political science questions to research

Research Topics & Ideas: Politics

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

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

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

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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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.

Don't worry! Our team of qualified professionals is ready to offer research paper help , ensuring you submit quality work in no time. So why stress over extensive research and drafting when you can get expert assistance at your fingertips? Contact us now to get expert assistance.

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• Oxford Bibliographies: Political Science This link opens in a new window Hundreds of annotated guides to recent scholarship in topics across all subfields of political science and international relations.
• Oxford Research Encyclopedia: Politics Provides up-to-date, peer-reviewed surveys of major topics, theories, and research questions across all areas of political science.
• Oxford Research Encyclopedia: International Studies These peer-reviewed articles cover major topics, theories, and research questions across many subfields of international studies/international relations, like conflict, security, human rights, diplomacy, etc. This is the follow-up to the International Studies Association's International Studies Encyclopedia Online .
• Oxford Handbooks Online These handbooks provide a great source for authoritative reviews of research across political science, political theory, and related disciplines. Most of these we also have in print.
• Routledge Handbooks Online This link opens in a new window These handbooks provide overviews current research and future trends in the social sciences and humanities, with a strong collection in politics, particularly international relations and area studies.
• Annual Review of Political Science This link opens in a new window Comprehensive review of the literature in political science. Can help students identify major tends in the field as well as find general overviews of research in specific subject areas of politics.
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• Cambridge Collections Online This link opens in a new window Searchable full text access to the complete Cambridge Companions to literature, philosophy, religion, and classics.
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• Encyclopedia of Political Theory - Mark Bevir, ed. Thorough discussions of a diverse range of political theories and concepts.
• Past Masters This link opens in a new window Searchable full-text works in several languages from major philosophers and theologians.

Major Encyclopedias Covering the Whole Discipline

• SAGE Handbook of Political Science Published in 2020, this handbook provides a thorough overview of the discipline. Each of the 92 chapters gives a comprehensive overview of major topics within each subfield. Thematic sections include, Political Theory, Methods, Political Sociology, Comparative Politics, Public Policies and Administration, International Relations, and Major Challenges for Politics and Political Science in the 21st Century.
• International Encyclopedia of Political Science (2011) Covers all aspects of politics, from political theory and methodology to political sociology, comparative politics, public policies, and international relations.
• The Encyclopedia of Political Science Covers all areas of political science and provides medium-length entries with short bibliographies for further reading. Created under the direction of the American Political Science Association. Also in print at JA61 .E513 2011 (Trustee Reading Room Reference).
• International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences (2nd ed.) This link opens in a new window Covering 26 volumes in print, this major encyclopedia aims to capture the "state of the art" of the social and behavioral sciences, expanding its focus to include related biological fields, such as evolutionary science, genetics, cognitive neuroscience, psychiatry, and health. Topics include anthropology, archaeology, demography, economics, education, geography, history, law, linguistics, philosophy, political science, psychiatry, psychology, and sociology.
• CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window Offers reports and analysis on a variety of current policy issues. Includes background information, pro/con debates, and a chronology, plus resources for additional research.
• Facts On File Issues and Controversies This link opens in a new window Explore current issues and events with in-depth articles made to inspire thought-provoking debates. Topic pages feature the latest related news coverage from Reuters® as well as a variety of helpful background information, from the key pro/con arguments to chronologies of related events to primary documents. Updated weekly. 1995–present.
• World News Digest (Facts on File) This link opens in a new window Digest of major news stories around the world. 1940+

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Home » 300+ Political Science Research Topics

300+ Political Science Research Topics

Political Science is a fascinating field that deals with the study of governments, public policies, and political behavior. It encompasses a wide range of topics , from the intricacies of international relations to the workings of democratic systems. Political Science research has a crucial role in understanding these phenomena, analyzing them, and suggesting solutions to societal problems. There are various Political Science research topics that researchers can explore, and each topic offers a unique perspective on the field. In this article, we will discuss some of the most interesting Political Science research topics that have significant implications for society.

Political Science Research Topics

Political Science Research Topics are as follows:

• The effects of globalization on national sovereignty
• The role of political parties in shaping policy outcomes
• The impact of the media on political decision-making
• The effectiveness of international organizations in promoting global cooperation
• The relationship between democracy and economic development
• The influence of interest groups on political outcomes
• The role of political ideology in shaping policy preferences
• The impact of identity politics on political discourse
• The challenges of democratic governance in developing countries
• The role of social media in shaping political attitudes and behavior
• The impact of immigration on electoral politics
• The influence of religion on political participation and voting behavior
• The effects of gerrymandering on electoral outcomes
• The role of the judiciary in shaping public policy
• The impact of campaign finance regulations on electoral outcomes
• The effects of lobbying on policy outcomes
• The role of civil society in promoting democratic accountability
• The impact of political polarization on democratic governance
• The influence of public opinion on policy decisions
• The effectiveness of international sanctions in promoting human rights
• The relationship between corruption and economic development
• The role of the media in promoting government transparency
• The impact of social movements on political change
• The effects of terrorism on domestic and international politics
• The role of gender in shaping political outcomes
• The influence of international law on state behavior
• The impact of environmental policy on economic development
• The role of NGOs in promoting global governance
• The effects of globalization on human rights
• The relationship between economic inequality and political polarization
• The role of education in promoting democratic citizenship
• The impact of nationalism on international politics
• The influence of international trade on state behavior
• The effects of foreign aid on economic development
• The role of political institutions in promoting democratic stability
• The impact of electoral systems on political representation
• The effects of colonialism on contemporary political systems
• The relationship between religion and state power
• The role of human rights organizations in promoting democratic accountability
• The impact of social welfare policy on economic inequality
• The influence of cultural identity on political behavior
• The effects of globalization on cultural diversity
• The role of civil liberties in promoting democratic citizenship
• The impact of globalization on labor rights
• The effects of climate change on international politics
• The role of identity politics in promoting social justice
• The influence of populism on democratic governance
• The impact of economic sanctions on state behavior
• The role of international conflict resolution in promoting peace
• The effects of globalization on the distribution of wealth and power.
• The impact of social media on political polarization
• The effects of campaign finance laws on elections
• The role of interest groups in shaping public policy
• The effectiveness of international human rights organizations
• The causes and consequences of political corruption
• The impact of globalization on national sovereignty
• The role of the media in shaping public opinion
• The influence of public opinion on policy making
• The relationship between economic inequality and political participation
• The effects of electoral systems on representation
• The role of political parties in democratic governance
• The relationship between religion and politics
• The effectiveness of peacekeeping operations
• The impact of immigration on political systems
• The relationship between environmental policy and economic growth
• The effects of globalization on labor rights
• The effectiveness of international trade agreements
• The impact of populism on democratic institutions
• The causes and consequences of political violence
• The relationship between nationalism and globalization
• The role of international organizations in conflict resolution
• The effectiveness of international sanctions
• The impact of media ownership on news coverage
• The relationship between political culture and democracy
• The effects of social movements on policy change
• The role of civil society in democratic governance
• The relationship between gender and political participation
• The effectiveness of public-private partnerships in delivering public services
• The impact of foreign aid on economic development
• The role of civil-military relations in democratic governance
• The relationship between foreign policy and national security
• The effects of decentralization on public service delivery
• The impact of trade on labor standards
• The role of international law in regulating state behavior
• The relationship between economic sanctions and regime change
• The effects of political advertising on elections
• The role of executive power in democratic governance
• The impact of social welfare policies on poverty reduction
• The relationship between civil liberties and national security
• The effects of globalization on the environment
• The role of international organizations in promoting human rights
• The relationship between migration and security
• The impact of privatization on public service delivery
• The role of civil society in promoting social justice
• The effects of political polarization on policy making
• The relationship between international law and national sovereignty
• The impact of international aid on governance and democracy
• The impact of political polarization on democracy
• The role of social media in political activism
• The effects of lobbying on government decision-making
• The dynamics of international conflict resolution
• The impact of globalization on the power of nation-states
• The relationship between economic development and democratization
• The effectiveness of international aid in promoting democracy
• The role of international organizations in shaping global governance
• The impact of corruption on democratic institutions
• The role of the media in shaping public opinion and political outcomes
• The impact of political advertising on voter behavior
• The relationship between political participation and social identity
• The role of civil society in promoting democracy
• The impact of political parties on democratic governance
• The impact of globalization on environmental policy
• The impact of globalization on labor standards
• The impact of globalization on human rights
• The role of international law in promoting global justice
• The impact of trade policy on domestic politics
• The impact of international trade agreements on labor standards
• The impact of international trade agreements on the environment
• The impact of military spending on economic development
• The impact of military intervention on democracy
• The impact of military intervention on human rights
• The impact of military intervention on international security
• The impact of income inequality on democratic institutions
• The impact of income inequality on social welfare policy
• The impact of income inequality on public health
• The impact of income inequality on education policy
• The impact of cultural diversity on political representation
• The impact of cultural diversity on social welfare policy
• The impact of cultural diversity on education policy
• The impact of cultural diversity on public health
• The impact of social movements on economic policy
• The impact of social movements on foreign policy
• The impact of social movements on civil rights
• The impact of populism on democracy
• The impact of populism on foreign policy
• The impact of populism on economic policy
• The impact of populism on social welfare policy
• The impact of nationalism on international relations
• The impact of nationalism on domestic politics
• The impact of nationalism on economic policy
• The impact of nationalism on civil rights
• The impact of technology on political power
• The impact of technology on political participation
• The impact of technology on democracy
• The impact of social media on political communication
• The effectiveness of campaign finance regulations
• The role of interest groups in shaping policy outcomes
• The influence of media bias on public opinion
• The impact of demographic changes on electoral outcomes
• The role of identity politics in shaping political attitudes
• The effects of term limits on legislative behavior
• The relationship between authoritarianism and economic development
• The effectiveness of public opinion polls in predicting election outcomes
• The role of political parties in democratic consolidation
• The impact of judicial activism on policy outcomes
• The relationship between public opinion and policy outcomes
• The effectiveness of citizen initiatives in promoting policy change
• The impact of globalization on political institutions
• The effects of campaign advertising on voter behavior
• The relationship between nationalism and foreign policy
• The impact of voting laws on political participation
• The role of interest groups in shaping foreign policy
• The effects of social movements on political change
• The relationship between democracy and economic growth
• The effectiveness of lobbying on policy outcomes
• The impact of the media on political polarization
• The role of international norms in promoting human rights
• The relationship between government corruption and economic development
• The effectiveness of policy diffusion in promoting policy change
• The impact of trade policies on economic growth
• The role of international institutions in managing global crises
• The effects of populism on democratic governance
• The relationship between foreign aid and economic development
• The effectiveness of proportional representation systems in promoting democracy
• The impact of social media on political participation
• The role of civil liberties in democratic governance
• The effects of decentralization on governance
• The relationship between nationalism and democratic governance
• The effectiveness of public-private partnerships in promoting economic development
• The role of the military in democratic governance
• The effects of federalism on policy outcomes
• The effectiveness of conflict resolution strategies in promoting peace
• The impact of political polarization on policy outcomes
• The role of transparency in promoting democratic governance
• The effects of immigration policies on social cohesion
• The relationship between gender and political representation
• The effectiveness of international human rights law in promoting accountability
• The impact of social media on political participation and voter behavior.
• The role of the media in shaping public opinion on immigration policies.
• An analysis of the impact of economic inequality on democratic participation.
• A study of the effect of international aid on development and political stability in low-income countries.
• A comparative analysis of the political systems of China and the United States.
• An examination of the impact of political polarization on the effectiveness of democratic governance.
• The role of political parties in shaping government policies and programs.
• The impact of lobbying on government decision-making.
• An analysis of the impact of political corruption on economic development.
• The role of civil society organizations in promoting democratic governance.
• A study of the effect of public opinion on foreign policy decision-making.
• An examination of the role of interest groups in shaping environmental policy.
• The impact of globalization on the distribution of wealth and power.
• An analysis of the impact of campaign finance laws on the electoral process.
• The role of the judiciary in protecting individual rights and freedoms.
• A comparative analysis of the healthcare systems of developed countries.
• An examination of the impact of terrorism on civil liberties and human rights.
• The role of international organizations in promoting global governance.
• An analysis of the impact of social movements on political change.
• A study of the effect of political violence on democratic governance.
• The impact of political ideology on public policy.
• The role of the executive branch in shaping foreign policy.
• An examination of the impact of gender on political representation and leadership.
• The impact of climate change on global security and governance.
• A comparative analysis of the education systems of developed countries.
• An analysis of the impact of gerrymandering on electoral outcomes.
• The role of the military in shaping foreign policy and national security.
• The impact of populism on democratic governance.
• An examination of the role of civil liberties in protecting individual rights.
• The impact of political polarization on social welfare policies.
• The role of political elites in shaping public policy and decision-making.
• The impact of the media on the political agenda-setting process.
• A study of the effect of political institutions on economic growth.
• The role of international law in shaping global governance.
• The impact of nationalism on international relations.
• An analysis of the impact of immigration on social cohesion and integration.
• The role of trade agreements in shaping global economic governance.
• A comparative analysis of the electoral systems of developed countries.
• An examination of the impact of economic sanctions on global governance.
• The impact of public opinion on the implementation of social welfare policies.
• A study of the effect of military intervention on democratic governance.
• The role of international human rights law in protecting individual rights and freedoms.
• The impact of populism on social welfare policies.
• An analysis of the impact of religious institutions on political decision-making.
• The role of non-state actors in shaping global governance.
• The impact of political discourse on political behavior and attitudes.
• A study of the effect of globalization on income inequality.
• The role of international trade in shaping global economic governance.
• An examination of the impact of colonialism on modern political systems.
• The impact of regionalism on international relations.
• The role of media bias in shaping public opinion on political issues.
• An analysis of the impact of populism on democratic governance.
• A comparative study of the political systems of democratic and authoritarian regimes.
• The impact of gender on political representation and decision-making.
• A study of the effect of the European Union on national sovereignty and democracy.
• An examination of the role of civil society in promoting democracy and human rights.
• The impact of immigration on social welfare policies in developed countries.
• A comparative analysis of the healthcare systems of developed and developing countries.
• An analysis of the impact of corruption on economic development and political stability.
• The role of interest groups in shaping public policy and decision-making.
• The impact of international organizations on global governance and cooperation.
• A study of the effect of campaign finance regulations on political campaigns and electoral outcomes.
• An examination of the role of the judiciary in protecting individual rights and liberties.
• The impact of political ideology on foreign policy decision-making.
• A comparative analysis of the education systems of developed and developing countries.
• An analysis of the impact of nationalism on international relations and global governance.
• The impact of climate change on national security and foreign policy.
• A study of the effect of military intervention on human rights and democracy.
• An examination of the impact of gerrymandering on electoral outcomes and representation.
• The role of non-state actors in shaping global governance and decision-making.
• The impact of economic inequality on democratic participation and representation.
• A comparative analysis of the electoral systems of democratic and authoritarian regimes.
• An analysis of the impact of social movements on political change and decision-making.
• The role of civil liberties in protecting individual rights and freedoms.
• A study of the effect of international trade agreements on global economic governance.
• An examination of the role of interest groups in shaping environmental policy and decision-making.
• The impact of populism on social welfare policies and economic development.
• An analysis of the impact of political polarization on the effectiveness of democratic governance.
• The impact of colonialism on modern political systems and institutions.
• A study of the effect of economic sanctions on global governance and cooperation.
• An examination of the impact of religious institutions on political decision-making and human rights.
• The role of regionalism in shaping international relations and global governance.
• The impact of social media on political participation and activism.
• An analysis of the impact of international aid on development and political stability in low-income countries.
• The role of the executive branch in shaping foreign policy and national security.
• A study of the effect of political violence on democratic governance and human rights.
• The impact of trade policy on global economic governance and cooperation.
• An analysis of the impact of political corruption on economic development and political stability.
• The impact of public opinion on foreign policy decision-making and international relations.
• A study of the effect of military spending on economic growth and development.
• An examination of the role of civil society organizations in promoting democratic governance and human rights.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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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.

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. But workers in the oil and coal industry will lose them. This is all part of an ongoing discussion about environmental protection and the political attitudes of different groups towards green policies.

The public will support climate policy only if the costs are fairly distributed. Governments have to generate transparent policies to earn the trust of the citizens. This controversial topic demands a good deal of research, an understanding of environmental policy, an analysis of policy outcomes, and the development of new political theories.

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.

Other Examples of Political Science Research Topics & Questions

Political science research topics.

• Ethnic Conflict Between Americans and Arab-Americans in the United States
• Telecommunications Policies in China
• The Supreme Court and Reproductive Rights
• The Evolution of Affirmative Action Initiatives
• The Development of a Constitutional Right of Privacy

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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Political Science Research Paper Topics

800 Political Science Research Paper Topics

Political science is a dynamic field that offers a multitude of avenues for exploration and inquiry. Whether you are passionate about the intricacies of American politics, fascinated by global affairs, or interested in the intersection of politics with social issues, there’s a wealth of research opportunities awaiting you. This comprehensive list of political science research paper topics has been meticulously curated to help students like you find inspiration and direction for your academic endeavors. Spanning various categories, these topics encompass both foundational principles and contemporary issues, ensuring a diverse range of subjects for your research. As you navigate this extensive collection, let your intellectual curiosity guide you towards a research topic that resonates with your interests and academic goals.

