracy, and each of the actual and possible combinations of conditions associated with the collapse of democracy. She continued by making the computer software perform minimizations of the observed combinations associated with the survival and demise of democracy respectively, and she repeated this procedure with added logical remainders. On this basis, the researcher offered a causal interpretation of her formulas. For instance, she contended that one of them (generated without logical remainders) showed that, among the countries she studied, the survival of democracy was caused either by a high level of wealth, education, industrialization, and governmental stability; or by a high level of wealth, education, and governmental stability, and a low level of urbanization ( Rihoux and De Meur 2009 :57).

The method of QCA has been criticized on different grounds. One type of complaints focuses on the limitations of the method. For instance, Steel states that one weakness of QCA is that it can only be used to analyze a small number of possible causes ( Steel 2011 :292). As soon as many conditions are considered, the number of actual and possible combinations of the conditions becomes too large to handle. Another line of objections has it that the method fails to deliver on its promise: the minimal formulas (sometimes) fail to represent causal relations. For example, Baumgartner points out that according to Mackie’s INUS conception of causation, causes make a difference to their effect. Since QCA relies on this conception, he argues, minimal formulas must be maximally parsimonious, that is, not contain any conditions, whose elimination makes no difference to the occurrence of the outcome ( Baumgartner 2014 ). Otherwise, the formulas fail to represent causal relations. Yet, he contends, in order to obtain such maximally parsimonious minimal formulas, researchers have to make simplifying assumptions that are untenable in that they posit empirically impossible configurations.

3. Process Tracing

The method of process tracing is, broadly speaking, a method of data analysis: it consists in the analysis of generated data, and sometimes also prospective data, about a single case with the aim of identifying the mechanisms that link two events as cause and effect.

George Alexander introduced the notion of process tracing into political science in the late 1970s ( Bennett and Checkel 2014 :5). Yet the method did not gain prevalence until after the publication of his and Andrew Bennett’s “Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences” in 2005 . Today, process tracing is regarded as an important form of qualitative research (see, e.g., Collier 2011 ; Mahoney 2012 ; Waldner 2012 ). In this section, I offer a brief introduction to the method, its underlying assumptions, and some objections to it. I leave a discussion of how its use exemplifies qualitative research to Section 5 .

The notion of mechanisms is central to process tracing. Proponents of the method maintain that mechanisms connect a cause to its effect. More precisely, they hold that two events are linked as cause and effect via continuous and contiguous causal processes (causal chains of events), while identifying these processes with mechanisms (see George and Bennett 2005 :140). In discussions of process tracing, the idea of mechanisms is further elaborated in diverse ways (see, e.g., Beach and Pedersen 2019 :29ff). Here is for example George and Bennett’s widely cited definition: mechanisms are “ultimately unobservable physical, social, or psychological processes through which agents with causal capacities operate, but only in specific contexts or conditions, to transfer energy, information, or matter to other entities. In so doing, the causal agent changes the affected entity’s characteristics, capacities, or propensities in ways that persist until subsequent mechanisms act upon it” ( George and Bennett 2005 :137). Simplifying, the gist of this formulation is that mechanisms are processes involving entities that, under the right circumstances, pass on energy, information, or matter to other entities. However specified, advocates of the method maintain that mechanisms may be traced by pointing to data that are indicative of their occurrence. That is, researchers should use process tracing. It is a method of data analysis broadly speaking in that it involves the scrutiny of generated data and sometimes also the specification of the data to be generated about a single case. I now describe in more detail how the method works drawing mainly on Bennett and Checkel (2014) .

A researcher begins by selecting the outcome her study is going to explain and a case in which the outcome occurs. Sometimes, she has a theory that posits a cause of the outcome and she is able, perhaps drawing on the theory, to formulate hypotheses about the mechanisms that linked the posited cause and outcome in the case. In this situation, the researcher engages in theory testing process tracing which is the most discussed variety of the method. Thus, she begins by specifying the observable implications of her hypothesized mechanisms, that is, the types of data she may expect to generate if her hypotheses are correct and if she is granted access to relevant people, documents, and the like. In addition, she contemplates possible alternative causes, posits mechanisms that might link them to the outcome, and specifies some of their observable implications. Lastly, she considers the probative value of the different types of prospective data, that is, how much they will each lend support to her mechanism hypotheses. 2 The point of this exercise is that she makes sure to look for types of data with high probative value and, more generally, for enough data to properly test her mechanism hypotheses.

Against this backdrop, the researcher generates her data about the case looking for the different types of data she should expect to find if the hypothesized mechanisms are correct. To this end, she typically uses different methods of data generation such as semi- and unstructured interviewing, the collection and reading of documents, participant observation, and surveys. She then interprets her data (do they exemplify her prespecified data types?). And, she assesses to what extent the data lend support to her hypothesized mechanisms and hence to her favorite theory about the cause of the outcome, and to what extent the data refute alternative mechanism hypotheses and posited causes.

There is also a second variety of process tracing. At the beginning of a study, when a researcher has selected the outcome to be explained and the case she is going to examine, she may also find herself in the situation of having at most a highly tentative idea about what the cause of the outcome was and no hypotheses about connecting mechanisms. In this case, she engages in theory building process tracing. Here, she proceeds directly to generate data about the case while aiming for data she thinks might be indicative of the mechanisms and the cause. She then analyzes her data and, on that basis, comes up with hypotheses about the mechanisms and the cause of the outcome. Moreover, she examines whether the data lend support to alternative posits of causes and linking mechanisms.

Often, a researcher uses both theory testing and theory building process tracing in a single study ( Bennett and Checkel 2014 :17). For instance, at the beginning of her study, she may not have any hypotheses about mechanisms. Accordingly, she generates data and then comes up with mechanism hypotheses on their basis. She may then set out to test these hypotheses by specifying some of their further observable implications (i.e., types of data different from those that led her to posit the mechanisms), and so on ( Bennett and Checkel 2014 :8).