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African Politics

• The Role of Youth Movements in African Politics
• Assessing the Impact of Neocolonialism on African Nations
• Conflict Resolution Strategies in African States
• Corruption and Governance Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Women’s Participation in African Political Leadership
• Comparative Analysis of Post-Colonial African Constitutions
• Environmental Policies and Sustainability in African Governments
• The African Union’s Role in Regional Stability
• Ethnic Conflict and Politics in East Africa
• Human Rights Violations and Accountability in African Nations
• The Influence of International Aid on African Politics
• Media Censorship and Press Freedom in African Nations
• Ethnicity and Identity Politics in West Africa
• Healthcare Access and Quality in African Countries
• Indigenous Governance and Rights in African Societies
• Political Economy and Resource Allocation in Oil-Producing Nations
• The Impact of Globalization on African Economies
• The Legacy of Apartheid in South African Politics
• The African Diaspora’s Influence on Homeland Politics
• Environmental Conservation and Natural Resource Management in Africa

American Politics

• The Role of Third Parties in American Elections
• Analyzing the Influence of Lobbying on U.S. Policy
• The Impact of Social Media on Political Campaigns
• Immigration Policies and the American Dream
• Gerrymandering and Its Effects on Electoral Outcomes
• The Role of the Electoral College in Presidential Elections
• Gun Control and Second Amendment Debates
• Healthcare Policy and Access in the United States
• Partisanship and Polarization in American Politics
• The History and Future of American Democracy
• Supreme Court Decisions and Their Political Implications
• Environmental Policies and Climate Change in the U.S.
• Media Bias and Political Discourse in America
• Political Conventions and Their Significance
• The Role of Super PACs in Campaign Financing
• Civil Rights Movements and Their Impact on U.S. Politics
• Trade Policy and Global Economic Relations
• National Security and Counterterrorism Strategies
• Populism and Its Influence on American Politics
• Electoral Reform and Voting Rights in the United States

Asian Politics

• China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Global Politics
• Democracy Movements in Hong Kong and Taiwan
• India’s Foreign Policy and Regional Influence
• The North Korea Nuclear Crisis
• Environmental Challenges in Southeast Asian Nations
• Ethnic Conflict and Identity Politics in South Asia
• Economic Growth and Inequality in East Asian Countries
• ASEAN’s Role in Regional Security
• Japan’s Approach to Pacifism and Defense
• Cybersecurity and Cyber Warfare in Asia
• Religious Extremism and Political Stability in the Middle East
• China-India Border Dispute and Geopolitical Implications
• South China Sea Disputes and Maritime Politics
• The Rohingya Crisis and Humanitarian Interventions
• Political Reform and Authoritarianism in Central Asia
• Technological Advancements and Political Change in Asia
• The Belt and Road Initiative and Its Impact on Asian Economies
• Environmental Conservation Efforts in Asian Nations
• Geopolitical Rivalries in the Indo-Pacific Region
• Media Censorship and Freedom of Expression in Asia
• Comparative Politics
• Comparative Analysis of Political Regimes: Democracies vs. Authoritarian States
• Theories of State Formation and Governance
• Electoral Systems Around the World
• Social Welfare Policies in Western and Non-Western Societies
• The Role of Civil Society in Political Change
• Political Parties and Their Impact on Governance
• Analyzing Political Culture in Diverse Societies
• Case Studies in Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding
• Federal vs. Unitary Systems of Government
• Gender and Political Representation Across Countries
• Immigration Policies and Integration Strategies
• Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination Movements
• Environmental Policies and Sustainability Practices
• Populist Movements in Contemporary Politics
• The Impact of Globalization on National Identities
• Human Rights Violations and Accountability Mechanisms
• Comparative Analysis of Welfare States
• Ethnic Conflict and Power Sharing Agreements
• Religious Diversity and Its Political Implications
• Social Movements and Political Change Across Regions
• Constitutions and Constitutionalism
• The Evolution of Constitutional Law: Historical Perspectives
• Judicial Review and Constitutional Interpretation
• Federalism and State Powers in Constitutional Design
• Comparative Analysis of National Constitutions
• Human Rights Provisions in Modern Constitutions
• Constitutional Amendments and Reform Efforts
• Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances
• Constitutional Design in Post-Conflict Societies
• Constitutionalism and Indigenous Rights
• Challenges to Constitutional Democracy in the 21st Century
• Constitutions and Cultural Pluralism
• Environmental Provisions in Constitutions
• The Role of Constitutional Courts in Political Systems
• Social and Economic Rights in Constitutions
• Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law
• The Impact of Technological Advancements on Constitutional Governance
• Constitutional Protections for Minority Rights
• Constitutional Referendums and Public Participation
• Constitutional Provisions for Emergency Powers
• Gender Equality Clauses in National Constitutions
• Democracy and Democratization
• The Role of Civil Society in Democratization
• Democratic Backsliding: Causes and Consequences
• Comparative Analysis of Electoral Systems and Democracy
• The Impact of Media on Political Awareness and Democracy
• Political Parties and Their Role in Democratic Governance
• Women’s Political Participation and Representation in Democracies
• Democratic Transitions in Post-Authoritarian States
• Youth Movements and Their Influence on Democratization
• Populism and Its Effect on Democratic Norms
• Comparative Analysis of Direct vs. Representative Democracy
• Democratization and Economic Development
• Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Democratization
• The Role of International Organizations in Promoting Democracy
• Religious Diversity and Democracy in Multiethnic Societies
• The Challenges of Democratic Consolidation
• Media Freedom and Democratization in the Digital Age
• Human Rights and Democratic Governance
• Democratization and Conflict Resolution in Divided Societies
• Civil-Military Relations in Emerging Democracies
• Assessing the Quality of Democracy in Different Countries

Political Corruption

• The Impact of Corruption on Political Stability
• Corruption and Economic Development: A Comparative Analysis
• Anti-Corruption Measures and Their Effectiveness
• Corruption in Public Procurement and Government Contracts
• Political Scandals and Their Influence on Public Opinion
• The Role of Whistleblowers in Exposing Political Corruption
• Corruption and Its Impact on Foreign Aid and Investments
• Political Patronage and Nepotism in Government
• Transparency and Accountability Mechanisms
• Corruption and Environmental Exploitation
• Cultural Factors and Perceptions of Corruption
• Corruption in Law Enforcement and the Judiciary
• The Role of Media in Investigating Political Corruption
• Corruption and Political Party Financing
• Comparative Analysis of Corruption Levels in Different Countries
• Ethnicity and Corruption: Case Studies
• Political Corruption in Post-Conflict Societies
• Gender, Power, and Corruption
• Corruption and Human Rights Violations
• Strategies for Combating Political Corruption

European Politics

• The European Union’s Role in Global Governance
• Brexit and Its Implications for European Politics
• European Integration and Supranationalism
• Euroscepticism and Anti-EU Movements
• Immigration and European Identity
• Populist Parties in European Elections
• Environmental Policies in European Countries
• The Eurozone Crisis and Economic Governance
• EU Enlargement and Eastern European Politics
• Human Rights and European Integration
• Nationalism and Secession Movements in Europe
• Security Challenges in the Baltic States
• EU-US Relations and Transatlantic Cooperation
• Energy Policies and Dependency on Russian Gas
• The Common Agricultural Policy and Farming in Europe
• European Social Welfare Models and Inequality
• The Schengen Agreement and Border Control
• The Rise of Far-Right Movements in Western Europe
• EU Environmental Regulations and Sustainability
• The Role of the European Court of Justice in Shaping European Politics
• Comparative Analysis of Federal Systems
• Fiscal Federalism and Taxation in Federal States
• Federalism and Ethnic Conflict Resolution
• The Role of Governors in Federal Systems
• Intergovernmental Relations in Federal Countries
• Federalism and Healthcare Policy
• Environmental Federalism and Conservation Efforts
• Federalism and Immigration Policies
• Indigenous Rights and Self-Government in Federal States
• Federalism and Education Policy
• The Role of Regional Parties in Federal Politics
• Federalism and Disaster Response
• Energy Policy and Federal-State Relations
• Federalism and Criminal Justice Reform
• Local Autonomy and Decentralization in Federal Systems
• The Impact of Federal Systems on Economic Development
• Constitutional Reform and Changes in Federalism
• Federalism and Social Welfare Programs
• The European Model of Federalism
• Comparative Analysis of Dual and Cooperative Federalism
• Foreign Policy
• Diplomatic Strategies in International Relations
• The Influence of Public Opinion on Foreign Policy
• Economic Diplomacy and Trade Negotiations
• The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in Foreign Policy
• Conflict Resolution and Peacekeeping Efforts
• International Human Rights Advocacy and Foreign Policy
• Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy
• Nuclear Proliferation and Arms Control
• Cybersecurity and Foreign Policy Challenges
• Climate Diplomacy and Global Environmental Agreements
• Refugee and Migration Policies in International Relations
• The Impact of International Organizations on Foreign Policy
• Energy Security and Geopolitical Strategies
• Regional Alliances and Security Agreements
• Terrorism and Counterterrorism Strategies
• Humanitarian Interventions and Responsibility to Protect
• The Role of Intelligence Agencies in Foreign Policy
• Economic Sanctions and Their Effectiveness
• Foreign Aid and Development Assistance
• International Law and Treaty Negotiations
• Gender and Politics
• Gender Representation in Political Leadership
• The Impact of Women’s Movements on Gender Policy
• Gender-Based Violence and Political Responses
• Intersectionality and Identity Politics in Gender Advocacy
• Gender Mainstreaming in Government Policies
• LGBTQ+ Rights and Political Movements
• Women in Conflict Resolution and Peace Negotiations
• The Gender Pay Gap and Labor Policies
• Female Political Empowerment and Quotas
• Masculinity Studies and Political Behavior
• Gender and Environmental Justice
• The Role of Men in Promoting Gender Equality
• Gender Stereotypes and Political Campaigns
• Reproductive Rights and Political Debates
• Gender, Race, and Political Power
• Feminist Foreign Policy and Global Women’s Rights
• Gender and Healthcare Policy
• Gender Disparities in Education Access
• Gender, Technology, and Digital Divide
• Patriarchy and Its Effects on Political Systems
• Globalization and Politics
• The Impact of Globalization on National Sovereignty
• Trade Agreements and Their Political Implications
• Globalization and Income Inequality
• Environmental Policies in the Globalized World
• Cultural Diversity in a Globalized Society
• Globalization and Labor Movements
• Global Health Governance and Pandemics
• Migration and Political Responses to Globalization
• Technology and Global Political Connectivity
• Globalization and Political Populism
• Human Rights in a Globalized Context
• Globalization and the Spread of Political Ideas
• Global Supply Chains and Political Vulnerabilities
• Media and Information Flow in Global Politics
• Globalization and Terrorism Networks
• Transnational Corporations and Political Influence
• Globalization and Political Identity
• The Role of International Organizations in Managing Globalization
• Globalization and Climate Change Politics
• Globalization and Post-Pandemic Political Challenges
• Political Ideologies
• Liberalism and Its Contemporary Relevance
• Conservatism in Modern Political Thought
• Socialism and Its Variations in Different Countries
• Fascism and the Rise of Far-Right Ideologies
• Anarchism and Political Movements
• Marxism and Its Influence on Political Theory
• Environmentalism as a Political Ideology
• Feminism and Its Political Manifestations
• Populism as an Emerging Political Ideology
• Nationalism and Its Role in Contemporary Politics
• Multiculturalism and Political Pluralism
• Postcolonialism and Its Impact on Global Politics
• Postmodernism and Its Critique of Political Discourse
• Religious Political Ideologies and Fundamentalism
• Libertarianism and Minimalist Government
• Technological Utopianism and Political Change
• Eco-Socialism and Environmental Politics
• Identity Politics and Intersectional Ideologies
• Indigenous Political Thought and Movements
• Futurism and Political Visions of Tomorrow

Checks and Balances

• The Role of the Executive Branch in Checks and Balances
• Congressional Oversight and Accountability
• The Separation of Powers in Parliamentary Systems
• Checks and Balances in Local Government
• Media and Public Opinion as Checks on Government
• Bureaucratic Agencies and Their Role in Oversight
• The Balance of Power in Federal Systems
• The Role of Political Parties in Checks and Balances
• Checks and Balances in Authoritarian Regimes
• The Role of Interest Groups in Government Oversight
• The Influence of Lobbying on Checks and Balances
• The Role of the Courts in Presidential Accountability
• Checks and Balances in Times of National Crisis
• The Use of Veto Power in Checks and Balances
• Checks and Balances and the Protection of Civil Liberties
• The Role of Whistleblowers in Exposing Government Misconduct
• Checks and Balances and National Security Policies
• The Evolution of Checks and Balances in Modern Democracies
• Interest Groups and Lobbies
• The Influence of Corporate Lobbying on Public Policy
• Interest Groups and Campaign Finance in Politics
• Advocacy Groups and Their Impact on Legislative Agendas
• The Role of Unions in Interest Group Politics
• Environmental Organizations and Lobbying Efforts
• Identity-Based Interest Groups and Their Political Power
• Health Advocacy Groups and Healthcare Policy
• The Influence of Foreign Lobbying on U.S. Politics
• Interest Groups and Regulatory Capture
• Interest Groups in Comparative Politics
• The Use of Social Media in Interest Group Campaigns
• Gun Control Advocacy and Interest Group Dynamics
• Religious Organizations and Political Lobbying
• Interest Groups and Human Rights Advocacy
• Farming and Agricultural Interest Groups
• Interest Groups and Education Policy
• LGBTQ+ Advocacy and Political Representation
• Interest Groups and Criminal Justice Reform
• Veterans’ Organizations and Their Political Clout
• Interest Groups and Their Role in Shaping Public Opinion
• International Relations
• Theories of International Relations: Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism
• Power Politics and International Security
• The Role of Diplomacy in Conflict Resolution
• Multilateralism vs. Unilateralism in International Relations
• International Organizations and Their Influence on World Politics
• Global Governance and Challenges to Sovereignty
• Humanitarian Interventions and the Responsibility to Protect
• Non-State Actors in International Relations
• International Law and Its Application in Conflict Zones
• Arms Control Agreements and Nuclear Proliferation
• International Trade Agreements and Economic Diplomacy
• International Environmental Agreements and Climate Change
• Cybersecurity Threats in the Digital Age
• Refugee Crises and Forced Migration on the Global Stage
• Geopolitics of Energy Resources
• Peacekeeping Operations and Conflict Prevention
• Global Health Diplomacy and Pandemic Response
• The Role of Intelligence Agencies in International Relations
• The Changing Dynamics of U.S.-China Relations

International Security

• Cybersecurity Threats and Global Security
• Arms Control and Nuclear Non-Proliferation
• Regional Conflict and Security Implications
• Humanitarian Interventions and Security Dilemmas
• Intelligence Sharing and National Security
• Environmental Security and Resource Conflicts
• Non-State Actors in Global Security
• Maritime Security and Freedom of Navigation
• The Role of International Organizations in Global Security
• Military Alliances and Collective Defense
• Space Security and Militarization of Outer Space
• Cyber Warfare and State-Sponsored Hacking
• Security Challenges in Post-Conflict Zones
• Refugee Crises and Security Implications
• Emerging Technologies and Security Risks
• Energy Security and Geopolitical Tensions
• Food Security and Global Agricultural Policies
• Biological and Chemical Weapons Proliferation
• Climate Change and Security Threats

Latin American Politics

• Populism in Latin American Politics
• Drug Trafficking and Security Challenges
• Political Instability and Regime Changes
• Indigenous Movements and Political Representation
• Corruption Scandals and Governance Issues
• Environmental Politics and Conservation Efforts
• Social Movements and Protests in Latin America
• Economic Inequality and Poverty Reduction Strategies
• Human Rights Violations and Accountability
• The Role of the United States in Latin American Politics
• Regional Integration and Trade Agreements
• Gender Equality and Women in Politics
• Land Reform and Agrarian Policies
• Indigenous Rights and Land Conflicts
• Media Freedom and Political Discourse
• Migration Patterns and Regional Impacts
• Authoritarian Regimes and Democratic Backsliding
• Drug Legalization Debates in Latin America
• Religious Influence in Politics
• Latin American Diplomacy and International Relations
• Law and Courts
• Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law
• Constitutional Interpretation and Originalism
• Supreme Court Decision-Making and Precedent
• Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility
• Criminal Justice Reform and Sentencing Policies
• Civil Rights Litigation and Legal Activism
• International Law and Its Application in Domestic Courts
• Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms
• The Role of Judges in Shaping Public Policy
• Access to Justice and Legal Aid Programs
• Gender Bias in Legal Systems
• Intellectual Property Rights and Legal Challenges
• Immigration Law and Border Control
• Environmental Law and Sustainability
• Corporate Governance and Legal Compliance
• Privacy Rights in the Digital Age
• Family Law and Custody Disputes
• Law and Technology: Legal Issues in AI and Robotics
• Legal Education and Training of Lawyers
• Legal Pluralism and Customary Law Systems
• Legislative Studies
• The Role of Legislative Bodies in Policy-Making
• Parliamentary Systems vs. Presidential Systems
• Legislative Oversight and Government Accountability
• Party Politics and Legislative Behavior
• Committee Structures and Decision-Making Processes
• Electoral Systems and Their Impact on Legislation
• Minority Rights and Representation in Legislatures
• Lobbying and Interest Group Influence on Legislators
• Legislative Ethics and Codes of Conduct
• The Evolution of Legislative Bodies in Modern Democracies
• Legislative Responses to Crises and Emergencies
• Legislative Innovations and Reforms
• Legislative Responsiveness to Public Opinion
• Legislative Term Limits and Their Effects
• Gender Parity in Legislative Representation
• Legislative Coalitions and Majority Building
• Legislative Role in Budgetary Processes
• Legislative Oversight of Intelligence Agencies
• Subnational Legislatures and Regional Autonomy
• Comparative Analysis of Legislative Systems

Middle Eastern Politics

• The Arab Spring and Political Transformations
• Sectarianism and Conflict in the Middle East
• Authoritarianism and Political Repression
• The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Peace Efforts
• Oil Politics and Resource-Driven Conflicts
• Terrorism and Insurgency in the Middle East
• Foreign Interventions and Proxy Wars
• Human Rights Abuses and Accountability
• Religious Politics and Extremism
• Migration and Refugees in the Middle East
• Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
• Political Islam and Islamist Movements
• Water Scarcity and Regional Tensions
• Media and Censorship in Middle Eastern States
• Kurdish Politics and Autonomy Movements
• Sectarianism and Its Impact on State Structures
• Economic Challenges and Youth Unemployment
• Environmental Issues and Sustainability
• Iran’s Role in Regional Politics
• Middle Eastern Diplomacy and Global Relations

Nation and State

• National Identity and Its Influence on Statehood
• Secession Movements and the Question of Statehood
• Stateless Nations and the Right to Self-Determination
• State-Building in Post-Conflict Zones
• Failed States and International Interventions
• Ethnic Nationalism and Nation-Building
• Federalism and Devolution of Powers
• State Symbols and Nationalism
• Nationalism and Economic Policies
• Colonial Legacy and the Formation of Nations
• Territorial Disputes and State Sovereignty
• Ethnic Minorities and Their Political Rights
• Globalization and the Erosion of Statehood
• Nationalism in the Era of Transnationalism
• Nationalist Movements and Regional Autonomy
• The Role of Education in Shaping National Identity
• National Symbols and Their Political Significance
• Migration and Its Impact on National Identity
• Cultural Diversity and Nation-Building Challenges
• The Role of Language in Defining Nationhood

Political Behavior

• Voter Turnout and Political Participation Rates
• Political Socialization and Civic Engagement
• Partisan Loyalty and Voting Behavior
• Political Trust and Public Opinion
• Political Apathy and Its Causes
• Political Mobilization Strategies
• Protest Movements and Activism
• Electoral Behavior and Decision-Making
• Political Communication and Information Sources
• Political Social Networks and Online Activism
• Political Behavior of Youth and Generational Differences
• Political Behavior of Minority Groups
• Gender and Political Participation
• Social Media Influence on Political Behavior
• Public Opinion Polling and Its Impact
• Political Psychology and Behavioral Analysis
• Political Behavior in Non-Democratic Systems
• Voting Behavior in Swing States
• Political Behavior in Times of Crisis
• Political Behavior Research Methodologies

Political Change

• Regime Change and Democratization
• Revolution and Political Transformation
• Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconciliation
• Political Leadership and Change Initiatives
• Nonviolent Movements and Political Change
• Social Movements and Policy Reforms
• The Role of Technology in Political Change
• Political Change in Authoritarian Regimes
• Youth-Led Political Change Movements
• Resistance Movements and Their Strategies
• Cultural Movements and Political Change
• Environmental Movements and Policy Impact
• Economic Crisis and Political Change
• International Influence on Political Change
• Indigenous Movements and Political Empowerment
• Women’s Movements and Gender-Driven Change
• Grassroots Movements and Local Governance
• The Impact of Global Events on Political Change
• Political Change and Human Rights
• Comparative Studies of Political Change

Political Communication

• Media Influence on Political Attitudes
• Political Advertising and Campaign Strategies
• Political Rhetoric and Persuasion Techniques
• Social Media and Political Discourse
• Political Debates and Public Perception
• Crisis Communication and Political Leadership
• Media Ownership and Political Influence
• Propaganda and Information Warfare
• Fact-Checking and Media Accountability
• News Framing and Agenda Setting
• Political Satire and Public Opinion
• Political Communication in Multicultural Societies
• Crisis Communication and Government Response
• Public Relations and Political Image Management
• Political Talk Shows and Public Engagement
• The Role of Polling in Political Communication
• Speechwriting and Political Oratory
• Media Literacy and Critical Thinking
• Political Communication Ethics and Responsibility
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Political Communication

Political Concepts

• Democracy: Theories and Applications
• Justice and Fairness in Political Systems
• Power and Authority in Governance
• Liberty and Individual Rights
• Equality: Political, Social, and Economic Dimensions
• Citizenship: Rights and Responsibilities
• Sovereignty and the State
• Representation and Political Legitimacy
• Political Obligation and Consent
• Rights vs. Welfare: A Philosophical Debate
• The Common Good in Political Philosophy
• Social Contract Theories and Political Order
• Freedom of Speech and Political Discourse
• Political Ideals and Utopian Visions
• The Ethics of Political Decision-Making
• Anarchy and Political Order
• Nationalism and Patriotism as Political Concepts
• Political Realism vs. Idealism
• Human Dignity and Political Values
• Multiculturalism and Cultural Diversity in Politics

Political Economy

• Economic Policies and Political Decision-Making
• The Impact of Global Trade Agreements on National Economies
• Income Inequality and Political Consequences
• Taxation Policies and Political Debates
• Political Influence on Central Banks
• Economic Growth vs. Environmental Sustainability
• Government Regulation of Financial Markets
• Economic Crises and Political Responses
• Populism and Economic Policies
• Economic Development and Political Stability
• Corruption and Economic Performance
• Political Economy of Resource-Rich Nations
• International Trade Wars and Political Tensions
• Fiscal Policies and Government Budgets
• Labor Market Policies and Political Alignment
• Economic Ideologies and Political Parties
• Globalization and Income Redistribution
• Economic Populism and Public Opinion
• Economic Forecasting and Political Decision-Making
• Comparative Studies of Political Economies

Political Parties

• Party Systems and Electoral Politics
• Party Platforms and Policy Agendas
• Coalition Politics and Party Alliances
• Third Parties and Their Influence
• Party Funding and Campaign Finance
• Political Party Polarization
• Party Identification and Voter Behavior
• Party Primaries and Candidate Selection
• Populist Parties and Their Impact
• Minor Parties and Representation
• Party Discipline and Legislative Behavior
• Party Systems in Non-Democratic States
• Party Leadership and Ideological Shifts
• Party Membership and Activism
• Youth Participation in Political Parties
• Party Conventions and Political Strategy
• Party Mergers and Dissolutions
• Ethnic and Religious Parties in Multi-Cultural Societies
• Popularity of Anti-Establishment Parties
• Comparative Studies of Political Party Systems

Political Psychology

• Political Attitudes and Ideological Beliefs
• Personality Traits and Political Preferences
• Political Socialization and Identity Formation
• Political Trust and Distrust
• Group Psychology and Political Behavior
• The Role of Emotions in Political Decision-Making
• Cognitive Biases and Political Judgment
• Political Persuasion and Communication
• Political Polarization and Social Identity
• Fear and Political Behavior
• Voter Apathy and Psychological Factors
• Motivated Reasoning in Politics
• Political Stereotypes and Prejudices
• Political Leadership and Charisma
• Political Participation and Civic Psychology
• Mass Movements and Crowd Psychology
• Political Stress and Mental Health
• The Psychology of Political Extremism
• Political Tolerance and Intolerance
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Political Psychology

Political Theory

• Theories of Justice and Equality
• Democratic Theory and Political Legitimacy
• Social Contract Theories in Political Philosophy
• The Ethics of Political Leadership
• Political Authority and Obedience
• Rights and Liberties in Political Theory
• Political Utopias and Ideal Societies
• Power and Its Distribution in Political Thought
• Political Liberalism vs. Communitarianism
• The Role of Consent in Governance
• Political Anarchism and Stateless Societies
• The Philosophy of Political Revolution
• Political Philosophy and Human Rights
• Theories of Political Representation
• Feminist Political Theory and Gender Equality
• Cosmopolitanism and Global Justice
• Political Conservatism and Traditionalism
• Postmodernism and Deconstruction in Political Theory
• Critical Theory and Social Change
• Comparative Political Theories

Politics and Society

• The Societal Impact of Welfare Policies
• Environmental Policies and Sustainable Societies
• Social Movements and Their Political Goals
• Education Policies and Social Equity
• Healthcare Policies and Public Health
• Criminal Justice Policies and Social Inequality
• Immigration Policies and Integration Challenges
• Social Media and Political Activism
• Identity Politics and Social Cohesion
• Economic Policies and Income Distribution
• Civil Society and Political Engagement
• Social Capital and Political Participation
• Family Policies and Social Values
• Multiculturalism and Cultural Diversity
• Social Inclusion and Exclusion in Politics
• Urbanization and Political Dynamics
• Social Stratification and Political Behavior
• Aging Populations and Policy Implications
• Social Norms and Political Change
• Cross-Cultural Studies of Politics and Society

Politics of Oppression

• Political Repression and Human Rights Violations
• The Role of Mass Media in Oppression
• Authoritarian Regimes and Dissent
• Gender-Based Oppression and Activism
• State Surveillance and Privacy Rights
• Indigenous Rights and Anti-Oppression Movements
• Political Exile and Dissident Communities
• Censorship and Freedom of Expression
• Political Violence and Resistance
• Ethnic Conflict and Oppressed Minorities
• The Psychology of Oppression and Compliance
• Political Persecution and International Responses
• Refugees and Asylum Politics
• Oppression in Cyber-Space
• Socioeconomic Oppression and Inequality
• Historical Perspectives on Political Oppression
• Anti-Oppression Legislation and Human Rights Advocacy
• Discrimination and the Law
• The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in Oppression
• Comparative Studies of Oppressive Regimes

Public Administration

• Bureaucratic Accountability and Transparency
• Public Sector Reform and Modernization
• Administrative Ethics and Integrity
• Performance Measurement in Public Administration
• E-Government and Digital Transformation
• Public-Private Partnerships in Service Delivery
• Administrative Decision-Making and Policy Implementation
• Leadership and Change Management in the Public Sector
• Civil Service Systems and Human Resource Management
• Administrative Law and Legal Challenges
• Emergency Management and Crisis Response
• Local Government and Municipal Administration
• Public Budgeting and Financial Management
• Public Administration and Social Welfare Programs
• Environmental Administration and Sustainability
• Healthcare Administration and Policy
• Public Diplomacy and International Relations
• Administrative Responsiveness and Citizen Engagement
• Public Administration in Developing Nations
• Comparative Public Administration Studies

Public Policy

• Policy Analysis and Evaluation
• The Role of Think Tanks in Policy Formulation
• Policy Implementation Challenges and Solutions
• Policy Advocacy and Lobbying
• Healthcare Policy and Access to Medical Services
• Education Policy and Curriculum Development
• Social Welfare Policies and Poverty Alleviation
• Environmental Policy and Conservation Efforts
• Technology and Innovation Policy
• Immigration Policy and Border Control
• Security and Defense Policy
• Transportation and Infrastructure Policy
• Energy Policy and Sustainability
• Foreign Aid and Development Policies
• Taxation Policy and Revenue Generation
• Criminal Justice Policy and Sentencing Reform
• Trade Policy and Economic Growth
• Drug Policy and Harm Reduction Strategies
• Social and Cultural Policy Initiatives
• Comparative Policy Studies

Race/Ethnicity, and Politics

• Racial Discrimination and Political Activism
• Ethnic Conflict and Identity Politics
• Minority Rights and Representation
• Racial Profiling and Policing
• Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
• Indigenous Rights and Autonomy Movements
• Racial and Ethnic Voting Patterns
• The Role of Race in Political Campaigns
• Immigration Policies and Racial Implications
• Intersectionality and Multiple Identities
• Ethnic Diversity and Social Cohesion
• Slavery, Colonialism, and Historical Injustices
• Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare
• Education and Racial Achievement Gaps
• Media Representation and Stereotyping
• Hate Crimes and Extremist Movements
• Reparations and Compensation for Historical Wrongs
• Cultural Appropriation and Identity Politics
• Multiculturalism and Integration Policies
• Comparative Studies of Race and Politics

Religion and Politics

• The Role of Religious Institutions in Politics
• Religious Freedom and Secularism
• Faith-Based Advocacy and Social Change
• Religion and International Relations
• Religious Extremism and Terrorism
• Religion and Gender Equality
• Religious Minorities and Discrimination
• Political Parties and Religious Affiliation
• Religion and Environmental Ethics
• Interfaith Dialogue and Peacebuilding
• Religious Ethics and Public Policy
• Religion in Education and Curriculum Debates
• Charitable and Faith-Based Organizations
• Religious Symbols and Public Spaces
• Sacred Texts and Political Interpretations
• Pilgrimage and Political Pilgrimage
• Religion and Human Rights
• Religious Conversion and Apostasy
• Faith and Political Leadership
• Comparative Studies of Religion and Politics

Electoral Systems

• The Impact of Electoral Systems on Representation
• Proportional Representation vs. First-Past-the-Post
• Gerrymandering and Electoral Manipulation
• Electronic Voting and Election Security
• Ranked Choice Voting Systems
• Voter Turnout and Participation Rates
• Minority Representation in Electoral Systems
• Campaign Finance and Electoral Outcomes
• Voter Registration and Access to Voting
• Electoral Reforms and Political Parties
• Voting Behavior and Demographic Patterns
• Gender and Electoral Politics
• Electoral Systems in Post-Conflict Nations
• Hybrid Electoral Systems
• Electoral Justice and Redistricting
• Political Parties and Coalition Building
• Election Observation and International Standards
• Electoral Systems and Ethnic Conflict
• Voter Suppression and Disenfranchisement
• Electoral Systems in Non-Democratic Regimes

Rights and Freedoms

• Freedom of Speech and Censorship
• Civil Liberties in Times of Crisis
• Religious Freedom and Freedom of Worship
• LGBTQ+ Rights and Advocacy
• The Right to Protest and Assembly
• Racial Profiling and Discrimination
• Right to Bear Arms and Gun Control
• Refugee Rights and Asylum Seekers
• Indigenous Rights and Land Sovereignty
• Rights of the Accused and Due Process
• Access to Healthcare as a Human Right
• Education as a Fundamental Right
• Economic Rights and Income Inequality
• Children’s Rights and Child Protection
• Disability Rights and Accessibility
• Prisoner Rights and Criminal Justice Reform
• Freedom of the Press and Media Ethics
• Comparative Human Rights Frameworks

Science/Technology and Politics

• Cybersecurity and Election Interference
• Surveillance Technologies and Privacy
• Artificial Intelligence in Governance
• Internet Regulation and Net Neutrality
• Space Exploration and International Cooperation
• Ethical Implications of Biotechnology
• Climate Science and Environmental Policy
• Digital Diplomacy and International Relations
• Technology in Disaster Management
• Data Protection and Online Privacy
• Social Media and Political Influence
• Bioethics and Genetic Engineering
• Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence
• Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation
• Ethical Dilemmas in Scientific Research
• Quantum Computing and National Security
• Robotics and the Future of Labor
• E-Government Initiatives and Digital Services
• Environmental Ethics and Sustainability
• Technology Transfer in Developing Nations

War and Peace

• Conflict Resolution and Diplomacy
• Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Reconstruction
• Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Agreements
• Nuclear Deterrence and Arms Races
• Cyber Warfare and International Law
• Refugee Crises and Forced Displacement
• United Nations Peacekeeping Missions
• War Crimes and International Tribunals
• Security Alliances and Collective Defense
• Civil Wars and State Fragmentation
• Weapons of Mass Destruction and Global Security
• Peace Accords and Conflict Resolution
• Conflict Journalism and Media Coverage
• Civilian Protection and Human Rights in Conflict Zones
• The Ethics of Humanitarian Aid
• Regional Conflicts and Regional Organizations
• Conflict-Induced Migration and Refugee Policies
• The Role of Religion in Peace and Conflict

This comprehensive list merely scratches the surface of the intriguing topics available within the realm of political science. From the intricacies of constitutional law to the dynamics of Asian politics and the complexities of comparative analysis, the field of political science offers a rich tapestry of subjects for your research pursuits. We encourage you to explore these topics, refine your interests, and embark on an academic journey that not only expands your knowledge but also contributes to the broader discourse on politics and governance. As you navigate this list, remember that the key to a successful research paper is your passion for the subject matter. Choose a topic that resonates with you, and let your curiosity drive your exploration of political science research paper topics.

Browse More Political Science Topics:

• African Politics and Society
• American Politics and Society
• Asian Politics and Society
• Culture, Media, and Language
• European Politics and Society
• Federalism and Local Politics
• Institutions and Checks and Balances
• International Security and Arms Control
• Latin American Politics and Society

The Range of Political Science Research Paper Topics

Introduction

Political science, the systematic study of politics and government, provides valuable insights into the complex world of governance, policy-making, and international relations. For students of political science, selecting the right research paper topic can be the key to unlocking a deeper understanding of these intricate issues. This page serves as a comprehensive guide to the rich array of Political Science Research Paper Topics available, offering a detailed overview of the field and highlighting its significant contributions to society.

Exploring Political Science

Political science plays a pivotal role in deciphering the dynamics of the modern world. By analyzing the behavior of individuals, groups, and institutions in political settings, it seeks to unravel the complexities of governance and decision-making. This discipline’s significance extends far beyond the classroom, as it directly informs public policy, governance structures, and international relations.

The research conducted within political science serves as the foundation for crafting effective policies and addressing pressing global challenges. Governments and organizations worldwide rely on the expertise of political scientists to provide evidence-based recommendations and solutions. Whether it’s designing social welfare programs, analyzing international conflicts, or studying voter behavior, political science research is at the forefront of shaping the way societies function.

The Essence of Political Science

Political science is the intellectual foundation of modern political analysis and policy-making. It serves as a bridge between theory and practice, helping individuals understand not only the “what” but also the “why” and “how” of political phenomena. By examining political behavior, institutions, and ideologies, this field equips students with the tools to navigate the complexities of governance and to critically evaluate the policies that shape our lives.

One of the defining features of political science is its interdisciplinary nature. It draws from various disciplines, including history, economics, sociology, psychology, and philosophy, to offer a holistic understanding of political processes. For students passionate about examining the social and political forces that shape our world, political science is a vibrant and intellectually rewarding field of study.

The Relevance of Political Science Research

Political science research is not confined to academic ivory towers; it has a profound impact on society. The evidence-based insights generated by political scientists guide governments, inform public discourse, and influence policy decisions. Research on topics such as voting behavior helps in understanding democratic processes, while studies on international relations contribute to strategies for peacekeeping and diplomacy.