Nina Tannenwald’s study of why the US has not deployed nuclear weapons after World War II is often discussed as an example of well-conducted process tracing (Tannenwald 1999 , 2007 ; for its discussion, see, e.g., Beach and Pedersen 2019 ; Bennett 2014 ; Collier 2011 ). Tannenwald examined her research question in relation to four different cases ( Tannenwald 1999 ). I briefly consider one of these, namely the Korean War case. She started out postulating that, during this war, the American decision-makers decided against the use of nuclear weapons because of a norm against their use. Among other things, she then hypothesized that the norm (the cause) influenced the decision-makers’ deliberations about whether or not to use nuclear weapons (the linking process) and that these deliberations resulted in their decision not to deploy the nuclear weapons (the outcome). More precisely, she proposed, the norm constrained the decision-making process either through having been internalized by the decision-makers or by being perceived by them as “an exogenously given constraint” on their decision-making ( Tannenwald 1999 :440). Tannenwald continued by specifying two observable implications: if the norm had these constraining effects, there should be data indicating that some decision-makers explicitly argued against the use of nuclear weapons on normative grounds and that others (those in favor of using the weapons) openly complained about the norm. In addition, Tannenwald considered possible alternative causes of the nonuse of nuclear weapons and specified the observable implications of their accompanying mechanisms. This done, Tannenwald generated her data: she collected documents and conducted interviews. Her data lent support to her claim that the norm against nuclear weapon use did indeed influence the decision-makers’ choice not to employ them in the Korean War.

It may be noted that process tracing may be combined with QCA in the sense that the methods may be employed in succession. For example, a researcher who has conducted a qualitative comparative analysis may return to some of her cases and carry out process tracing in order to identify the mechanisms that link the cause-effect relations she discovered by way of QCA. Or a researcher may, by way of process tracing, establish that two events in a case are causally related while subsequently engaging in research using QCA to determine whether a similar cause-effect relation occurs in other cases as well.

The method of process tracing has been criticized on the ground that, contrary to what its proponents hold, its employment does not, on its own, make it possible to establish that two events are related as cause and effect. For instance, Daniel Steel argues that it is not enough, by way of process tracing, to point to data indicating that the hypothesized mechanisms operated in a case ( Steel 2008 :186). The reason is that the data, on their own, fail to establish that the chain of events, occurring between the putative cause and effect, was a causal chain of events. To show that the intervening processes are causal, it is necessary to point to causal generalizations about the linking events yet “it is difficult to see how causal generalizations could be learned without some type of inference from statistical data” ( Steel 2008 :186). Coming from a different angle, Sharon Crasnow criticizes process tracing of the theory-testing variety on the ground that it focuses exclusively on how data may confirm (or refute) hypothesized mechanisms ( Crasnow 2017 :7). This overlooks the importance of providing a narrative about the case under study. Thus, she states, process tracing should be reconceived as involving the creation of “a narrative through a hypothesized causal mechanism” since this facilitates reflection on both alternative mechanism hypotheses, and the connection between the data and the explanation of the case.

4. The Ethnographic Method

The ethnographic method is a method of data generation that involves the use of participant observation, possibly in combination with methods like semi- and unstructured interviewing and the collection and reading of documents, with the aim of generating data about multiple aspects of the ways of life under study.

Richard Fenno’s “Home Style” from 1978 and James C. Scott’s “Weapons of the Weak” from 1985 are two early and classic works in political ethnography ( Fenno 2003 [1978]; Scott 1985 ; for their discussions, see, e.g., Schatz 2009b :4 and Kapiszewski et al. 2015 :240–241). At the time of their publication, the ethnographic method played a very peripheral role in political science and this situation has continued until recently. However, in 2009, the edited volume “Political Ethnography: What Immersion Contributes to the Study of Power” appeared ( Schatz 2009a ). It both reflected, and further stimulated, a growing interest in the ethnographic method among political scientists (see, e.g., Wedeen 2010 :259 and Schwartz-Shea and Majic 2017 :97–98).

Ethnographic research is taken to exemplify qualitative research in political science (see, e.g., Schatz 2009b ; Bevir and Blakely 2018 :90). In the next section, I take a closer look at its status as a qualitative form of research. Here, I explicate the method and briefly consider some criticisms of it. I begin by outlining how a researcher should proceed when carrying out participant observation (the key method in ethnographic research), and conducting semi- and unstructured interviewing (two methods that commonly accompany its use). I base the exposition on Zahle (2018 , 2021 ) and Halperin and Heath (2012:287ff) .

Before a researcher engages in ethnographic research, she decides on a research question and selects the specific setting (or possibly settings) in which to conduct her study. Typically, she settles on an open question, i.e., one to which she has no prefixed possible answer. This means that she will first generate her data and then, on their basis, come up with an answer to her research question. Moreover, the researcher usually regards her research question as preliminary: she expects to render it more precise, to modify it in other ways, or even to substitute it with a different research question after she has commenced to generate her data. Alternatively, and much less commonly, the researcher formulates a hypothesis in response to her research question before she starts to generate her data, which are then used to test the hypothesis. In any case, she does not make any detailed plans as to what data to generate, but decides this, on a running basis, in the field. In this respect, the research design accompanying the employment of the ethnographic method is a flexible or adaptive one.

When carrying out participant observation, the ethnographer participates in the research participants’ ways of life in their usual surroundings. The researcher may participate to different degrees. For instance, she may participate in the weak sense of merely staying in the background, or in the stronger sense of interacting with the research participants, or in the even stronger sense of also engaging in their activities. While participating, the researcher observes, i.e., notes, what goes on. Subsequently, she describes this in her field notes in as much detail as possible and in terms that comes as close as possible to the research participants’ perspectives. The ethnographer proceeds in this manner over an extended period of time that allows her to immerse herself in the ways of life she studies.

When conducting semi- or unstructured interviews, the ethnographer poses questions to an interviewee who, in her replies, is permitted or encouraged to digress, to expand on her views, to exemplify her points, to introduce her own concerns, and the like. In semistructured interviewing, the researcher has a list of questions that she goes through. She may pose them in whatever order seems natural during the interview just as she may add questions. In unstructured interviewing, the researcher has at most a list of topics that she wants to cover. She does not introduce these in any prefixed order and formulates her questions as she goes along. As a result, the interaction comes close to an ordinary conversation. In both cases, the interview is typically conducted in a setting familiar to the research participant who is interviewed at length on one or several occasions. After an interview, the researcher describes the interview in her interview notes.