Political scientists also play a crucial role in examining and addressing contemporary global challenges. They explore topics such as climate change, migration, and human rights, offering valuable insights that can shape policies and international cooperation. The relevance of political science research extends to issues of governance, accountability, and the promotion of democratic values.

Range of Research Paper Topics

Within the vast realm of political science, there exists a diverse range of research paper topics that cater to different interests and perspectives. These topics encompass various subfields, each shedding light on distinct aspects of political behavior, institutions, and ideologies. Here, we delve into some of the intriguing areas that can serve as the foundation for your research endeavors:

Democracy and Democratization : The study of democratic systems and processes is a cornerstone of political science. Research in this area may explore topics such as the challenges of democratization in emerging nations, the role of media in shaping public opinion, or the impact of electoral systems on representation.

Political Corruption : Understanding and combating political corruption is critical for the integrity of governments worldwide. Research topics may range from analyzing corruption’s economic and social consequences to exploring strategies for prevention and enforcement.

Globalization and Politics : In an increasingly interconnected world, globalization profoundly influences political dynamics. Research in this area can examine issues like the impact of globalization on national sovereignty, the role of international organizations, or the ethics of global trade.

Political Ideologies : The realm of political ideologies delves into the philosophies and belief systems that underpin political movements and parties. Topics may include the examination of specific ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, or socialism, and their historical evolution.

Science/Technology and Politics : The intersection of science, technology, and politics is a fertile ground for research. This area covers topics like the influence of digital platforms on political discourse, ethical considerations in artificial intelligence, and the role of technology in election campaigns.

War and Peace : The study of international conflict and peacekeeping efforts remains a central concern in political science. Research may focus on issues like the causes of armed conflicts, peace negotiation strategies, or the ethics of humanitarian interventions.

Religion and Politics : Religion’s impact on political behavior and policies is a subject of ongoing debate. Research in this area can explore the role of religious institutions in politics, the influence of faith on voting patterns, or interfaith relations in diverse societies.

Race/Ethnicity, and Politics : The intersection of race, ethnicity, and politics raises critical questions about representation and equality. Research topics may encompass racial disparities in political participation, the impact of identity politics, or the dynamics of minority-majority relations.

Public Policy and Administration : The field of public policy and administration involves the study of how policies are formulated, implemented, and evaluated. Topics may include healthcare policy, environmental regulations, or the role of bureaucracy in shaping public programs.

International Relations : International relations examine interactions between states and the complexities of the global order. Research topics may focus on diplomacy, international organizations, global conflicts, or the challenges of international cooperation.

Human Rights and Justice : The study of human rights and justice explores ethical dilemmas and legal frameworks. Research may encompass issues like refugee rights, humanitarian law, or the role of international courts in addressing human rights abuses.

Environmental Politics : In an era of environmental challenges, political science research on environmental politics is vital. Topics may cover climate change policy, sustainable development, or the politics of natural resource management.

Evaluating Political Science Research Topics

As students explore these diverse topics, it’s essential to consider various factors when choosing a research paper topic. Here are some key considerations:

• Personal Interest : Select a topic that genuinely interests you. Your passion for the subject matter will fuel your research efforts and maintain your motivation throughout the project.
• Relevance : Consider the relevance of your chosen topic to current political debates, policies, or global issues. Research that addresses pressing concerns often has a more significant impact.
• Feasibility : Assess the availability of data, research materials, and access to experts or primary sources. Ensure that your chosen topic is researchable within your constraints.
• Originality : While it’s not necessary to reinvent the wheel, aim to contribute something new or offer a fresh perspective on existing debates or issues.
• Scope : Define the scope of your research clearly. Determine whether your topic is too broad or too narrow and adjust it accordingly.
• Methodology : Think about the research methods you’ll use. Will you conduct surveys, interviews, content analysis, or use historical data? Ensure that your chosen methods align with your topic.
• Ethical Considerations : Be mindful of ethical considerations, especially when dealing with sensitive topics or human subjects. Ensure that your research adheres to ethical standards.

Political science, as a multifaceted discipline, holds immense relevance in today’s world. Its research not only informs governance and policy-making but also empowers individuals to engage critically with the complex political issues of our time. The spectrum of Political Science Research Paper Topics is vast, reflecting the diversity of political phenomena and ideas.

As students embark on their research journeys in political science, they have the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to our understanding of governance, society, and international relations. By choosing topics that resonate with their interests and align with the pressing issues of the day, students can truly make a difference in the field of political science.

In closing, we encourage students to explore the wealth of Political Science Research Paper Topics, delve deep into their chosen areas of study, and harness the power of knowledge to effect positive change in the political landscape.

Choosing Political Science Research Paper Topics

Selecting the right research topic is a crucial step in the journey of academic inquiry. It sets the tone for your entire research paper, influencing its direction, depth, and impact. When it comes to political science research paper topics, the stakes are high, as the field encompasses a wide range of subjects that can shape our understanding of governance, policy-making, and international relations. In this section, we’ll explore ten valuable tips to help you choose political science research paper topics that align with your interests, resonate with current debates, and provide ample research opportunities.

10 Tips for Choosing Political Science Research Paper Topics:

• Follow Your Passion : Begin your quest for the right research topic by considering your interests. Passion for a subject often fuels motivation and ensures your engagement throughout the research process. Whether it’s human rights, international diplomacy, or environmental policy, choose a topic that genuinely excites you.
• Stay Informed : Keep abreast of current political events, debates, and emerging issues. Reading newspapers, academic journals, and reputable websites can help you identify contemporary topics that are both relevant and research-worthy. Being informed about current affairs is essential for crafting timely and impactful research.
• Explore Gaps in Existing Literature : Conduct a thorough literature review to identify gaps or areas where further research is needed. This not only helps you understand the existing discourse but also provides insights into unexplored avenues for your research. Building on or critiquing existing research can contribute significantly to the field.
• Consider Policy Relevance : Think about the practical relevance of your chosen topic. How does it connect to real-world policy challenges? Research that addresses pressing policy issues tends to have a more substantial impact and can attract the attention of policymakers and practitioners.
• Delve into Comparative Studies : Comparative politics offers a wealth of research opportunities by allowing you to examine political systems, policies, or issues across different countries or regions. Comparative studies can yield valuable insights into the impact of context and culture on political outcomes.
• Narrow or Broaden Your Focus : Be mindful of the scope of your research topic. Some topics may be too broad to cover comprehensively in a single paper, while others may be too narrow, limiting available research material. Strike a balance by defining your research question or problem statement clearly.
• Consult Your Professors and Peers : Don’t hesitate to seek guidance from your professors or peers. They can offer valuable insights, suggest relevant literature, and help you refine your research question. Collaboration and mentorship can significantly enhance your research experience.
• Evaluate Feasibility : Assess the feasibility of your chosen topic. Consider the availability of data, research materials, and access to experts or primary sources. Ensure that your research is doable within your constraints, including time and resources.
• Embrace Interdisciplinary Perspectives : Political science often intersects with other disciplines, such as sociology, economics, or environmental science. Explore interdisciplinary angles to enrich your research. Collaborating with experts from related fields can lead to innovative insights.
• Ethical Considerations : When selecting a research topic, be mindful of ethical considerations, especially if your research involves human subjects or sensitive issues. Ensure that your research adheres to ethical standards and obtains the necessary approvals.

Choosing the right political science research paper topic is a dynamic process that requires reflection, exploration, and critical thinking. By following these ten tips, you can navigate the landscape of political science topics with confidence. Remember that your research topic is not set in stone; it can evolve as you delve deeper into your studies and gain new insights.

As you embark on your research journey, keep in mind that the topics you choose have the potential to contribute to our understanding of the political world, inform policy decisions, and shape the future of governance. Embrace the opportunity to explore, question, and discover, for it is through research that we illuminate the path to progress in the field of political science.

Choose your topics wisely, engage in meaningful inquiry, and let your passion for political science drive your pursuit of knowledge.

How to Write a Political Science Research Paper

Writing a research paper in political science is a distinctive journey that allows you to explore complex issues, develop critical thinking skills, and contribute to the body of knowledge in the field. Effective research paper writing is not only about conveying your ideas clearly but also about constructing a compelling argument supported by rigorous evidence. In this section, we’ll delve into ten valuable tips that will help you craft high-quality political science research papers, enabling you to communicate your findings effectively and make a meaningful impact.

10 Tips for Writing Political Science Research Papers:

• Thoroughly Understand the Assignment : Before you start writing, carefully read and understand your assignment guidelines. Clarify any doubts with your professor, ensuring you have a clear grasp of the expectations regarding format, length, and content.
• Choose a Strong Thesis Statement : Your thesis statement is the heart of your research paper. It should be clear, concise, and arguable. Ensure that it presents a central argument or question that your paper will address.
• Conduct In-Depth Research : A robust research paper relies on well-sourced evidence. Explore academic journals, books, reputable websites, and primary sources related to your topic. Take detailed notes and keep track of your sources for accurate citations.
• Structure Your Paper Effectively : Organize your paper logically, with a coherent introduction, body, and conclusion. Each section should flow smoothly, building upon the previous one. Use headings and subheadings to guide your reader.
• Craft a Captivating Introduction : Your introduction should grab the reader’s attention and provide context for your research. It should introduce your thesis statement and outline the main points you will address.
• Develop a Compelling Argument : Present a clear and well-reasoned argument throughout your paper. Each paragraph should support your thesis statement, with evidence and analysis that reinforces your position.
• Cite Your Sources Properly : Accurate citations are crucial in political science research papers. Follow the citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) specified in your assignment guidelines. Pay careful attention to in-text citations and the bibliography.
• Edit and Proofread Diligently : Writing is rewriting. After completing your initial draft, take the time to revise and edit your paper. Check for clarity, coherence, grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Consider seeking feedback from peers or professors.
• Stay Objective and Avoid Bias : Political science research requires objectivity. Avoid personal bias and ensure that your analysis is based on evidence and sound reasoning. Acknowledge counterarguments and address them respectfully.
• Craft a Strong Conclusion : Summarize your main points and restate your thesis in the conclusion. Discuss the implications of your research and suggest areas for future study. Leave your reader with a lasting impression.

Writing a political science research paper is not just an academic exercise; it’s an opportunity to engage with critical issues, contribute to knowledge, and develop essential skills. By applying these ten tips, you can navigate the complexities of research paper writing with confidence.

As you embark on your journey to craft high-quality papers, remember that effective communication is the key to making a meaningful impact in the realm of political science. Your research has the potential to shape discussions, influence policies, and contribute to our collective understanding of the political world.

Embrace the writing process, celebrate your achievements, and view each paper as a stepping stone in your academic and intellectual growth. Whether you’re exploring global diplomacy, dissecting political ideologies, or analyzing policy decisions, your research papers can be a force for positive change in the world of politics.

As you tackle the challenges and opportunities of political science research, remember that the knowledge you gain and the skills you develop are valuable assets that will serve you well in your academic and professional journey. Write with passion, rigor, and integrity, and let your research papers be a testament to your commitment to advancing the field of political science.

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• Custom Written Works : We take pride in creating custom research papers tailored to your unique requirements. Your paper will be an original work, crafted from scratch, and designed to meet your specific needs and academic goals.
• In-Depth Research : Thorough research is the foundation of a strong research paper. Our writers delve into a vast array of academic sources, journals, and authoritative texts to gather the evidence necessary to support your thesis.
• Custom Formatting : Proper formatting is essential in political science research papers. We adhere to the citation style specified in your assignment guidelines, whether it’s APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, or Harvard, ensuring your paper is correctly formatted.
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200 Unique Political Science Research Topics

Political science is an interesting field which covers the study of government, politics, and public policy. It is an intriguing subject hence you get plenty of potential areas to explore for research. All you need is to choose a good research topic to craft a masterpiece.

Speaking of which, are you having issues choosing a research topic? Don’t worry, we have huge lists of amazing topics here from a professional  paper help  to get you started. Let’s read them all.

Table of Contents

Top Political Science Topics to Ace Your Research Paper

Political science has loads of potential topics for research. Hence, it’s a great opportunity for you to make a mark academically with this paper. Let’s get started with our first list!

Interesting Political Science Research Topics

If you want to delve into the complexities of international politics, go for a topic from this list.: 

• Afghanistan in international relations
• The Great Afghan Game and its impact
• The national interest of The States: from the origins to the era of multilateralism
• The political history of the United States geopolitics institutions government
• Security and Geopolitics Strategies
• The transformation of international economic and geopolitical relations
• Public Opinion and Foreign Policy
• European Union public opinion regarding Middle Eastern Affairs
• European integration foreign policy for Albania
• Soft power: the case of the United States and China
• China vs. the United States: Soft power affairs and the role of Media
• University course of Political Sciences and International Relations
• Strengthening the capacities of the European Union’s international relations after the Lisbon Treaty
• The Uniting for Peace resolution and its impact on the United Nations’ practice
• Iraq from a province of the Ottoman Empire to the fall of the monarchy (1514 – 1958)
• History of Islamic Middle East
• International relations of Iraq During the Ottoman Empire
• Cyberwar: instability in international relations
• America’s political and trade relations with Iran
• The Case of North Korea 
• Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq
• Agreements, conflicts and power strategies
• Vladimir Putin’s Foreign Policy and Post-Ukrainian-War relations with the world
• Ukraine between East and West
• Sport and International Relations
• UN and the IOC for the protection of human rights
• Nonverbal and intercultural communicative competence for tourism promotion
• US Energy Security Strategies
• Russia and China: history of relations from 1949 to 2012 and oil relations from 1992 to 2012
• From the Silk Road to the natural gas route: geopolitics and international relations in Central Asia
• The Evolution of a Political Phenomenon
• Relations between Russia and the European Union from 1992 to today and the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War
• Chinese diplomacy in Africa: an example of strategic cooperation
• Recent international aspects of the China-US relationship
• The evolution of the international discipline relating to climate change
• The difficult relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States
• China and the international legal system
• Diplomatic aspects of the Balkan wars

Public Law Political Science Research Topics

Check out our selection of interesting legal inquiries and explore the world of Public Law. Here you go with the list:

• Private economic activity and public administration: mutual limits and collaboration tools
• Public services and local public services
• The role of the municipality in the constitutional and European framework
• Local autonomy and fiscal federalism
• The concept of the Republic and the reorganization of territorial autonomies 
• The protection of fundamental rights between domestic law and European law
• Legal reserves and the principle of legality
• The guarantee of democratic control
• The nullity of the administrative provision
• The administrative precautionary judgment
• Constitutional law, administrative law and Public economic law
• The constitutionalizing of the subsidiarity principle
• The protection of competition between the State and the Regions
• The division of jurisdiction in the American constitutional system
• National law and community law
• Legality, impartiality and good performance of the Public Administration
• Constitutional principles of administration
• Internal and external relations of the European Union
• Regulations, procedures and organization regarding European structural funds
• The institutions of the European Union
• International organization
• The American judicial area and the free circulation of civil and criminal judgments
• International civil procedural law
• Private international law
• Internal and international criminal procedure
• International cooperation in criminal matters
• Comparative law of the environment
• Citizenship, immigration and asylum
• Constitutions and constitutionalism

Top Political Science Research Topics

Check out this list of thought-provoking political science topics. Here’s the list:

• State reform and political culture
• Electoral processes, political parties, political groups
• Civil society, social movements, collective action and political culture
• Political role regarding human rights
• National security
• Scenarios of politics and power
• Political processes
• Federalism and state reform in Europe
• Legislative powers in the United States of America
• Public security, justice and rule of law
• Transition to democracy
• Democratization
• Political culture
• Reform of the state
• Problems of political change 
• Political socialization and values of democracy in the child population
• Political system
• The political system in the States
• Comparative political culture
• Exclusion, participation and citizenship
• Political organization
• Participation of the workers
• Government, processes and social actors
• Public opinion and political behavior
• Comparative political institutions
• Electoral processes and voter behavior
• Political transition
• Political and electoral communication and marketing
• Campaigns and elections
• Mass media and political transition
• Comparative political transformations in Latin American countries
• Globalization and trade unionism in Mexico and Brazil
• Religion and politics, religion and economics
• Political parties and electoral systems
• Actors and leaders Global Political Powers
• Political conflict and social order
• Legal system and institutional designs
• Structural reforms in comparative perspective
• Democratic consolidation
• Democracy and rule of law
• Civil society, political culture, governance

Political Theory Research Topics

• The Idea of Political Theory
• Varieties of Political Theory
• The foundations of a fair policy
• Power: politics, identity and the Law
• Political thought as theory
• Research about political ideologies
• The founding political ideologies in modernity
• Difference between liberalism, socialism and conservatism
• Approaches to their divergences and affinities
• The positive and analytical theory of politics
• Institutions and problems of institutional design
• Contemporary Political Philosophy
• Liberalism, Marxism, Libertarianism, Feminism, and Communitarianism
• Contemporary political realism
• The foundations of a secular order
• The question of modernity in political America
• The search for the sources of moral and/or political energies
• The search for transparency and certainty
• The intellectual pre-conditions of modernity
• The impossibility of emancipation
• The Rule of Law and its aporias: Sovereignty, Exception and Constituent Power
• The “technical” nature of political power
• The moral problem for political power
• The question of political realism
• Power as a contingency of the human
• Power as self-government: the techniques of democracy
• From the Idea of Justice to the practice of Justice
• Multiculturalism and Justice
• The question of the feminists and the idea of Justice
• Different principles for the Idea of Justice
• Justice, collective interest, common good and rights

Political Science Research Questions

• What are the primary factors influencing voter turnout? 
• To what extent does the media’s framing of political events influence public opinion? 
• What are the key drivers behind the persistence of authoritarian regimes in certain regions? 
• How does international cooperation on climate change mitigation and adaptation vary? 
• What are the implications of emerging disruptive technologies? 
• How do different electoral systems affect representation and governance outcomes?
• What are the main challenges and opportunities in crafting effective immigration policies? 
• What role does identity politics play in shaping the dynamics of conflict? 

Research Title About Politics

• The Heights of Discord: the Golan between Syria and Israel
• The use of conventional weapons, and chemical or bacteriological weapons
• The use of nuclear weapons
• Exclusive use of conventional weapons
• Wars of colonial liberation
• International Wars
• International regional wars
• International bilateral wars
• Direct and unilateral political violence
• Common criminal violence
• Political assassination
• State terrorism in Kashmir
• Human rights and political violence
• Terms of damages to civilians
• War and Violence in the Middle East
• Youth violence in urban contexts
• Collective action – Mechanisms of the dispute
• Consciousness, values, identities and ideologies
• Analysis of the weight of structures in the transition from traditional to modern society and from this to the current one

Conflict Resolution Research Topics

• Challenges for social research and public policy
• Studies on the post-conflict, coexistence and the role of civil society
• Conflict studies
• The conflict and the vicissitudes of building a national project
• Modernization, conflict and democracy
• Reconciliation and the role of Civil Society
• Difficulties in carrying out fieldwork
• Results of the fieldwork
• The reconstruction of the conflicting events
• The study of community conflict through biographical interviews
• The observation of conflicting parties
• Symbolic disputes, authority and representation
• New intermediaries: migrant agents
• Transnational communities: changes and continuities of communities
• Social drama and contentious language
• The community as a political and intermediary process
• The community as a sense of belonging
• Local government and system of uses and customs
• Derivatives of a concept: the community in sociology and anthropology
• The perspective of intersectionality for the analysis of intra-community conflict
• Passion and political culture
• Towards a proposal for the analysis of political conflict: the production of antagonisms
• Analysis of international conflicts from the Sociology
• Celebration between the different levels of analysis
• Types and classification of elites
• Analysis tools and methodological concepts
• Agents, population and linear power relations
• Power and power resources
• Sociology of Power and conflict analysis

Good Topics in Political Science (Mediation and Negotiation)

Still looking for a research topic about politics? Check out this list. 

• Restorative justice and reconciliation
• International law and treaty law 
• Race and ethnic relations
• International organization for mediation and negotiations
• International negotiations
• Mediation: skills and applications
• Negotiation: skills and applications
• Understand the conflict
• Basic course on mediation and conflict resolution
• Argumentation and critical thinking
• Presence and involvement of the parties in the resolution of the dispute
• Difficulties and dilemmas in the political processes of mediation and negotiation
• Preliminary questions on political mediation and negotiation
• Collecting the relevant information to negotiate
• Behavior and positions of those involved in the negotiation
• General policies, established by those who promote the negotiation
• Identification of contingencies and their probability of occurrence
• Specific policies that are applicable to the negotiation itself
• Challenges Of Business Mediation in Europe
• Would Mediation Be Adequate and Beneficial for Resolving Business Disputes?
• Application And Development of Business Mediation
• Business Mediation
• Principles Of Mediation
• Conciliation, Mediation, Negotiation and Arbitration

Conflicts In Politics Research Topics

• Contemporary history cold war
• Political studies and conflict resolution
• Comparative analysis of public policies and actions aimed at health promotion and prevention of Covid-19
• International Conflicts: Manners of Solution and International Humanitarian Law
• International Conflict Resolution Means
• Diplomatic or Political Media
• International Humanitarian Law of War
• Basis of the Obligation of International Humanitarian Law of War
• Juridical-Legal Basis of International Humanitarian Law
• Geneva Convention to improve the fate of the Wounded and Sick of the Armed Forces in Campaign
• II Geneva Convention to improve the fate of the Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked of the Armed Forces at Sea
• Relative to the protection of victims of International Armed Conflicts
• Relative to the protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts
• Mechanisms to control compliance with International Humanitarian Law in armed conflicts
• Role Played by the International Committee of the Red Cross
• Time of Peace: Complies with the teaching and dissemination of the norms of International Humanitarian Law
• Sanctions for Non-compliance with International Humanitarian Law
• Criminal Responsibility of the Individual

Comparative Politics

• Islamist regimes: the case of Iran
• The democratic institutions
• The crisis of democracy
• The quality of democracy
• The processes of transition and democratic consolidation
• The political transitions in Eastern Europe
• The Westminster model and the Westminster model of democracy consensus
• The parliamentary regime, presidential regime, semi-presidential regime and semi-parliamentary
• The concept of democracy
• Communist regimes: the case of China
• Populist and nationalist regimes
• Traditional and tribal systems
• The military and civil-military dictatorships
• Authoritarian and totalitarian regimes
• The formation of political systems in Europe and the USA
• Neocolonialism and economic dependence on the Third World
• Reform and revolution
• The construction of the nation-state in Africa and Asia
• The institutionalization of power
• The process of political modernization
• Dynamics of political systems: development and change
• Cultural and political socialization
• Social groups: pressure groups and social movements
• The socioeconomic structure: market and planning
• The social environment of political systems
• Political system and decision process
• Dynamic and institutional comparability
• Research methods in political science

No doubt political science gives you a lot of options for research. But you have to pick a good one which will guide you in the right direction. Hopefully this blog post has helped you pick a topic or two to work on. 

If you still have problems choosing a topic or dealing with political science assignments, do count on the professional expertise of  our writers .

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Political Science Research Questions : Uncovering insightful and relevant inquiries

• political science

Political science research questions seek to analyze political phenomena and institutions in society. This involves examining power structures, public policies, and government behavior to understand and explain political processes.

Political science research questions cover a wide range of topics, including comparative politics, international relations, and public administration. Researchers explore questions related to governance, political ideologies, and the impact of political decisions on society. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for informing public policy, promoting democratic participation, and enhancing the functioning of political systems.

By delving into these questions, scholars contribute to deeper insights, informed debates, and evidence-based decision-making in the political arena. This research also helps to advance our understanding of the complexities and nuances inherent in political phenomena, offering valuable perspectives for addressing societal challenges.

Credit: www.reuters.com

Understanding The Importance

When delving into the realm of political science research, understanding the importance of research questions is crucial for unlocking insightful discoveries. Research questions serve as the backbone of any empirical study, shaping the direction of the investigation and guiding the researcher towards valuable insights. By establishing clear and focused research questions, political scientists can effectively navigate the complexity of political phenomena, contributing to the advancement of knowledge within the field.

Significance Of Research Questions In Political Science

Research questions play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of political science research. This is primarily because clearly formulated research questions act as a guidepost for researchers, ensuring that their inquiries are precise and targeted . By honing in on specific aspects of political phenomena, researchers can avoid ambiguity and obtain focused insights that contribute meaningfully to the expansion of political science knowledge .

Establishing The Link Between Research Questions And Insightful Discoveries

The link between research questions and insightful discoveries lies in the focus and specificity of the inquiries. When research questions are carefully crafted , they serve as critical tools for delving deep into the intricacies of political phenomena. In doing so, researchers can uncover nuanced patterns, relationships, and causality that underlie the complex landscape of politics. Through this process, the insightful discoveries stemming from well-formulated research questions bolster the evidence base of political science, enriching the discipline with robust and meaningful findings .

Formulating Effective Research Questions

Research questions are crucial in guiding the process of political science studies. Formulating effective research questions ensures that the research is focused, relevant, and impactful. By asking the right questions, political scientists can delve into complex societal issues and contribute to a deeper understanding of political dynamics.

Attributes Of Effective Political Science Research Questions

• Specific and Focused: Effective research questions are specific and focused on a particular aspect of political science . They avoid being too broad or vague, allowing for in-depth analysis.
• Clear and Concise: Research questions should be articulated in a clear and concise manner to ensure understanding and avoid ambiguity.
• Empirical and Testable: Political science research questions should be framed in a way that allows for empirical investigation and testing, enabling the collection of concrete data and evidence.
• Relevance to Political Context: Questions must be relevant to the current political landscape, addressing issues that have practical and real-world significance.

Utilizing Contextual Relevance To Frame Research Questions

Crafting research questions that are contextually relevant involves understanding the societal, historical, and cultural context in which the political phenomena under investigation occur. By aligning research questions with the relevant political context , scholars can ensure that their inquiries address actual challenges and developments, leading to insightful and applicable findings.

Types Of Political Science Research Questions

In political science research, various types of research questions are explored to analyze and understand various aspects of political behavior, institutions, and processes. Each type of research question serves a specific purpose and contributes to the depth of knowledge within the field. Understanding the different types of political science research questions is crucial for developing effective research methodologies and addressing complex political phenomena.

Descriptive Research Questions In Political Science

Descriptive research questions in political science focus on identifying and describing the characteristics, patterns, and behaviors within political systems. These questions seek to provide a comprehensive overview of a particular political phenomenon or event, often using qualitative or quantitative methods to analyze and present the data. Examples of descriptive research questions include:

• What are the voting patterns among different demographic groups within a specific constituency?
• How has public opinion on immigration policies evolved over the past decade?

Explanatory Research Questions In Political Science

Explanatory research questions aim to uncover the reasons or causes behind political phenomena or events. These questions delve deeper into understanding the relationships between different variables, exploring underlying mechanisms, and explaining the factors that influence political outcomes. Explanatory research questions often involve hypothesis testing and statistical analysis. Examples of explanatory research questions include:

• What are the factors that contribute to the rise of populist movements in democratic societies?
• How does the distribution of power within a political system impact policy decision-making?

Predictive Research Questions In Political Science

Predictive research questions in political science seek to anticipate future political developments or outcomes based on current trends, patterns, and dynamics. These questions utilize historical data, forecasting models, and scenario analysis to project potential political scenarios and their likely consequences. Examples of predictive research questions include:

• What are the potential implications of a trade war between major global economies on international relations?
• How might demographic shifts influence the electoral landscape in the upcoming national elections?

Examples Of Insightful Political Science Research Questions

Exploring the impact of globalization on political stability.

Globalization has significantly transformed the dynamics of international relations, potentially influencing political stability in various regions. A research question could be:

• How has globalization contributed to the rise of transnational political movements?
• What are the implications of economic interdependence on state sovereignty and political stability?
• How does the flow of information and cultural exchange due to globalization impact political stability in different societies?

Analyzing The Role Of Social Media In Shaping Political Discourse

Social media platforms have become integral to political communication and public opinion formation. Researchers can investigate the following questions:

• What is the influence of social media on the formation and dissemination of political narratives?
• How does social media contribute to polarization or consensus-building in political discourse?
• What role does social media play in amplifying or attenuating the impact of misinformation and propaganda in political campaigns?

Best Practices For Uncovering Relevant Inquiries

When conducting political science research, formulating relevant and impactful research questions is crucial for success. Understanding the best practices for uncovering relevant inquiries is essential for yielding meaningful insights and driving the field forward. Below, we explore key strategies for shaping research questions in political science.

Leveraging Interdisciplinary Perspectives In Shaping Research Questions

One of the best practices for uncovering relevant inquiries in political science research is to leverage interdisciplinary perspectives when formulating research questions. Political science is a complex field that intersects with various disciplines, including sociology, economics, history, and law. By integrating insights from these diverse fields, researchers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of political dynamics and societal structures.

Incorporating Ethical Considerations In Political Science Research Question Formulation

Another essential aspect of shaping research questions in political science is the incorporation of ethical considerations into the question formulation process. Political science research often delves into sensitive topics related to governance, power, and social justice. Thus, it is imperative for researchers to carefully consider the ethical implications of their inquiries, ensuring that their work adheres to ethical standards and respects the dignity and rights of individuals and communities.

Frequently Asked Questions Of Political Science Research Questions

What are some popular political science research questions.

Political science research questions often focus on topics like political behavior, governance, comparative politics, and international relations. Some popular questions include: “How do political institutions influence citizens’ behavior? ” And “What factors contribute to the stability of political systems? “

How Can I Develop A Unique Political Science Research Question?

To develop a unique political science research question, consider current events, gaps in existing literature, and areas of personal interest. Addressing underexplored topics or frameworks can lead to innovative research questions that contribute to the field’s knowledge base.

Why Is It Important To Refine Political Science Research Questions?

Refining research questions in political science is crucial as it helps focus the study, enhances clarity, and guides the research process. Well-defined questions enable researchers to effectively gather and analyze data, leading to more precise and impactful findings.

The political science research questions discussed highlight the significance of understanding and analyzing the complexities of modern political systems. By delving into these inquiries, researchers can develop valuable insights that contribute to our understanding of politics and its impact on society.

These questions serve as a foundation for future research and enriching our knowledge of the political landscape.

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Political Science

Undergraduate sample research topics.

Students in the Department of Political Science at Western Michigan University will want to review these sample research topics when selecting their own research topic.

• A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Office of Independent Counsel
• A Study on Equitable Water Provision in Latin America
• Affirmative Action: National Origin Minorities
• Aid to the Health-Related Sector: The United States, Japan, and Germany
• An Assessment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
• An Evaluation of International Law as Applied to Genocide from Nuremberg to the Balkans
• Celebrity Influence on Political Campaigns
• Children Soldiers in Africa
• Development of a Constitutional Right of Privacy
• Educational Outcomes in Michigan: A Lack of Focus and Context
• Effectiveness of Rape Shield Laws
• Globalization and the Anti-Globalization Movement
• Legislative Redistricting in Illinois for 2002
• Mexico, Corporate Globalization and the Media
• Mexico's Changing Political Party System
• Nature Within the City: The Greenway Movement and the Transformation of Urban Form
• Pretextual Automobile Stops and the Fourth Amendment
• Public Education and Religious Establishment
• Racial Profiling in post 9/11 United States Content Regulation in Broadcasting
• Religious Exercise in Public Schools: Continuing Debate
• Rights and Their Progression from State to Federal Policy: The Case of the Disability Rights Movement
• Sexual Harassment: Comparative Legal Analysis
• Squatter Settlements in Post-Apartheid South Africa
• Stereotypes Between American and Arab-Americans in the United States
• Telecommunications Policy in China
• The "Political Question" Doctrine and Reapportionment
• The Austrian Freedom Party in 2000
• The Debt Crisis in Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
• The Effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement
• The Equal Rights Amendment: Why Controversy Ensured its Defeat
• The Evolution (and Devolution) of Affirmative Action Initiatives
• The 14th Amendment and Privacy
• The Influence of the Antislavery Movement, Republican Ideology, and Federalism on the 14th Amendment
• The Lemon Test and the Religious Establishment Clause
• The Patriot Act: Security/Rights Issues in Historical Perspective
• The Political Economy of the Micro-Island Nations of the Caribbean: The Impact of Tourism on Caribbean Culture, Environment and Society
• The Supreme Court and Reproductive Rights
• The Supreme Court and Sexual Preference
• Title IX and Collegiate Athletic Opportunities
• Truth Commissions and Civil Society
• U.S.-Japanese Trade Policy: A Defense of Limited Unilateralism
• Weapons of the Weak and the Chinese Occupation of Tibet
• Women and Equal Pay: An Assessment of Differences in Universities
• Women, Identity and Political Activism During the Allende Regime in Chile

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206 Most Popular Political Science Research Topics

If you major in political science, you already know it’s a profound evaluation of politics and power from the domestic, international, and comparative outlook. It includes interpreting the existing political ideas, processes, institutions, behavior, policies, and how governments examine law, diplomacy, social groups, and many others. Political science is fundamentally a theory and practice of the government as it relates to both public and private lives. It encompasses political theory, comparative politics, international relations, the politics of the American government, and the preexisting political methodology. As students of a high school, college or university, it may be challenging to choose the best and interesting topics in political science. This is because you’re expected to produce high quality content on an advanced topic, and your grade depends on it. We’ve provided over 200 advanced topics to help you with that. But before you dive into these topics, how do you outline your political science research paper?

Outline Of Good Political Science Research Paper

Getting political research topics is easy; there are a lot. You must know how to convert any topic into a high quality paper, even if you order research paper, and this outline can help you. The outline of a good political science research paper must include an introduction, the literature review, the case study, the conclusion, and the reference page.

• Introduction. This is where you identify the research questions and tell your readers the question’s significance. You must also provide a brief answer and overview of what your paper or essay will be about.
• Literature Review or Theoretical Framework. Your political science research must discuss existing scholarly work related to your study. This lets your readers know that you conducted your research based on what you know about. This point is also where you provide explanations that justify the questions you asked earlier. Also, you can input your research methodology.
• Case Study or Main Points. This is where you provide evidence to capture your argument. You must have basic ideas which will run through chapters. Organizing your thoughts in chapters helps you structure them into smaller pieces that make sense in the end.
• Conclusion. This is the point where you summarize your research findings and restate the basic arguments or answers offered. You can also discuss the prospects of what you’ve discussed.

Now that you have an outline, these are the advanced and custom political science topics for your research or essays:

Political Science Research Questions

You must provide and answer some questions when you embark on research. These are good political science research questions to be answered in any political science research paper. Depending on your research, these questions are legitimate and should convince you about your knowledge on your chosen topic:

• What authority does a state have in the federal government?
• What can be identified as a totalitarian government today?
• Would it be justified if it’s said that Vladimir Putin is a dictator?
• What is the nature of comparative politics?
• How does communism affect today’s geopolitical structure?
• Does monarchy relate to communism too?
• How do social changes influence the politics of the country under consideration?
• How did politics influence the social class of the country under consideration?
• How does a dictator gain legitimacy?
• What exactly are political disputes?
• How is political dispute settled amongst countries?
• How are political disputes settled within a country?
• How does free speech sound much like hate speech
• What does controversy in politics imply?
• How does propaganda help during electioneering periods?