Commonly, the researcher begins to analyze her data when data generation is still ongoing. After she leaves the field, she then continues this task in a more intensive manner and ends by writing an account of her findings.

By way of illustration of the method, consider Richard Fenno’s famous ethnographic study, “Home Style” (Fenno 2003[1978]) . The focus of Fenno’s study was how American politicians (members of the House of Representatives) perceived their constituencies and how these perceptions influenced their behavior ( Fenno 2003 [1978]:xxviii). Fenno generated the main bulk of his data by way of participant observation and interviewing carried out in the politicians’ home districts ( Fenno 2003 [1978]:251). More precisely, he spent time with eighteen politicians (three to eleven days with each), while they engaged in various activities in their home districts. In addition, he conducted follow-up interviews with eleven of the politicians in Washington. Before he set out to generate his data, he did not formulate any hypotheses in response to his research questions and he didn’t make any detailed plans as to what data to generate. Thus, in reflecting on his approach, Fenno describes how his visits to the districts “were totally open-ended and exploratory. I tried to observe and inquire into anything and everything these members did. I worried about whatever they worried about. Rather than assume that I already knew what was interesting, I remained prepared to find interesting questions emerging in the course of the experience. The same with data. The research method was largely one of soaking and poking—or just hanging around” ( Fenno 2003 [1978]:xxviii). As soon as he had begun to generate data, he also notes, he started to analyze them and the latter eventually led to the findings presented in “Home Style” (Fenno 2003[1978]:283) .

The application of the ethnographic method is commonly associated with a commitment to interpretivism. The latter maintains that the social sciences should mainly provide interpretations of the meaningful aspects of social reality while motivating this contention by reference to various ontological claims about social reality. Interpretivists spell out this theoretical position in various ways. For instance, Blakely and Bevir make it clear that interpretations, or interpretive explanations as they call them, may assume various forms ( Bevir and Blakely 2018 :21ff). Among other things, interpretive explanations may account for an individual’s beliefs or actions by showing how these fit into her wider web of beliefs and by providing a narrative of what preceded and followed the beliefs or actions ( Bevir and Blakely 2018 :21–25). Also, interpretive explanations may explain individuals’ beliefs by reference to the social background that gave rise to them or, conversely, show how changes in individuals’ beliefs prompted alterations in the social background ( Bevir and Blakely 2018 :29).

These reflections bring into view that ethnographic data, which focus on the research participants’ perspectives and on multiple aspects of their ways of life, are well suited to serve as basis for interpretative explanations. Hence, it is no surprise that there is a long tradition for combining ethnographic research with interpretivism. At the same time, though, it should be stressed that ethnographic data may also ground noninterpretivist accounts: they may be used for other purposes than offering interpretations and without making the ontological assumptions characteristic of interpretivism (see, e.g., Bevir and Blakely 2018 :92ff; Kubik 2009 ; Schatz 2009b ; and Wedeen 2010 ). For instance, the method may be combined with the theoretical position of functionalism (as, say, the famous anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski did) or with the position of structural-functionalism (as exemplified by another well-known anthropologist, Edward Evans-Pritchard) (see Kubik 2009 ).

Just as ethnographic research is compatible with different theoretical positions, it may also go together with different methods of data analysis. For the present purposes, this point may be illustrated in relation to QCA and process tracing. Ethnographic data may be used as basis for a qualitative comparative analysis (possibly in combination with other types of data). All it requires is that the ethnographic data are dichotomized so that they may be inserted into a dichotomized data table (see, e.g., Rihoux and Lobe 2009 ). Likewise, a researcher engaged in process tracing may decide to use the ethnographic method to generate some, or all, of the data needed to test or build her hypotheses about mechanisms (see, e.g., Kapiszewski et al. 2015 :249–250).

The most common objection to the ethnographic method is that it tends to generate data of questionable quality. For example, Johnson et al. report two such criticisms ( Johnson et al. 2008 :254). One states that reactivity may occur, that is, the researcher may influence the research participants’ behavior, and by implication, the data she generates. The other notes that the researcher’s observations, and by implication her data, may be biased: she may pay attention to some aspects of the ways of life she studies and not to others even though the disregarded aspects are equally, if not more, relevant to the focus of her study. The implication is that since reactivity and bias frequently transpire, the researcher tends to end up with low-quality data. As it stands, this line of reasoning is not convincing because it fails to consider that an ethnographer may in various ways address the issues of reactivity and bias. For instance, she may try to minimize reactivity and/or she may try to determine how she influenced the research participants such that she may take this into account when interpreting her data. Accordingly, the more interesting version of the criticisms maintains that whatever measures the researcher takes, her data are likely to be of poor quality.

5. Conceptions of Qualitative Research in Political Science

In the previous sections, I have characterized qualitative research in political science through an examination of three methods whose use is widely held to exemplify qualitative research. I now approach the characterization of qualitative research in political science from a different angle, namely through considering what is taken to be distinctive of qualitative research in general. A quick glance at political science discussions shows that there is no agreement on this matter. Accordingly, I look at four influential conceptions of qualitative research that are currently defended in political science. Moreover, I explore how these conceptions apply to QCA, process tracing, and the ethnographic method. This will both add some more content to the conceptions and pick up on an issue left hanging in the foregoing presentation of the methods, namely their status as qualitative forms of research. In other words, why, if at all, does research that relies on these methods amount to qualitative research? To anticipate, I show that the conceptions disagree on the classification of research that employs these methods as qualitative. In this fashion, the discussion brings into view that even though research based on the methods is often regarded as qualitative, there is no consensus on this point.

In political science discussions, qualitative research is often identified with research that generates and analyzes qualitative data, which are said to have certain distinctive features in common.

John Gerring’s definition of qualitative research exemplifies this line of approach ( Gerring 2017 ). Gerring states that qualitative data are noncomparable data, that is, bits and pieces of data that address different aspects of a research question and that are drawn from different populations ( Gerring 2017 :18–19). Accordingly, the data may not be displayed in a matrix (rectangular) data set where the rows indicate cases and the columns variables. Both these features, Gerring explains, differentiate qualitative from quantitative data: the latter are defined by being comparative and as such they may be arrayed in a matrix rectangular data set ( Gerring 2017 :18). Gerring goes on to observe that methods of data generation are qualitative to the extent that they generate qualitative data. Similarly, the discussion suggests, methods of data analysis are qualitative to the extent that they involve the analysis of qualitative data.

Gerring’s definition may now be applied to QCA, process tracing, and the ethnographic method. QCA is not concerned with the analysis of noncomparative data. That is, though a researcher may generate noncomparative data about her cases, she must turn these into comparative data that she inserts in a dichotomized data table—a matrix rectangular data set—before they may be analyzed by way of QCA. Thus, QCA does not count as a qualitative method of data analysis (see Gerring 2017 :18). It is a different matter with process tracing. In process tracing, Gerring maintains, diverse types of data are always used for the purposes of establishing that two events are related as cause and effect ( Gerring 2006 :173). That is, “multiple types of evidence are employed for the verification of a single inference – bits and pieces of evidence that embody different units of analysis (they are each drawn from unique populations). Individual observations [bits of data] are therefore noncomparable” ( Gerring 2006 :173). This being the case, process tracing is a qualitative method of data analysis. Lastly, turn to the ethnographic method. For the sake of simplicity, I shall henceforth take it that the method only comprises participant observation in combination with semi- and unstructured interviewing and/or the collection and reading of documents. 3 Thus conceived, the method is a straightforward qualitative method of data generation: participant observation and its supplementary methods produce data (field, interview, and document notes) that are noncomparable in that they pertain to multiple different aspects of the research question (see Gerring 2006 :19). It is worth noting that these data may subsequently be transformed into comparable ones. This point does not undermine the claim that the data “originally” generated by the methods are noncomparative ones.

Peregrine Schwartz-Shea and Dvora Yanow’s definition is another example of a conception that identifies qualitative research with the generation and analysis of qualitative data ( Schwartz-Shea and Yanow 2002 ). They identify qualitative data with data that are word-based and hence they specify qualitative methods of data generation as ones that produce word-based accounts, and qualitative methods of data analysis as ones that examine word-based accounts ( Schwartz-Shea and Yanow 2002 :460–461). In comparison, they imply, quantitative data are numerical and the methods that produce or analyze such data are quantitative.

Relative to this conception, QCA is not a qualitative method of data analysis since it does not analyze word-based data but works on numerical data, viz. variables that take the value of “1” or “0.” Regarding process tracing, it may be used to analyze both word-based and numerical data. For instance, a process tracing analysis may draw both on word-based data generated by way of semistructured interviewing and the collection and reading of documents, and on numerical survey-data. Hence, process tracing is not a qualitative method or its status as a qualitative method varies depending on the extent to which it is applied to word-based data. As to the ethnographic method, Schwartz-Shea and Yanow state that participant observation, semi- and unstructured interviewing, and the collection and reading of documents generate word-based accounts ( Schwartz-Shea and Yanow 2002 :460). Accordingly, the ethnographic method counts as a qualitative method.

Another family of conceptions of qualitative research identifies it with studies that have certain broader features or basic orientations, as Goertz and Mahoney put it, in common ( Goertz and Mahoney 2012 :2). Goertz and Mahoney’s own conception exemplifies this sort of position ( Goertz and Mahoney 2012 ; Mahoney and Goertz 2006 ). Their characterization is confined to stating what is distinctive of qualitative studies whose prime concern is causal analysis ( Mahoney and Goertz 2006 :228–229). Such studies, they contend, have most or all of the following features ( Mahoney and Goertz 2006 :230–245). Explanations are offered that: (1) list the causes of outcomes in particular cases; (2) conceive of causation in terms of necessary and sufficient causes; (3) specify how a combination of causes brought about some outcome(s); (4) point out how different (combinations of) causes may bring about some outcome; and (5) generalize only to a limited number of cases, if at all. Further, (6) the researcher begins by selecting cases in which the outcome to be explained occurred; (7) pieces of evidence (data) are not assigned equal probative value; (8) all cases are not necessarily regarded as being equally important; (9) an account as to why a particular case fails to be covered by the researcher’s causal model is sought; and (10) much time and effort is spent defining the central concepts.

In their discussion, Mahoney and Goertz make it clear that they regard studies, which employ QCA or process tracing, as key instances of qualitative research (see, e.g., Goertz and Mahoney 2012 :7 and 9). For lack of space, I limit myself to drawing attention to a few of the obvious ways in which QCA and process tracing studies fit Mahoney and Goertz’ characterization. Accordingly, it may be noted that in QCA studies, explanations of outcomes in particular cases are offered, causation is conceived of in terms of necessary and sufficient causes just as the method is compatible with multiple conjunctural causation (point 3 and 4). As to process tracing studies, they likewise point to causes of outcomes in particular cases, the researcher begins by selecting a case in which the outcome to be explained occurred, and pieces of evidence (data) are not assigned equal probative value.

What about studies which employ the ethnographic method? Mahoney and Goertz’ characterization does not say anything about such studies. That is, the ethnographic method may well be employed to generate data that form the basis for causal analysis (their focus), but from the perspective of assessing whether research is qualitative, its application is irrelevant. In this sense, ethnographic research falls outside the scope of their conception.

Another example of this sort of conception of qualitative research is presented by David Collier, Henry Brady, and Jason Seawright ( Collier, Brady, and Seawright 2010 ). They contend that studies with the following features exemplify qualitative research. The studies: (1) primarily involve data that are organized at a nominal level of measurement (i.e., the categories in the scale of measurement are not ranked); (2) concentrate on relatively few cases (roughly less than ten or twenty cases); (3) do not involve any, or only few, statistical tests to establish their end results; and (4) involve detailed knowledge about the cases ( Collier, Brady, and Seawright 2010 :155). Collier et al. stress that studies may, of course, have only some of these features. In that case, the studies may still be classified as being to some extent qualitative depending on how many of the features they possess.