Political Science Topics

As earlier established, political science encompasses the relationship between domestic, national, international, and comparative politics. If you need good political science research topics, you can examine different sections of the States and other countries to develop your argument. You can consider the following comprehensive topics:

• How does existentialism apply to eastern constitutional law?
• What is the philosophy of Karl Schmidt and German?
• Examine civil republicanism and liberalism.
• Examine the post-socialist transition methods through the western culture lens.
• Evaluate the concept of Neoplatonism and how it poses a risk to society.
• What mutual tolerance in politics means.
• Evaluate the importance of ethics in the modern political culture.
• Justification of liberal democracy through the neo-Marxist lens.
• What are the ethics of election?
• Evaluate the core arguments of the Human Rights Act of 1998.
• Examine the basics of common morality and criminal law.
• Role of popular legislators in US history.
• Role of popular legislators in European history.
• Examine the role of popular presidents in US history.
• Outline the fundamental achievement of the first five US presidents.
• Outline the basics of justice inequality.
• Examine the importance of socio-economic preferences during political interrogation.
• Why is a person’s social life and history significant in the US penal system?
• What do post-conflict justice and inequality mean?
• Examine the efforts of the government at coordination.
• Give a thorough overview of the US electoral college.
• Give a comprehensive overview of the UK electoral college.
• Examine the importance of privacy law.
• Examine how privacy law seems to exploit commercial relationships.
• Evaluate the judicial interpretation of public safety statutes.
• What is the role of the transport security administrators?
• How are domestic laws formulated?
• Examine the role of public opinion on the abolition of slavery centuries ago.
• What is the role of public opinion in the US public health?
• What is the role of public opinion in the UK economic policies?

Comparative Politics Research Topics

This part of political science deals with an empirical approach to different political systems. It includes analysis of institutions, conflict resolutions, domestic policy formulation, international issues, and others. All these can be examined through a comparative evaluation, and you can consider:

• The domestic policies of the US and the UK on public health.
• The foreign policies of the UK and Russia.
• The comparison and contrasts between the communist structure of the USSR and China.
• Examine the Soviet Union ideology.
• The impacts of the cultural revolution on China.
• Evaluate the significance of the cultural revolution in the USSR.
• Examine the essential components of the UK and US foreign policies.
• Examine the cultural gap between China and Japan.
• Evaluate the behavioral approach to political parties in the UK and the US.
• Critically analyze the presidential and parliamentary systems of government.
• What is the apartheid phenomenon?
• How do apartheid and the black lives matter movement similar?
• What would you say is the difference between armed and political conflicts!
• What are your thoughts about twentieth and twenty-first-century politics?
• Religion is a social power: discuss.
• Culture is a formidable social power: discuss.
• Corruption is a must for any Government: discuss.
• Politics is business: discuss.
• Compare and Contrast the American and European federal crimes.
• Examine the activities of the FBI and KGB for ten years of your choice.

Political Science Research Paper Topics

As students of a college or university, political science borders on a state’s relationship amongst itself and outside it. This means its domestic and international political affairs. These extend to political theories, their practicality and feasibility, how they influence or affect the world, and many others. You can consider political science paper topics like:

• Vision of John Rohr on constitutions.
• Examine the significance of Plato’s The Republic.
• Evaluate the importance of Machiavelli’s The Prince
• Choose and talk about any three political philosophers of your choice.
• Give a detailed overview of the politics of Ancient Greece.
• Examine the politics of the Mongols.
• Examine the significance of the reign of the Vikings.
• Evaluate the unequal relationship between the government and the people
• Justify the lack of public opinion on foreign policies.
• Examine the effect of media voting on US elections.
• Evaluate the impact of card readers in protest of election credibility in the US.
• Evaluate the importance of foreign observers during elections from any country of your choice.
• Evaluate the basis of election thuggery based on the January invasion of the Capitol.
• Examine the effect of civilian and military government in the case of American provisional governments in the middle east.
• Assess the significance of the US on NATO.
• Give an overview of the influence of western nations on the UN.
• Examine the consolidation of democracy in any country of your choice.
• Problems of the American judiciary system.
• Challenges of the UK judiciary system.
• Evaluate the prospects of everyday politics in the European Union.
• Examine the role of Scandinavian countries in the race for gender equality.
• Examine the challenges and possibilities of gender equality in the UK.
• Evaluate the challenges and opportunities of equal pay in the US.
• Appraise the 2020 presidential election of the US.
• Examine the role of civic education in reducing educating the public.

Interesting Political Topics

Political science paper topics can also be interesting. This is because politics itself is exciting and can be intriguing when studied carefully. As students of politics, you must be knowledgeable on fundamental parts of the international system. You can base your research on these best political research paper topics.

• Examine the causes of the American Revolution
• Examine the concept of neoliberalism
• Evaluate the idea of political correctness
• Give an in-depth analysis of populism
• Attempt an evaluation of populism in the African context
• Evaluate the concept of politics in open Societies
• What principle is divided government based on
• What is the Influence of media on politics
• How does rational choice affect politics
• Is it okay to consider terrorism an instrument of politics?
• What does positivism imply?
• Examine the concepts of societal decadence in Animal Farm by George Orwell
• What does social movement on politics imply?
• Evaluate the basis of cultural pluralism
• Examine the role of the mass media in any UK election of your choice
• Examine the discussions on LGBTQ in sport
• Evaluate the domestic laws of Texas
• Why are some states more important than other states during US elections?
• What is the crisis of identity politics all about?
• Select any three states of your choice and discuss their domestic policies
• Choose any company of your choice and examine how its activities affect the public
• Make a case for vote-buying in any country’s election
• Examine the circumstance of political apathy in any country of your choice
• What are the challenges of marginalization in America?
• Evaluate the significance of corruption in the US politics

American Politics Research Paper Topics

America is a country that dominates global politics. It leads in technology, the military, even politics, and other fundamental sectors. However, this doesn’t excuse the US from a political crisis both internally and externally. You can discuss the basis of American policies with these current Research topics for political science:

• Examine the effects of the 2020 election on American democracy
• Examine the evolution of American politics from the 1960s
• What does American nationalism mean in the face of globalization
• What does social constructivism mean in the American context
• Examine public relations actors in the American politics
• What are the politics prevalent during the civil war
• What was the political crisis that led to the American civil war?
• Examine how the Republican culture evolved in the US
• Give an evaluation of election fraud on any US election
• Motivators of African American politicians
• Motivation for African American politics
• Examine the place of Hispanic American politics presently
• Examine the representative level of all minority classes in the US
• What does American crime law mean
• Examine the essential traits of the typical American politician
• How knowledgeable are you on the story of Jimmy Carter
• Examine the life of Saddam Hussein and his impact on America
• How did the Vietnam War become the American war?
• Attempt an analysis of the Barack Obama and Trump administration
• Discuss the significance of news coverage of US elections
• Analyze the relationship between the US and North Korea

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Easy Political Science Research Topics

If you’re in high school or pursuing your diploma, you need custom and more superficial political science topics. These may be advanced topics, but they are relatable political science topics for your level:

• Discuss the Importance of political violence in any country of your choice
• Examine the election processes and issues in any state of your choice
• Why does each state have different constitutions?
• Examine what tax law means in the US
• How should public bodies in the US act?
• What are the central laws to both federal and state governments?
• Examine the significance of public and private law in the US
• Examine the differences between democracy in the US and France
• The turbulent political history of France
• Evaluate the Importance of the US electoral college
• Examine the presence of godfatherism in any country of your choice
• Is Afghanistan better than it was before?
• Evaluate the political activities of the US in any country through its established provisional governments.
• Evaluate the role of domestic policies in rural areas
• What does legislation oversight mean?
• Give a detailed overview of the impeachment process of Trump
• Examine the structure of revenue allocation in the US
• Examine the art of political campaigns in the US
• How does social media bullying affect free speech
• Examine the line between free speech and hate speech
• How do elections achieve national peace and security
• Do you think the French President has too much power than he should?
• Do you think the US President should share his power with Congress?
• Examine the Executive power or the US vice president
• Examine the strengths of the UK Head of State

Current Research Topics For Political Science

These are topics that discuss the present happenings within countries and in the international political space. These could be topics on conflict resolutions or conflict in the international area itself. They also extend to domestic policies and their effects. Examine these good political science research questions:

• Examine the system of prosecuting top tier government officers
• Examine the legal clashes of any transnational corporations in recent years
• What does hostage care in the US penal code mean?
• Give a critical overview of American whistleblowers
• Examine the role of women in today’s global politics
• Is the terrorism war so far against the west or the western activities in the Middle East?
• What is the current political relationship of western countries with the Taliban government?
• What does political correctness mean in today’s gender multiplicity?
• Examine how social media emerges as the court cancel celebrities
• Examine the challenge of national planning under Joe Biden
• Evaluate the similarities between the foreign policies of Canada and the US
• What does the US alliance with Australia imply for its allies
• Examine the present threat between China and Taiwan
• Would you say the European Union can achieve standard fiscal policies
• What is the role of controversies and propaganda in any election, and how does it determine the winner or loser: give a case study

International Politics Research Paper Topics

International politics is the balance of power in the international space. This extends to the balance of threats. Other issues covered include human rights, peaceful resolution of global conflicts, environmental crisis, globalization, global ethics, global poverty, and more. The best political science research topics on international politics are:

• Examine the case for human rights violation in Malawi
• Make a case for human rights violation in China
• Make a car for the human rights violation in communist countries
• Examine the trends in global poverty and its eradication in the world today
• Investigate the controversies raised by Amnesty International
• Would you say international media houses are the watchdog of the society or an accomplice of security threats
• What are the ethics guiding the activities of NGOs
• Role of the international monetary fund in world politics
• Trends and evolution of the Belt and Road Initiative
• Examine the environmental crisis case against Germany
• Examine the issues of human rights in Uganda
• Investigate the political agenda of any three US politicians of your choice
• What are the present political powers at play in Ukrainian politics
• Examine the causes of the Central African Republic rebellion
• Examine the Afghanistan conflict through the lens of a Westerner
• Trace the origin of the Afghanistan conflict
• Analyze the immigrant crisis facing Europe
• Evaluate the immigrant problem facing the US
• Go in depth on the drug war by the US government
• Examine the disparity between the white and black justice systems in the US
• Evaluate the leadership conflict post 9/11
• Examine the race for economic dominance
• Examine the significance of capitalism in the expansion of democracy
• Examine the role of any three media houses of your choice in their propagation of bias in Europe and the US
• How does the Personal ambition of a leader affect country politics?
• Examine the post-war legacy of any war of your choice
• Examine the wartime negotiating strategy
• Evaluate the social role of volunteerism
• What is the Influence of the US government on the growth of Coca-cola outside America?
• How has the UN contributed to education in any country of your choice

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MERRIMACK COLLEGE MCQUADE LIBRARY

Political science.

• Open Educational Resources (OER)
• Get Started
• Reference Sources

What is a Research Question?

Developing a research question (northern kentucky university), developing a research question (indiana university).

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A research question is a statement that defines what is to be studied. It is the core of the research project, study, or literature review. Your research question  focuses the study, determines the methodology, and guides all stages of inquiry, analysis, and reporting.

Your research question should...

• Be focused 
• Identify the problem you're writing about
• Establish significance 

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Posing a Question

Asking a research question is our first step when we do social science. However, political scientists ask particular kinds of research questions, which may differ in specific ways from adjacent disciplines like history or economics. In political science, our research questions ask about some kind of political phenomenon. Our research questions may be descriptive or causal. When our research question is causal, we answer it with an empirically testable theory.

What is a Research Question?

Research questions in political science ask about some general political phenomenon. They often ask about a cause-and-effect relationship. For example, how do populist appeals shape the strength of democratic institutions? Why do some democratically-elected leaders carry out authoritarian actions? What role do political parties play in determining presidential nominees?

Descriptive Research Questions

These ask: what does the world look like? They describe a pattern, a sequence of events, how something behaves, a trend, etc.

For example: Do people vote? Have political parties become more polarized?

Causal Research Questions

These ask: why does the world look the way it does? They explain the cause of some phenomenon.

Causal research questions involve cause and effect , also known as independent and dependent variables.

For example: Why do people vote? How have political parties become more polarized?

Sometimes, causal research questions are framed in terms of the dependent variable - they ask about the “causes of effects.”

For example: Why do people vote? Why have political parties become more polarized?

Sometimes causal research questions are framed in terms of the independent variable - they ask about the “effects of causes.”

For example: What is the impact of polarization on political rhetoric? What is the consequence of eroded political norms?

Research questions in published political science:

Why do people in different parts of the world, in neighboring countries, and even within the same nation, experience such dramatic divergences in their levels of [socio-economic] well-being?

-Singh, How Solidarity Works for Welfare (2015), p. 1

Show me another!

Test yourself!

For each research question below, classify it as descriptive or causal. if it is a descriptive research question, try re-writing it as a casual question. if it is causal, try re-writing it as descriptive., question 1:.

Do voters in country X choose candidates on the basis of their policy platforms?

Question 2:

How have revolutionary leaders understood the role of democracy and rule of law?

Question 3:

Why do some provinces in country X have much higher levels of economic inequality than others?

Research Questions as Puzzles

In political science, it can be useful to think of a causal research question as a “puzzle” that our theory attempts to solve. Framed in this way, political science puzzles tend to come in two flavors:

Flavor 1: Variation that we cannot explain

Our outcome, our effect, or our dependent variable looks different in different places or at different times, and we want to explain why.

For example:

Why do we see ethnically-based parties in some countries but not others?

Why was voter participation in country X high during one election, but not another?

Why are some democracies strong and stable while others flirt with authoritarian backsliding?

Flavor 2: Violation of a conventional wisdom

We expect to see some phenomenon in the world based on existing research or based on our intuitions, but in fact we see the opposite. We want to explain why.

If wealthy countries are more likely to democratize, then how has economically growing China remained authoritarian?

If ethnic conflict tends to occur in places with higher ethnic diversity, then why has Northern Ireland, despite a history of intense sectarian conflict, remained peaceful over the past 25 years?

Puzzles motivate our theories by giving us something to solve. They are based on what we observe descriptively in the world. The puzzles above motivate our theories based on qualitative observation, but we can also use data or visualizations to communicate political science puzzles.

Americans were much less polarized in 1994 than in 2004. What explains this change over time?

source: Pew Research Center

In some countries, citizens are much more likely to perceive their government as corrupt than in others. What explains this variation over space?

source: Transparency International

How do I answer research questions and puzzles?

The answer to our research question is our argument, or what we often call our theory . Click here to learn more about how to write theories, or arguments, that answer research questions.

Political Science

Planning for research, formulate a research question using context, credo reference, encyclopedias, idea to research question to thesis.

• Research Techniques
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Most students decide on their topic first then try to find out if there has been anything written on the subject. WRONG ! It is necessary to do some planning and preliminary research before deciding! 

The table above illustrates how a research question develops from a broad topic to a focused research question . A concept map should help you identify a sub-topic and possible issues or problems .

Use the resources shared in this guide as well as preliminary research to explore your topic further. Preliminary research will provide some context to help you consider a possible research question.

CREDO Reference is like having a library's reference section in one website. The database contains full-text subject encyclopedias, reference works, dictionaries, and handbooks in all disciplines. Visit the page and search for the main topic you are interested in to get definitions, background information, and pro/con positions.

Some example sources are below:

• Global Poverty  (The Princeton Encyclopedia of the World Economy)
• Kyoto Protocol (Culture Wars in America: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints, and Voices)
• Urbanization (The Dictionary of Human Geography)

To find subject dictionaries relevant to your issue, country, or geographic region, search  GALILEO   or the catalog and add "AND encyclopedia" to your search. (e.g. "Global Economy AND encyclopedia")

1. Start with a general subject you think you want to explore

Example: Lone wolf terrorism, electronic surveillance, social media use in emergencies, unmanned systems, suicide bombers. These look more like headings in an Encyclopedia than topics for a paper.

2. Look for particular aspects of the general subject you might want to explore further.

• Look at the texts assigned in class or ones you have used for other classes.
• Read some background sources. You may not use these sources as evidence in your paper, but they can help you find and narrow a topic.
• Look at one or two basic books on the subject. Scan the Table of Contents; Index. Browse the Chapters.

3. Once you have picked an aspect, develop some research questions about the aspect you have selected. You will probably need to find some pre-research and find books or chapters in books on the particular aspect you have selected.

• Avoid questions that can be answered by a simple description
• Avoid yes/no questions
• Avoid questions that are too broad
• Avoid questions like What would have happened if…

4 . Now you may be ready to develop your thesis and start your real research. A research paper is not just a collection of facts or bits of information. It usually takes the form of an argument in support of a thesis. 

• A thesis is not a description of your paper, though it should be clear from your thesis what your paper is about. Example. This paper is about the use of non-violent tactics used to protest the War in Vietnam. This is a description . not a thesis 
• A thesis is not a question, though it comes from a question that a researcher asked. Example: Were non-violent tactics successful in bringing an early end to the war in Viet Nam? This is a question not a thesis
• A thesis is not a statement of fact Example: Many college students were involved in non-violent protests against the war in Viet Nam. - this is a statement not a thesis.
• A thesis is not a statement of personal opinion. Though it should reflect what you have concluded, a thesis is not a mere statement of your own personal beliefs or prejudices.

A thesis is a specific, possible, debatable answer to a question that can be supported by evidence. It makes an assertion that sets up an argument. It is then the writer’s job to supply evidence to prove their point in the rest of the paper.

Example of a Thesis:   The Vietnam War protest movement was more about white, middle-class young men being drafted and then sent into war than it was about stopping an unjust war.

Example of a Thesis:  Although the timber wolf is actually a timid and gentle animal, it is being systematically exterminated because people wrongfully believe it to be a fierce and cold-blooded killer.