Equipped with this characterization, consider once more studies that involve the three methods. In a QCA study, data are organized at a nominal scale of measurement: in a dichotomous data table, “1” indicates the presence of a possible cause, “0” is absence ( Ragin 2014 [1989]:86). 4 Further, no statistical tests are used. At the same time, proponents of QCA typically recommend that a researcher gains detailed knowledge about her cases, but they also recognize that the more cases a researcher studies, the more difficult it becomes to acquire in-depth knowledge about all of them (see Rihoux and Lobe 2009 ). Further, though some QCA studies focus on less than ten or twenty cases, most studies today consider a larger number of cases (see, e.g., Arel-Bundock 2019 :4–5). These latter two points show that QCA studies often fail to count as instances of full-blown qualitative research. In process tracing studies, nominal scale data are primarily used in that heterogeneous bits and pieces of data are used to test or build hypotheses about the linking mechanisms. Further, the studies focus on a single or few cases, their end results are not established using statistical tests, and they involve detailed knowledge about the cases under study. Thus, process tracing studies exemplify qualitative research. Lastly, in ethnographic research, the employment of participant observation, semi- and unstructured interviewing, and the collection and reading of documents primarily result in nominal scale data about a single or a few cases. The data are not suited for statistical tests just as their use gives rise to detailed knowledge about the case or cases. Hence, ethnographic studies are qualitative too.

This concludes the examination of different positions in political science as to what is distinctive of qualitative research. The discussion brought out that the different conceptions of qualitative research do not agree on whether or not the use of QCA, process tracing, and the ethnographic method exemplifies qualitative research.

6. Putting Qualitative Research in Political Science in Perspective

So far I have offered a twofold characterization of qualitative research in political science. I now briefly compare the current state of qualitative research in political science with that in other social sciences. It goes without saying that I will be painting with the big brush.

In political science, there is a marked focus on qualitative research whose goal is to identify causal relations (see Cooper at al. 2012 :12). Considering QCA and process tracing as forms of qualitative research, they illustrate this point: they are both methods that purport to uncover causal relations. In other social sciences, there is not a similar concern. Qualitative researchers in, say, cultural anthropology and sociology, do not to the same extent aim for causal findings and explicitly discuss the use of qualitative research for this purpose. In fact, taking this point even further, Glaser et al. contend that in most other social sciences, there is even “a widespread tendency on the part of qualitative researchers today to reject causal analysis as unnecessary, undesirable, and/or impossible” (Cooper at al. 2012:13).

Further, and relatedly, discussions in political science have particularly revolved around qualitative data analysis. Again, counting QCA and process tracing as qualitative forms of research, they are representative of this trend as they are methods of data analysis. By comparison, issues relating to qualitative data generation have received much less attention. The situation is the exact opposite in many other social sciences. Here, qualitative forms of data generation (rather than data analysis) are, and have traditionally been, the main preoccupation. For instance, Alan Bryman’s widely used textbook on “Social Research Methods” exemplifies this observation: five chapters are dedicated to different methods of qualitative data generation, whereas one chapter discusses qualitative data analysis and one offers an introduction to qualitative data analysis software ( Bryman 2012 ).

Moreover, among the three methods discussed in this paper, the ethnographic method is the approach most widely used outside political science. There is a long tradition for its employment particularly in cultural anthropology and sociology where the methods were originally developed ( Halperin and Heath 2012 :287). QCA and process tracing are also applied outside political science, yet they are not to the same extent, it seems, presented as qualitative forms of research. Or better perhaps, they tend not to figure in standard textbooks on qualitative research aimed at students outside political science. This, though, may also have to do with the fact that they are more recently developed methods.

Finally, political science is not alone in displaying diverse conceptions of qualitative research. In other sciences, there are similar discussions to this effect. Among the four conceptions considered, it is the identification of qualitative research with methods that generate and analyze word-based data that is most commonly encountered in other social sciences.

7. Conclusion

In this paper, I have characterized qualitative research in political science. First, I presented the methods of QCA, process tracing, and ethnography that are regarded as central methods in qualitative research. Next, I discussed four different conceptions of qualitative research in political science, while showing that they disagree on the classification of the three methods as forms of qualitative research. Thus, it appeared, even though research based on the three methods is often regarded as qualitative, there is no consensus on this matter in political science. Lastly, I compared the state of qualitative research in political science to that in other social sciences.

For a while now, the notion of qualitative research has been disputed (and as part of this its distinction from quantitative research). By way of ending, it is worth stressing that this does not render the present focus on qualitative research potentially problematic. The label of qualitative research continues to be widely used in political science and hence it is perfectly reasonable to discuss methods which use is taken to exemplify qualitative research in political science, as well as different conceptions of qualitative research within this field. Doing so, of course, is not the same as showing that the notion of qualitative research should remain in use because it usefully groups together certain forms of research. A discussion along these lines is the topic of another paper. 5

In the presentation of the method, I also say a few words about the steps preceding and following the application of the method. Proponents of QCA typically stress the importance of these additional steps while referring to the method of QCA in combination with these steps as the QCA approach .

In this process, it is commonly recommended to rely on Van Evera’s widely cited distinction between four different ways, or extents to which, data may provide support for hypotheses ( Van Evera 1997 :30–32, see also the discussion of his distinction in, e.g., Collier 2011 ; Mahoney 2012 ).

This is a simplification since ethnographic research may also involve the employment of participant observation in combination with other data generation methods. Which ones is a matter of dispute.

Here, and in the following discussion of this conception, I assume that the data analyzed or generated by the method under consideration are the data primarily involved in a study.

I would like to thank Harold Kincaid and Jeroen Van Bouwel for their very helpful comments. Also thanks to Michael Baumgartner for all his useful suggestions.

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Is Political Science A Good College Major? Examining The Pros And Cons

Political science has long been a popular major for students interested in politics, government, and related fields. But is majoring in political science actually a good choice in terms of career prospects, earning potential, and real-world application?

This article examines the pros and cons of a political science degree, skills gained as a poli sci major, and potential careers for political science graduates.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Political science can be a solid college major choice for students interested in politics, public policy, and social issues . It teaches valuable skills in areas like data analysis, communication, and critical thinking.

But job options are broad and salaries vary, so supplemental experience is key.

Benefits of a Political Science Degree

Gain a broad understanding of political systems.

One of the key benefits of pursuing a degree in political science is gaining a broad understanding of political systems. Students in this field learn about various forms of government, political ideologies, and the functioning of political institutions.

This knowledge allows them to analyze and interpret political events and phenomena, helping them make sense of the complex world of politics.

Develop Analytical, Research, and Communication Skills

A political science degree also equips students with valuable skills that are highly sought after in many professional fields. Through coursework and research projects, students develop strong analytical skills, enabling them to critically evaluate information and make informed decisions.

They also learn how to conduct research, gather data, and analyze it using statistical methods. Furthermore, communication skills are honed through frequent writing assignments, presentations, and debates, which are integral to the field of political science.

Foundation for Public Administration, Law, and Other Careers

A political science degree provides a solid foundation for a variety of careers, including public administration and law. Many students who major in political science go on to work in government agencies, non-profit organizations, or international institutions.

The comprehensive understanding of political systems gained through this degree program prepares graduates for roles in policy analysis, public advocacy, and public service. Additionally, the critical thinking and research skills acquired in a political science degree can be applied to a wide range of other professions, such as journalism, business, and education.

Challenges Facing Political Science Majors

Difficulty specializing with a general degree.

One of the challenges that political science majors may face is the difficulty in specializing with a general degree. Unlike more specialized degrees, such as engineering or accounting, political science offers a broad range of topics and areas of study.

This can make it challenging for students to narrow down their focus and choose a specific career path within the field. However, it is important to note that many political science graduates go on to have successful careers in various fields such as law, government, non-profit organizations, and international relations.

Less Concrete Than More Technical Degrees

Compared to more technical degrees, political science is considered to be less concrete. This means that the concepts and theories studied in political science are often more abstract and theoretical in nature.

This can sometimes make it difficult for students to apply what they have learned directly to real-world situations. However, this does not mean that the knowledge gained from studying political science is any less valuable.

In fact, the ability to think critically, analyze complex issues, and understand the complexities of the political landscape are highly sought-after skills in many professions.

Requires Supplemental Skills and Experience

Another challenge that political science majors may face is the need for supplemental skills and experience. While a degree in political science provides a strong foundation in the subject, it is often necessary for students to gain additional skills and experiences outside of the classroom to enhance their employability.

This can include internships, volunteer work, research projects, or even pursuing a double major or minor in a related field. By supplementing their education with practical experiences and additional skills, political science majors can increase their marketability and stand out in a competitive job market.

Career Paths for Political Science Graduates

Political science graduates have a wide range of career paths to choose from. Here are some of the most common options:

Government and Public Administration

Many political science graduates find fulfilling careers in government and public administration. They can work at various levels of government, from local to international organizations. Political science majors may find opportunities in policy analysis, program management, public relations, or political consulting.

They can contribute to the development and implementation of policies that shape our society.

Law and Legal Fields

Political science is also an excellent foundation for a career in law. Many law schools appreciate the critical thinking and analytical skills that political science majors possess. Graduates can pursue legal careers as attorneys, judges, or legal researchers.

They can specialize in areas such as constitutional law, international law, or public interest law. A political science degree provides a solid background for understanding the legal and political systems.

Journalism, Research, Teaching

Political science graduates can also make an impact in the fields of journalism, research, and teaching. With their knowledge of political systems and policies, they can become political journalists, covering elections, policy debates, and international affairs.

They can also work as researchers, conducting studies on political trends, public opinion, or policy outcomes. Additionally, political science majors can pursue careers in academia, teaching and inspiring the next generation of political thinkers.

It is important to note that these career paths are not mutually exclusive, and political science graduates often have the flexibility to transition between different sectors throughout their careers. They may start in government, then move into law, and later transition into academia or journalism.

The skills and knowledge gained from studying political science provide a strong foundation for success in a variety of fields.

Comparison of Career Paths for Political Science Graduates

Ultimately, the choice of a career path for political science graduates depends on their interests, skills, and personal goals. It is important to carefully consider the pros and cons of each option and explore internships or networking opportunities to gain a better understanding of the field.

For more information on political science careers, you can visit The Bureau of Labor Statistics or The American Political Science Association .

Ensuring a Successful Political Science Major

Take statistics, data analysis, and methods courses.

One of the key components of a successful political science major is a strong foundation in statistics, data analysis, and research methods. These courses provide students with the necessary tools to analyze and interpret political data, conduct research, and draw meaningful conclusions.

By understanding statistical concepts and techniques, students can effectively evaluate political trends, make informed predictions, and contribute to the field of political science.

For example, taking courses in quantitative research methods can equip students with the skills to conduct surveys, analyze polling data, and understand the significance of statistical correlations. These skills are highly valued in the field of political science, as they allow researchers to make evidence-based claims and contribute to academic discussions.

Students can also explore courses in qualitative research methods, which focus on understanding and analyzing non-numerical data. This can include conducting interviews, analyzing historical documents, or examining case studies.

By developing a well-rounded understanding of both quantitative and qualitative research methods, students can approach political science from multiple angles and gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Develop Writing and Research Skills

Another crucial aspect of a successful political science major is the development of strong writing and research skills. Political science is a field that heavily relies on written communication, whether it be in the form of research papers, policy briefs, or analytical essays.

Therefore, honing writing skills is essential for effectively conveying ideas and arguments in a clear and persuasive manner.

Additionally, research skills are vital for conducting thorough investigations and gathering credible sources to support one’s arguments. Political science majors often engage in extensive literature reviews and data analysis, requiring them to critically analyze and synthesize information from various sources.