Hint:   Use a formula to develop a working thesis statement (which you will need to revise later). Here are a few examples:

• Although  ______ have argued that ______, closer examination shows that ______.
• ______ uses ______ and ______ to prove that ______.
• Phenomenon X is a result of the combination of ______, ______, and ______.
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Asa H. Gordon Library

Savannah State University 2200 Tompkins Rd Savannah, GA 31404 Phone: (912) 358-4324 Reference Text Line: (912) 226-2479

Introduction to Political Science Research Methods - 1st Edition

(4 reviews)

Josh Franco, Rancho San Diego, CA

Charlotte Lee, Berkeley, CA

Kau Vue, Fresno, CA

Publisher: Academic Senate for California Community Colleges

Language: English

Formats Available

Conditions of use.

Learn more about reviews.

Reviewed by Eliot Dickinson, Professor, Western Oregon University on 4/5/24

I can compare it to a major research methods textbook that I used for years. That book has 15 chapters, while this one has ten, which is actually more conducive to the 11-week quarter system still found on the West Coast. read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

I can compare it to a major research methods textbook that I used for years. That book has 15 chapters, while this one has ten, which is actually more conducive to the 11-week quarter system still found on the West Coast.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The book is factually accurate, free of significant errors, and objective in its analysis.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This text can be used for years, as the examples and cases are relevant for our times.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is written in a way that the average college freshman will be able to understand.

Consistency rating: 5

The text is consistent from chapter to chapter, from beginning to end, with a glossary of key terms at the end of each chapter.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is broken up into very readable chapters that are not overwhelming. Students will appreciate this aspect of the text, since it is succinct and offers units of reasonable length.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

It is organized like most other research methods textbooks. It includes opening chapters on the history and development of political science, so that it can also be used in a "Scope and Methods of PS" course.

Interface rating: 5

The text is easy to navigate with both a brief table of contents and a detailed table of contents, and the images and charts are clear throughout.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

It reads well although there there is a typo in the first paragraph of the first page and another typo on the third page. It would be helpful to correct these in future editions.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The text is culturally and politically correct. It's perfectly accessible to everyone.

This is a valuable contribution to higher education and, being an open resource, is helpful to students.

Reviewed by Hakseon Lee, Professor, James Madison University on 3/23/24

Most materials that are supposed to be taught at an introductory political science research methods are covered. Quantitative analysis section is relatively short, but considering it is an "intro" textbook, it's understandable. BTW Including Ch. 9... read more

Most materials that are supposed to be taught at an introductory political science research methods are covered. Quantitative analysis section is relatively short, but considering it is an "intro" textbook, it's understandable. BTW Including Ch. 9 Research Ethics is very helpful for students understand research on “human subjects” more in depth.

Overall, explanations of abstract and complex concepts are well presented. The concepts and definitions provided in the glossary are accurate as well.

The textbook is written for undergraduate political science major students, and the level of complexity is quite relevant to them. Research methods materials are not fast changing subject and the textbook’s contents have longevity.

The textbook is written very clearly and easy to understand. After each chapter, summary of each subsection in chapters are provided in a very succinct and clear way, and I believe the summary sections are beneficial to students

Even though the textbook is written by several authors, they followed the same format of each chapter: providing clear learning objectives, summary, review questions, critical thinking questions, suggestions for further study, and references. Students will not be confused at all reading chapter by chapter.

Having total of 10 chapters, the textbook can be easily used module by module structure. Each chapter has subsections which have clear learning objectives, and this will be helpful for instructors who plan to use the textbook sequentially.

Overall organization and structure follow conventional existing textbooks’ organization/structure. Majority of undergraduate research methods class are taught from history and development of research methods to quantitative analysis step by step, and the textbook follows the usual organization/structure.

The book is very much reader friendly. Table of contents are very well organized and readers can have an easy overlook of the textbook.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I have not found significant or consistent grammatical errors at all.

Introducing diverse coauthors with cartoon images at the beginning of the textbook is helpful for students to learn about diverse authors. Also, examples used have diverse backgrounds.

Reviewed by Huei-Jyun Ye, Assistant Professor, Wabash College on 10/23/23

This textbook covers the scientific method of studying politics, theory and hypothesis building, conceptualization and operationalization, elements of research design, qualitative methods, quantitative methods, and research ethics. For the very... read more

This textbook covers the scientific method of studying politics, theory and hypothesis building, conceptualization and operationalization, elements of research design, qualitative methods, quantitative methods, and research ethics. For the very intro level (for freshmen or sophomores), this textbook will serve well. For advanced undergraduate courses, this textbook lacks an introduction to specific research methods like surveys, experiments, case comparisons, etc. This textbook touches a little bit on qualitative and quantitative approaches but does not explain the methods political scientists use. I feel this is a tradeoff for an introduction textbook. Instructors who are seeking materials explaining methods will need to find other supplements. Other than that, I would recommend using this book to explain the process of doing political science research.

The explanations of political science research methods are spot-on and comprehensible. I do not find big mistakes in the chapters.

I believe we can use this textbook for a long time as most of the concepts are standards of the field. Some examples address timely concerns that political scientists have been working on. The studies referred to in the textbook are also not obsolete.

The textbook is overall clear and easy to read. The authors make good efforts to explain the jargon in plain language. For example, when introducing conceptualization and operationalization, the author asks questions as if they were students and provides answers to explain the ideas. Different from throwing all the jargon and definitions to readers’ faces, students may find this conversation style more accessible.

The authors do a good job of setting a tone for this textbook, even though it is written by multiple authors. Each chapter starts with an outline, followed by content, glossary, summary, review questions, and suggestions for further study. Readers can expect all these elements in every chapter.

The chapters can be easily turned into sequential modules. What is even better is that the authors provide learning objectives for each section, not just for chapters. This design makes it easier for instructors to break down each chapter into smaller tasks. Students can know what to expect or take away from the subsections in each module. The summary and review questions at the end of each chapter also serve as a good wrap-up for individual modules.

The organization of the chapters is logical and straightforward. The subsections within each chapter are well-connected. Students would not have any problem building up their understanding of the research inquiry process when they read over the textbook.

The Introduction to Political Science Research Methods is reader-friendly. I have no difficulty in following the sections, and the formatting, including figures and tables, does not go off the place. Also, the PDF keeps the bookmarks so that readers can clearly see the structure on the sidebar and jump to different sections easily.

I do not notice major grammatical errors.

This book uses studies on various topics and has broad cultural implications. I appreciate that the examples and studies that the authors choose to demonstrate how to do political science research cover diversity and equity in society. The authors also present different schools of view without imposing a specific paradigm on the readers.

I recommend this book.

Reviewed by Lindsay Benstead, Professor of Politics & Global Affairs, Portland State University on 8/12/23

This textbook covers topics in a comprehensive overview of methodology used in Political Science. It is suitable for an introductory course (e.g., 100-200 level), in that it covers the 'History and Development of the Empirical Study of Politics,"... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This textbook covers topics in a comprehensive overview of methodology used in Political Science. It is suitable for an introductory course (e.g., 100-200 level), in that it covers the 'History and Development of the Empirical Study of Politics," which includes basic facts about the history of the field of Politics. It then covers topics in quantitative and qualitative analysis. Importantly, it includes a section on ethics.

In my review of the textbook and use in designing a new course, I found the information presented in the textbook to be accurate.

Since this textbook covers foundational topics in research methods, it is likely to remain relevant for a decade or more.

This textbook is written in a clear way that will be understood by students in introductory political science methods courses (e.g., 100-200 level). This is not to say that more advanced students would not benefit from reading this textbook, but only if they are undergraduate or graduate students just beginning their study of research methods in the field.

This book is internally consistent. In addition to content in each chapter, it includes m/c questions, open-ended questions, and resources for further study. These are presented at the end of each chapter in such a way that they can consistently be assigned to students on a weekly basis and used in the preparation of exams and quizzes.

Each chapter is broken up into multiple sections, making it easy for instructors to present the material in modular and easily digestible ways.

The book is well organized, proceeding in a logical way from introductory material through quantitative topics, followed by qualitative methods and research ethics.

The pdf interface is easily navigated.

There are not grammatical errors in the book that I noted.

The textbook has several authors. The authors provide cartoon images of themselves. The group of authors come from diverse backgrounds, making the book more likely to help students from diverse backgrounds know that Political Science is their field of study.

Table of Contents

• About the Authors
• History of this OER
• Table of Tables
• Table of Figures
• Chapter 1- Introduction
• Chapter 2- History and Development of the Empirical Study of Politics
• Chapter 3- The Scientific Method
• Chapter 4- Theories, Hypotheses, Variables, and Units
• Chapter 5- Conceptualization, Operationalization, Measurement
• Chapter 6- Elements of Research Design
• Chapter 7- Qualitative Methods
• Chapter 8- Quantitative Research Methods and Means of Analysis 
• Chapter 9- Research Ethics
• Chapter 10- Conclusion

Ancillary Material

• Academic Senate for California Community Colleges

About the Book

Welcome to the official website for  Introduction to Political Science Research Methods  and  Polimetrics: A Stata Companion to Introduction to Political Science Research Methods  workbook!

Introduction to Political Science Research Methods,  authored by Dr. Josh Franco, Dr. Charlotte Lee, Kau Vue, Dr. Dino Bozonelos, Dr. Masahiro Omae, and Dr. Steven Cauchon, is an Open Education Resource textbook licensed CC BY-NC 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.

Polimetrics: A Stata Companion,  authored by Dr. Josh Franco, is an Open Education Resource workbook licensed CC BY-NC and designed as a Stata companion to  Introduction to Political Science Research Methods . This workbook provides a tour of the Stata software, an introduction to cross-sectional, time series, and panel data, and an introduction to a variety of models. I review models where the outcome is linear, binary, ordinal, categorical, and count. Additionally, I have an interpretation chapter on survival models.

About the Contributors

Dr. Josh Franco, Cuyamaca College, Political Science: Josh Franco is a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor at Cuyamaca College in east San Diego County, California. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science, B.A. in public policy, and A.A. in economics and political science. Dr. Franco has five years of experience working in the California State Government and U.S. House of Representatives. Additionally, he was recently published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Political Science Education.

Dr. Charlotte Lee, Berkeley City College, Political Science: Charlotte Lee is full-time faculty at Berkeley City College. She teaches courses in political science and global studies. She has conducted fieldwork in Eastern Europe and China, culminating in several peer-reviewed publications in comparative politics, and will draw on that research in writing OER materials on qualitative research methods. Dr. Lee has participated in several Peralta district wide OER workshops. In February 2019, she co-facilitated an ASCCC OER Task Force webinar on resources in political science. Her Ph.D. is in political science from Stanford University.

Kau Vue, M.A. M.P.A., Fresno City College, Political Science: Kau Vue is an instructor of political science at Fresno City College in Fresno, California. She holds an M.A. in political science, a Master’s in Public Administration (M.P.A.) and a B.A. in political science and economics.

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135 great political science research topics to write best paper.

We know, every high school, college or university student needs some good, interesting political science research topics. After all, your grade depends a lot on the quality of the topic you choose. Your professor expects you to submit a well researched and well written essay on a topic that piques his interest. Finding such a topic can be much more difficult than you imagine. The good news is that our writers and editors have created a list of unique political science research topics for students of all ages. Why don’t you take a look at our list of ideas and pick one right now?

Choosing the Best Political Science Topics Possible

If you are looking for the best and most interesting political science topics, you have arrived at the right place. Choosing the topics that can earn you top grades is now easier than ever. All you have to do is go through our list (you have 16 categories to choose from) and pick the topics you like. All our topics are unique at the time this list was created. And the good news is that we are updating this list frequently to make sure we can help as many students as possible with original ideas. Also, our topics can be used for free. You don’t have to pay for them or give us credit, so why don’t you pick one right now:

A Hot Political Topic

If you are looking for a hot political topic, you can find several of them right here. Take a look at our list and pick any one of our topics:

• Civil rights controversies in the United Kingdom
• Freedom of speech in the United States
• Talk about abortion and its political implications
• Social security issues in Australia
• Climate change and politics
• Discuss the death penalty in the US
• Censorship in China
• Social security issues in African countries
• Who should benefit from health insurance?
• Should we adopt an universal minimum income?

Political Science Research Questions

• Our creative writers though about some interesting political science research questions that you can answer in your next research paper:
• What is the state authority?
• What is a totalitarian government?
• Is Vladimir Putin a dictator?
• What are the benefits of a democratic government?
• Why do we study political science in school?
• What is comparative politics?
• How do social changes influence the politics in your country?
• What is communism?
• What are the negative effects of anarchism?
• Where does political power come from in the United States?
• Is a dictatorship the same as a monarchy?
• What makes a ruler a dictator?

Conflicts in Politics Ideas

Would you like to write an essay about conflicts in politics? We have some very interesting conflicts in politics ideas right here:

• What are political disputes?
• The best way to settle a political dispute
• An in-depth look at the Vietnam War
• How did the war in Afghanistan start?
• The conflict between Joe Biden and Donald Trump
• Propaganda techniques during political wars
• Free speech and hate speech in political conflicts
• Controversial aspects of a recent political conflict
• Conflicts between politics and religion
• Donald Trump versus Barack Obama

Easy Political Topics to Write About

We know you want to spend as little time as possible on your research paper . This is why we have compiled an original list of easy political topics to write about for you:

• What are the traits of a career politician?
• Discuss the concept of “political careerists”
• What makes Saddam Hussein a dictator?
• The story of Jimmy Carter
• The life and achievements of Barack Obama
• A Joe Biden biography
• How did Arnold Schwarzenegger become a politician?
• News coverage of elections in the UK
• Analyze the relations between the US and North Korea
• Compare and contrast liberalism and republicanism

International Relations Research Topics

Of course, we have some awesome topics related to international relations. Pick one of these international relations research topics and start working on your paper:

• Relations between North and South Korea
• An in-depth look at the Cold War period
• Russia-China relations in 2023
• China-US relations in 2023
• What caused the war in Afghanistan?
• The effects of nationalism in Germany
• Foreign policies of Eastern European countries towards Russia
• Discuss the rise in international terrorism
• Protecting the environment globally
• Analyze one of the many religious wars

American Government Research Paper Topics

We have some of the best and most interesting American government research paper topics right here. You’re free to use any one of them:

• What caused the American revolution?
• Politics during the Civil War
• Discuss Republican traditions in the US
• An in-depth look at election fraud in the United States
• Disaster response in the US
• What drives African American politicians?
• Analyze American federal crime law
• The US foreign policy in 2023
• Discuss the Cold War

Interesting Political Science Research Topics

We know you want to get the most interesting political science research topics possible. Here is the complete list of ideas:

• Discuss the constitutional vision of John Rohr
• Analyze The Republic written by Plato
• Research the politics in Ancient Rome
• An in-depth analysis of the politics of Ancient Greece
• Compare and contrast utilitarianism with egalitarianism
• Analyze Social Contract (written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau)
• Discuss the unequal relation between the public and the government

Public Law Topics

Interested in writing about public law? Of course, we have plenty of public law topics that you can use for your next essay:

• Analyze constitutional law in your country
• The peculiarities of administrative law in the United States
• Differences between procedural law and private law in the UK
• Tax law and criminal law versus private law
• Discuss the role of mandatory rules in public law
• Discuss the “public bodies act lawfully” principle of public law
• Do all central and local governments have to obey public law?
• What is the difference between public and private law in the US?

Comparative Politics Research Topics

We are certain your professor will surely appreciate any of our comparative politics research topics. Take a look at the list and pick the one you like the most:

• Talk about conflict and revolution in the United States
• Analyze 2 comparative parties in your country
• What are comparative political institutions?
• Define the concept of comparative politics
• Compare politics in the United States with politics in the United Kingdom
• Discuss direct and indirect binary comparisons
• Talk about the modernization theory

Good Political Topics

This is a list of good political topics that should work great in 2023:

• Analyze the national politics of a country of your choice
• Why are international relations important for political science?
• What gives legitimacy and authority in a democratic state?
• Discuss political participation in your country
• Compare and contrast political science with pure history
• Factors that influence political behavior in the United States

Political Theory Research Topics

Yes, we know that talking about political theory is not easy. However, we have some political theory research topics that are relatively easy to write about:

• An in-depth analysis of the Agrarianism political theory
• An in-depth analysis of the Egalitarianism theory
• Discuss the Phoenicianism political theory
• What is Libertarian socialism‎ and where can we find it?
• Research the topic of Zionism in 2023
• Compare and contrast socialism with communism in Eastern Europe
• Analyze 3 forms of government in use today

Current Research Topics in Political Science

Keeping up with the current events in politics may not be something you have time for. We do. Check out these current research topics in political science:

• Talk about the innovations in the public sector in the UK
• Analyze the 2019 Indian general elections
• The Israel-Hamas conflict in 2023
• Russia’s foreign policy towards Ukraine
• Discuss the rise of ISIS in Afghanistan
• Boko Haram’s expansion in Nigeria
• The American retreat from Afghanistan
• The US foreign policy towards China
• Analyze the India-China border dispute

Informative Political Science Research Paper Topics

Our writers have put together a list of highly interesting and informative political science research paper topics. Check them out below:

• Compare parliamentary and presidential democracy
• Discuss the apartheid in South Africa
• An in-depth look at the Vietnam War politics
• The effects of the Syrian conflict
• Imperialism in British Columbia
• Colonialism in African countries
• Discuss the Human Rights Act 1998 and its implications

Fresh Political Science Research Topic Ideas

Take a look at our fresh political science research topic ideas and choose the one that suits you best:

• Talk about the retreat of American troops from Afghanistan
• Talk about Joe Biden’s victory against Donald Trump
• Analyze a totalitarian government
• How did Vladimir Putin win 4 terms as president in Russia?
• The politics behind the Israeli-Palestinian war
• Discuss the role of mass media in political conflicts

Controversial Topics for a Political Science Research Paper

Why would you be afraid of talking about controversial topics? We have a list of easy controversial topics for a political science research paper right here for you:

• Discuss signs of election fraud in the United States
• Gender equality in politics
• The climate change problem across the world
• Politics and empty promises
• The use of influence in politics
• Are politicians above the law in the US?