Developing strong research skills allows students to navigate through vast amounts of information and identify reliable and relevant sources.

By taking courses that focus on writing and research skills, students can sharpen their abilities to construct well-reasoned arguments, present evidence, and engage in academic discourse. These skills are not only valuable during their college years but also in future careers, whether in academia, government, or the private sector.

Complete Internships Related to Career Goals

One way to enhance a political science major is by completing internships that align with career goals. Internships provide students with real-world experience and the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in practical settings.

They also allow students to network with professionals in the field and gain valuable insights into potential career paths.

Students can seek internships in various settings, such as government agencies, non-profit organizations, political campaigns, or policy think tanks. These internships can provide hands-on experience in areas such as policy analysis, legislative research, campaign management, or public affairs.

By immersing themselves in these environments, students can gain a deeper understanding of how political science concepts are applied in practice and develop valuable skills that can enhance their future career prospects.

It is important for students to actively seek out and apply for internships that align with their career goals. Many organizations offer internship programs specifically tailored to political science majors, providing them with opportunities for mentorship, skill development, and practical experience.

A political science major can provide an excellent general foundation in government, politics, and policy for students with relevant interests. However, it is important to supplement the degree with hard and soft skills along with practical experience.

Overall, political science is a promising major for the right students with initiative to apply their learning.

Examples Of Science And Technology: An In-Depth Overview

Science and technology play an integral role in our daily lives. From the alarm that wakes us up to the phones we use to stay connected, technology powered by science is ubiquitous. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Examples of science and technology include computers, smartphones, renewable energy, genetic…

Is Economics The Science Of Common Sense?

Economics is often described as the science of common sense. At first glance, this characterization seems apt – after all, economics aims to explain many aspects of daily life, including decisions about spending, saving, and working that may seem like ‘common sense’. However, upon closer examination, the relationship between economics and common sense proves more…

University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Computer Science Program Ranking

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) has one of the top computer science programs in the world. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: UIUC’s computer science program is consistently ranked in the top 5 nationally and top 10 globally. In this comprehensive guide, we will overview UIUC’s computer science program in detail,…

Is Psychology A Hard Science? An In-Depth Analysis

Whether psychology is a hard science or a soft science has been debated for decades. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Psychology utilizes scientific methods but has challenges with reproducibility that many consider to make it a softer science than fields like chemistry or physics. In this approximately 3000…

Is Cognitive Science A Good Major?

Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary field that integrates elements of psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, computer science, and philosophy to study the mind and mental processes. But is it a good choice as a college major? If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer: Cognitive science is a great major for students interested in fields like…

Is A Minor In Computer Science Worth It? Examining The Pros And Cons

In our increasingly digital world, computer science skills are highly sought after across countless industries. This has led many students to wonder – is getting a minor in computer science worthwhile for my career? If you’re short on time, here’s a quick take: A computer science minor can be useful for complementing a variety of…

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PDF A Guide to Developing and Writing Research Papers in Political Science
The Six Parts of a Research Paper. A research paper in political science typically has 6 parts: (1) Introduction, (2) Literature review, (3) Theory, (4) Research Design, (5) Analysis, and (6) Conclusion/ Discussion. While papers do vary in their construction, that variation usually finds a way to embrace these 6 parts.
100+ Research Topics In Politics (+ Free Webinar)
Here, we'll explore a variety of politically-related research ideas across a range of disciplines, including political theory and philosophy, comparative politics, international relations, public administration and policy. NB - This is just the start…. The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps.
The SAGE Handbook of Research Methods in Political Science and
This is an extraordinarily comprehensive handbook on the current state of the art in research methods for political science. The roster of authors is both stellar and extensive. No single person knows this much about all this material. So all serious researchers can benefit from having this handbook on their shelves, whether to expand the scope of their own work or to enhance their reading of ...
Research & Politics: Sage Journals
Research & Politics. Research & Politics (RAP) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal, which focusses on research in political science and related fields through open access publication of the very best cutting-edge research and policy analysis. View full journal description. This journal is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Political Science Research Topics
Top 10 Political Science Research Paper Topics. 1. Building Government Capacity to Address Global Environmental Challenges. Complex tradeoffs are part of environmental policy, especially in the 21st Century. Green technology investments can boost the economy and create jobs.
PDF GUIDE TO POLITICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH
for students in Political Science and other so-cial sciences, getting involved in research may not be as clear-cut as finding a lab to work in. There are two broad paths to get started in po-litical science research: (1) assist faculty mem-bers with their ongoing research or (2) begin your own independent research project. Gen-
Political Science Research and Methods
Political Science Research and Methods (PSRM) is a general political science journal dedicated to publishing original scholarly work of the highest quality from all subfields of political science.The journal specifically focuses on research applying rigorous methods to empirical or theoretical problems and promotes a rigorous scientific approach to the study of politics.
Introduction to Political Science Research Methods (Franco et al
76154. Josue Franco. Cuyamaca College. Introduction to Political Science Research Methods is an Open Education Resource Textbook that surveys the research methods employed in political science. The textbook includes chapters that cover: history and development of the empirical study of politics; the scientific method; theories, hypotheses ...
PDF Field Research in Political Science
about ﬁeldwork in the discipline of political science since the early 2000s. We see at least four interacting dynamics prompting these scholarly discussions. First, political scientists of all epistemological, methodological, and substan-tive persuasions have paid increasing attention to the critical links among theory, research design, and ...
Ethics in Political Science Research
Abstract. Ethical dilemmas are much more common in political science than it is commonly envisaged. In this chapter we use the tripartite division between politics, polity, and policies and discuss the specific ethical concerns of these three core areas of research in political science. Additionally, we discuss some of the current and future ...
Research Career Paths Among Political Scientists in Research
Considerable research assesses research success in political science. Yet this work has not considered widespread findings that scholars can follow various career research paths that complicate how we envision scholarly success. Further, we have no systematic information on these career paths in any scientific discipline.
Interview Research in Political Science
Mosley, Layna, Interview Research in Political Science (Cornell University / Cornell University Press, May 2013). The SSRC makes available interdisciplinary research to inform policy, academic discourse, and the public. These publications are freely accessible and include policy working papers to essays for the general public.
10 Political Researcher Skills (Plus Job Duties and Salary)
10 political researcher skills. There are a number of skills you may need to be a quality political researcher. These include: 1. A knowledge and interest in politics. Political researchers should have some depth of knowledge about how the political process works. This may include having an understanding of the way government functions and the ...
What Can You Do With a Political Science Degree?
Here are some common jobs where experts say a political science degree is a plus: Lawyer. Lobbyist. Legislator. Diplomat or foreign service officer. Urban or regional planner. Historian ...
340 Political Science Research Topics & Ideas for Your Paper
Current Research Topics in Political Science. Political science is a progressing field, so the problems you research will always be relevant. Our list of up-to-date topics of political science will help you make sure your paper is on point. Artificial intelligence in global governance.
Applying Active Learning in Undergraduate Research Methods
Political science curricula vary across departments, but most programs require that their undergraduate students complete at least one "scope and methods" course (Turner and Thies Reference Turner and Thies 2009, 367).Over time, emphasis on "practical" research skills has come at the expense of exposing students to the broad contours of the discipline (Lewis-Beck Reference Lewis-Beck ...
15 Political Science Careers To Choose From
15 political science careers. Here are 15 careers to consider in the political science field: 1. Lawyer. Lawyers are experts in the law and how it affects citizens. They represent people in court and act as their representatives in the law and its procedures. They also play an important role in translating the law and its procedures to people ...
100 Political Science Research Topics in 2024
Political Science Research Topics What we have here is analysis and an in-depth study of processes that relate to politics. A scientist can approach certain event and study cause-and-effect of an issue, study political leader personality or write reflection essay about police officers behavior that have bias towards African American teenagers or those that wear a hood.
Exploring 70+ reMarkable Political Science Project Topics for Students
Welfare-to-Work Programs and Their Effect on Poverty Reduction. Environmental Conservation Policies and Biodiversity Preservation: A Global Review. ... Political science research is an adventure of exploration, analysis, and understanding. Researchers employ a mix of methods, from surveys and interviews to data crunching, to unearth the secrets ...
Political Scientist Jobs, Employment
Part Time Political Science Instructor. Cerritos College. Norwalk, CA 90650. $95.91 - $137.94 an hour. Part-time. Evenings as needed. Master's in political science, government, or international relations OR Bachelor's in any of the above AND Master's in economics, history, public…. Posted 22 days ago ·.
17 Jobs for Political Science Majors (That Don't Require You ...
Historian. Salary: $72,900. Job outlook: 3% (as fast as average) Historians research, study, and analyze historical documents, from newspapers and photographs to letters and interviews. Historians can conduct this research for various employers, including government, business, nonprofit, or historical organizations.
10 Qualitative Research in Political Science
Before embarking on this task, one comment is in order. Many discussions of qualitative research in political science take as their starting point or consider Gary King, Robert O. Keohane, and Sidney Verba's Designing Social Inquiry: Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research from 1994 (see, e.g., Mahoney 2010; Koivu and Damman 2015).In the book, King, Keohane and Verba maintain that ...
Is Political Science A Good College Major? Examining The Pros And Cons
This can include internships, volunteer work, research projects, or even pursuing a double major or minor in a related field. ... Another crucial aspect of a successful political science major is the development of strong writing and research skills. Political science is a field that heavily relies on written communication, whether it be in the ...
MSU research suggests darker side of being politically confident
Jennifer Wolak is a professor in the Department of Political Science in the College of Social Science and her research focuses on public opinion and how people think about politics. Wolak and Carey Stapleton of University of Massachusetts Amherst published the study in the journal Public Opinion Quarterly , complicating how we view the value of ...
Party affiliation and ideology of US registered voters
The partisan identification of registered voters is now evenly split between the two major parties: 49% of registered voters are Democrats or lean to the Democratic Party, and a nearly identical share - 48% - are Republicans or lean to the Republican Party. The partisan balance has tightened in recent years following a clear edge in Democratic Party affiliation during the last administration.
Fractured Lines: How Political Polarization Affects Business
As a result, political polarization creates both risks and opportunities in the industry. Specifically, the researchers found a causal relationship between urban-rural polarization and state-level efforts to preempt potential fracking bans on the local level. Because there is a concentration of Republican power on the state level, where the ...
Political Typology Quiz
Take our quiz to find out which one of our nine political typology groups is your best match, compared with a nationally representative survey of more than 10,000 U.S. adults by Pew Research Center. You may find some of these questions are difficult to answer. That's OK. In those cases, pick the answer that comes closest to your view, even if ...
Is Education Research Too Political?
Is Education Research Too Political? By Frederick M. Hess. Education Week. April 11, 2024. On Monday, I talked with departing Institute of Education Sciences Director Mark Schneider, who just ...
Cheating death: The latest research on aging and immortality from a
In a new book, Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist Venki Ramakrishnan raises critical questions about the societal, political and ethical costs of attempts to live forever.
Political Science, B.A.
We gathered data from our past graduates and found that most URI alumni who majored in Political Science, B.A. go on to work in these industries among others. Government and Law Entry Level - new to the industry. Job Title Salary Range; Avionics Technician ... Research Assistant : $ 50,000 - $ 59,000 : Technical Support Representative ...

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2. Influence of Social Movements and Advocacy Groups on Policymaking

3. Effect of an Interdependent World on the Roles of Governments and Institutions

4. Prosperity and Equality Through Public Policy

5. Factors Influencing Policymaking Around Taxes, Regulation, and Trade

6. Influence of Gender, Race, Class, and Other Aspects of Identity on Policymaking

7. The Role of Government in Providing Affordable Healthcare

8. Mitigating Cyber Breaches And Security Challenges Through Policymaking

9. Harnessing Data for Good Governance

10. Regulating Disinformation In the United States Through Public Policy

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