Public Administration Topics

There are many things you can talk about when it comes to public administration. However, we feel that these public administration topics usually get high grades:

• Discuss public service motivation in the United States
• What is performance-related pay and how is it used?
• Civil service reform in the UK
• Analyze the public organizational behavior in your country
• Community service in your county
• Public administration and its link to social equity
• Sustainability projects in public administration
• Public administration: traits of a true leader
• Crisis management procedures in your area

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140 Newest Political Science Research Paper Topics

If you are reading our blog post, its means you’re desperately trying to find some amazing political science research topics. Truth be told, you’ve arrived at the right place. We have a list of original political science research topics for you right here. Furthermore, we’ve included a lot of information about finding great topics and about their benefits. Remember that all our political science topics are 100% free. We are all about helping college students get the best possible grades. We do our absolute best to update our list of political science essay topics as frequently as possible, so stay tuned for new topics!

Are Political Science Research Topics Hard to Find?

It looks like finding research topics for political science in 2023 is pretty difficult. But why? Well, because even though there are plenty of websites offering topics, you are facing fierce competition. Each one of your peers is looking for topics. And in most cases, they end up on the same websites as you do. This means that in many cases, you will write a research paper on the same subject as several of your classmates. The simple way to avoid this and find hot topics in politics is to watch the news and pick interesting things to analyze. However, this takes time; the time you may not have. After all, you have two or three other essays to write this week…

Extraordinary Political Science Topics = Top Grades

The easiest way to get some ideas is to read our list of topics in political science. At the time of writing, all the political science research paper topics are 100% original. And remember, a good topic usually means a top grade if you do a decent job at writing the paper. Why? It’s simply because professors are easily impressed by people who demonstrate originality. If you can think outside the box and stand out from the crowd, you will get bonus points . Of course, you are free to pick any of the political science paper topics below and reword them in any way.

Philosophy Research Political Science Essay Topics

Political research philosophy deals with how society should be set up and the changes needed. It discusses ethics and how they impact society. Political science research topics should be intriguing and interesting. Here is a list of research topics that your professor will find interesting in your essay:

• Research on what caused the American Revolution.
• Karl Schmidt’s thesis and German philosophy and how they affect society.
• Transition methods of post-socialist and how that impacted society.
• How does civil republicanism contrast with Liberalism?
• The justification of Liberal democracy.
• How modern political virtue is linked to the Mutual tolerance approach.
• Neopatrimonialism Society risk.
• The election ethics.
• How the Western constitution law lens views existentialism.
• The republican traditions are used in education.
• Role of philosophy on the politics of your country.
• The impact made by the American Revolution.

Political Theorists Political Science Essay Topics

Writing political theorists’ take an honorary place when students get the right political science research topics for their dissertation’s literature review. Besides, when you get interesting political science thesis topics, you can be sure that your professor will be impressed. Though such research does not give proper answers to global issues, you can work with comparative political research questions. If you have no idea about the political science research paper topics you can use, you are in the right place. Let us take a look at these ideas:

• The theory of John Austin.
• Aristotle’s philosophy on Governance.
• The thesis of Fredric Bastiat.
• Reasons why Rome failed.
• About Jean Bodin and what he failed to see about sovereignty.
• Is the trajectory followed by the US the same as that of Ancient Rome?
• The republic by Plato Analysis.
• How did Vladimir Lenin influence the communism approach?
• The political events that led to Nazism.
• How do Greco-Romans influence modern politics?
• The discipline powers Foucault’s.
• Edmund Burke Classics theories and their impact.

Interesting Political Science Research Topics

Do you want to thrill your professor? Do you want to come up with something new? If this is the case, just take a look at our list of interesting political science research topics below. You can also check out our history topics .

If you are interested in how politics gave birth to – and altered the course of – conflicts, we have some very interesting topics about conflicts on our list:

• Terrorism can be an effective political instrument.
• How did war change politics in the US?
• The effects of the Vietnam War on United States politics.
• How did the Afghanistan war start?
• The differences between armed conflicts and political conflicts.
• The effects of pardoning criminals in today’s society.
• Ways to effectively implement urgent changes in the legislation process.
• Prosecution ethics on top-tier officials.
• The federal crime comparison of the American and European Federals.
• Methods used to eliminate corruption in America and their effectiveness.
• What are the social movements of the post-war times?
• Research on modern leader’s global interdependence.

Current Research Topics in Political Science

Of course, we realize you want to stay up to date with the latest developments in political science. Your professor will be thrilled to see that you’ve chosen one of our current research topics in political science:

• Karl Schmidt thesis and German philosophy.
• What political decision by the Trump presidency had the biggest impact?
• The impact that the true commission has on civil society.
• The latest controversy surrounding Amnesty International.
• The battles were fought by superpowers around the Arctic Circle.
• How do Republicans influence US education?
• The political response to the COVID-19 crisis.
• Is religion a political power nowadays?

Public Law Topics

There are plenty of public law topics you can write an essay about. However, our academic writers have selected only the ones that have the potential to get an A+:

• Argumentative analysis of the judicial review and its impact on society.
• What is the judicial interpretation of public safety statutes?
• Discuss the privacy law and commercial exploitation.
• What are the gender bias philosophies found in custody battles?
• What is the Socio-Economic preference in Police interrogation?
• Discuss the post-conflict justice inequality.
• What is the public safety status of Judicial Interpretation?
• Similarities between common morality and criminal law.
• Top 3 best European legislators in history.
• Discuss the Human Rights Act of 1998.
• Can national security destroy civil liberty?
• Is the Internet a “politically correct” place?

Easily Researchable Topics in Political Science

Perhaps you don’t want to spend a lot of time and effort writing the political sciences essay. In this case, you may be interested in one of our easily researchable topics in political science:

• Are the politicians to be blamed for the frequent civil wars?
• What is the relationship between media and politics in America?
• The influence that social movements have on changing public policies.
• The way that the Patriot Act will be viewed in future generations.
• What is the current situation of your country’s foreign policy?
• What is the cause and effect of conflict in Syria?
• Research on the global impact of Brexit.
• Should anyone be allowed to pardon violent criminals?
• Here is how you eliminate corruption.
• Discuss the Frederic Bastiat Theses.
• Discuss Trump’s immigration crisis.
• Is the media politically biased?

International Relations Research Topics

International relations is one of the most interesting political sciences topics today. They’re also quite complex. Here are some excellent international relations research topics:

• Controversies of Amnesty International.
• What causes Global Poverty?
• Defining and analyzing global security networks.
• The power battles of the Arctic Circle.
• Human Rights in Uganda.
• How has the international relation in America changed in the past five years?
• What do people think about politicians becoming corrupt?
• What is the US’s Foreign Policy?
• The effects of the Syrian war on its politics.
• Analyzing the ethics of NGOs in America.
• What is the IMF (International Monetary Fund)?
• What causes poverty on a planetary scale?

Public Administration Topics

Are you interested in writing about public administration as part of your political sciences essay? Just take a quick look at some very public administration topics:

• How was the private sector innovated in the United States?
• Methods of community development.
• What vision did John Rohr have of the constitution?
• Ethics of the nonprofit organization.
• Administration careers of transport security.
• The compromise of environmental management.
• Innovations in the United States private sector.
• How does the Federal Emergency Management Agency work?
• What is fiscal management and why is it so important?
• How do governments coordinate their efforts?
• The best ways to reduce bureaucracy in the US.

Current International Relations Topics

Your professor is most definitely interested in current events more than he is interested in reading about the past. Give your take on any of these wonderful current international relations topics:

• Description of how the IMF works.
• What is the major cause of poverty in the world?
• Research on how global security works.
• A look at Japan and China’s foreign aid policy.
• The research and discussion on the continuous effects of Brexit.
• A look at soft law manipulative treaties.
• Research on international protection in regards to children’s rights.
• Will Israel ever accept a Palestinian state?
• Are countries alone in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic?
• Analyze the evolution of human rights in Rwanda.
• What causes the conflicts in Syria?
• Geopolitics: the quest for dominance.

Comparative Politics Research Topics

Did you know that writing about comparative politics can be fun? Analyze the political differences and similarities between various countries by writing a paper on one of our comparative politics research topics:

• Comparison to behavioral approach to parties.
• The United States and Japan Culture Pressure.
• Definition of Soviet Union Ideology and its impact.
• The Interest Aggregation of the Vietnam War.
• How developing countries recruit.
• The party hierarchy of Chinese communists.
• Traits of the Anglo Saxon in the American government.
• Compare the foreign policies of the US and the UK.
• Similarities between political parties in Scotland and Ireland.
• Differences between parliamentary and presidential democracy.
• How does apartheid begin?
• Compare and contrast communist and socialist governments.

Political Science Thesis Topics

Writing a thesis in political science can be a daunting task. However, picking the correct topic can greatly ease your workload. Here are some political science thesis topics to pick from:

• How does the endorsement by a decorated military improve the chances of a political candidate?
• What is meant when people talk about psychological politics in the modern world?
• Do unions have any impact when endorsing an election campaign?
• What impact did the Trump vs. Biden election have on foreign politics around the globe?
• Reasons why abortion should be made legal at the federal level
• What is a single controversial political decision that has impacted international policies?
• What can governments do to rid their countries of corruption?
• Should the foreign policy of the UK be changed? Why?
• How governments can help fight climate change.
• The system regulating immigration in the United States is fundamentally broken.
• Differences between the Parliament of India and the Parliament of Pakistan.

Political Philosophy Topics

Political philosophy has changed a lot over the years. Things are very much different from one country to another. Here are some interesting ideas you can use right now:

• What caused the great American Revolution of 1765?
• Is mutual tolerance in politics just a dream?
• Explain the importance of the Karl Schmidt Theses for Germany.
• What is Neopatrimonialism?
• What causes unethical behavior ahead of elections?
• Fiscal management strategic planning.
• What are the comprehensive benefits of public safety?
• What is the global independence of global leaders?
• What is religion, and is it a social power?
• What are the ethical topics that top officials in government today should discuss?
• Is there a similarity between the American and European federal crimes as seen in the past few years?
• What is the reason for the continuous immigrant crisis in Mexico?

If you need more political topics to write about (including many more international relations topics), we advise you to get in touch with our professional thesis writers . A seasoned academic writer can create a list of original, interesting topics in no time. The quality of the political topics you choose greatly influences the grades you get on your research papers, so professional assistance may prove to be invaluable.

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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

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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 .

Experts available: Trump trial opening statements, TikTok bill, SCOTUS homeless case, avian flu, and more

22 Apr 2024

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The Virginia Tech media relations office has the following experts available for interviews this week surrounding issues in the news. To schedule an interview, please contact [email protected] .

Virginia Tech experts available to discuss headlines in the news

Historic trial of former President Trump begins today

Opening statements start today in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president in the nation’s history. In a complex case, Manhattan’s district attorney seeks to prosecute Donald Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The trial is expected to last several weeks, disrupting the presumptive Republican nominee’s campaign to retake the presidency. Political science expert Karen Hult can discuss the historic and governance aspects of this unprecedented trial, while public relations expert Cayce Myers should shed light on how the trial hurts and helps Trump’s reelection efforts. Read more here . 

Passing foreign aid package puts U.S. House Speaker’s job in jeopardy

Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson over the weekend worked with Democrats to orchestrate the passage of a $95 billion aid package to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Throughout the process, former allies in the most pro-Trump wing of his own party threatened to depose him, and with the aid package approved in defiance of their wishes, those threats could now come to fruition. Political science expert Karen Hult can provide analysis.

What the House TikTok ban bill means for users, social media

Over the weekend, the House of Representatives passed a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban of the popular social media app TikTok. It now moves to the Senate, and President Biden has said he will sign the bill should it reach his desk. TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, which some lawmakers say makes it a potential national security threat, due to its surveillance capabilities. Professor of public relations Cayce Myers says that “targeting a specific company like this is unusual, but it may signal a new approach to social media regulation.” More here .

Supreme Court to weigh bans on sleeping outdoors

The Supreme Court will hear today for what’s considered one of the most significant cases concerning homelessness in decades. The question is whether banning homeless people from sleeping outside when shelter is lacking amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Political science professor Brandy Faulkner is available to speak about the case and its implications.

Veterinary experts offer update and advice on avian influenza outbreak

Experts are calling the avian flu the worst in U.S. history. The outbreak has now been detected in poultry and cattle and is raising significant concerns within the agricultural and public health communities. The Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Services (ViTALS) lab at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine , as part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), along with federal and state organizations are monitoring the situation. Dr. Tanya LeRoith is available to discuss the work being done in the lab and Virginia’s response to the outbreak. Michael Persia with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is available to speak to the precautions poultry owners and industry members need to take to protect their flocks. More here .

Earth Day 2024: Experts available to discuss environmental issues and how to solve them

Virginia Tech has a number of Earth Day experts available for interviews surrounding a variety of topics and research, including sustainable transportation, 3D printing wind turbines, plants that pollute the air, AI and sustainability, and more. Story ideas are available here .

Podcast: Earth’s most pivotal moments explained

Ben Gill joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about piecing together Earth history through a combination of geology and chemistry. Gill explained how studying the cycles of different elements can tell a story and help us better understand the planet’s most pivotal moments, such as mass extinctions. He also shared how studying both the worth and best times of our planet can provide us valuable insights for the future.  

Gill is an associate professor in the Department of Geosciences and a faculty affiliate of the Global Change Center in the Fralin Life Sciences Institute . As a geochemist and sedimentary geologist, Gill specializes in reconstructing the present and past chemical cycles on our planet. His research combines classic sedimentologic and stratigraphic methods with both proven and novel geochemical and numerical modeling techniques.

Research Highlights

Researchers develop a new way to safely boost immune cells to fight cancer

Cancer is the monster of our society. Last year alone, more than 600,000 people in the United States died from cancer, according to the American Cancer Society . The relentless pursuit of understanding this complex disease has shaped medical progress on developing treatment procedures that are less invasive while still highly effective.

Rong Tong , associate professor in chemical engineering , has teamed up with Wenjun "Rebecca" Cai , associate professor in materials science and engineering , to explore a cancer immunotherapy treatment that has long been of interest to researchers. In their newly published article in the journal Science Advances , Tong and Cai detailed their approach, which involves activating the immune cells in the body and reprogramming them to attack and destroy the cancer cells. This therapeutic method is frequently implemented with the protein cytokine. Cytokines are small protein molecules that act as intercellular biochemical messengers and are released by the body's immune cells to coordinate their response. Read more here .

Wind turbine blades get a sustainable upgrade

The average wind turbine generates enough electricity in 46 minutes to power a home in the United States for an entire month, according to the United States Geological Survey . And with more than 70,800 turbines scattered throughout the country, wind power has now surpassed hydroelectric power as the largest producer of renewable energy.

With a $2 million grant from the Department of Energy , researchers from Virginia Tech are pioneering processes to make this sustainable energy source even more sustainable. The grant is part of a $72 million initiative to innovate manufacturing processes for wind technologies and create sustainable solutions for harnessing wind energy. The research team at Virginia Tech will be using new methods of additive manufacturing, computational design, and a recyclable, high strength thermoplastic material. Read more here .

Margaret Ashburn

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Changing Partisan Coalitions in a Politically Divided Nation

1. the partisanship and ideology of american voters, table of contents.

• What this report tells us – and what it doesn’t
• Partisans and partisan leaners in the U.S. electorate
• Party identification and ideology
• Education and partisanship
• Education, race and partisanship
• Partisanship by race and gender
• Partisanship across educational and gender groups by race and ethnicity
• Gender and partisanship
• Parents are more Republican than voters without children
• Partisanship among men and women within age groups
• Race, age and partisanship
• The partisanship of generational cohorts
• Religion, race and ethnicity, and partisanship
• Party identification among atheists, agnostics and ‘nothing in particular’
• Partisanship and religious service attendance
• Partisanship by income groups
• The relationship between income and partisanship differs by education
• Union members remain more Democratic than Republican
• Homeowners are more Republican than renters
• Partisanship of military veterans
• Demographic differences in partisanship by community type
• Race and ethnicity
• Age and the U.S. electorate
• Education by race and ethnicity
• Religious affiliation
• Ideological composition of voters
• Acknowledgments
• Overview of survey methodologies
• The 2023 American Trends Panel profile survey methodology
• Measuring party identification across survey modes
• Adjusting telephone survey trends
• Appendix B: Religious category definitions
• Appendix C: Age cohort definitions

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.

• Four years ago, in the run-up to the 2020 election, Democrats had a 5 percentage point advantage over the GOP (51% vs. 46%).

The share of voters who are in the Democratic coalition reached 55% in 2008. For much of the last three decades of Pew Research Center surveys, the partisan composition of registered voters has been more closely divided.

About two-thirds of registered voters identify as a partisan, and they are roughly evenly split between those who say they are Republicans (32% of voters) and those who say they are Democrats (33%). Roughly a third instead say they are independents or something else (35%), with most of these voters leaning toward one of the parties. Partisan leaners often share the same political views and behaviors as those who directly identify with the party they favor.

The share of voters who identify as independent or something else is somewhat higher than in the late 1990s and early 2000s. As a result, there are more “leaners” today than in the past. Currently, 15% of voters lean toward the Republican Party and 16% lean toward the Democratic Party. By comparison, in 1994, 27% of voters leaned toward either the GOP (15%) or the Democratic Party (12%).

While the electorate overall is nearly equally divided between those who align with the Republican and Democratic parties, a greater share of registered voters say they are both ideologically conservative and associate with the Republican Party (33%) than say they are liberal and align with the Democratic Party (23%).

A quarter of voters associate with the Democratic Party and describe their views as either conservative or moderate, and 14% identify as moderates or liberals and are Republicans or Republican leaners.

The partisan and ideological composition of voters is relatively unchanged over the last five years.

(As a result of significant mode differences in measures of ideology between telephone and online surveys, there is not directly comparable data on ideology prior to 2019.)

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