political science research topics in india

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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List of Political Science Research Topics 2024

Princi Rai ,

Mar 4, 2024

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Political Science research topics are significant geo-political issues encompassing all the legislations, administration, policy frameworks, comparative politics, defence and safety measures of the nation.

List of Political Science Research Topics 2024

Political science research topics include topics related to international relations, domestic relations, comparative politics, public administration, public policy, political behaviour, public law, and security studies of the countries associated. Political research topics hold significance as they take into consideration the entire issues revolving in the states.

1. Political Science Research Topics on International Relations

International relations holds a strong ground in a country's foreign policy making, few relevant political science research topics are listed below for students:

Impact of Economic Interdependence on International Conflict
Comparative Analysis of India and US Foreign Policies in India
International Human Rights and National Sovereignty during COVID-19
Role of Decentralised Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) in International Politics
Effectiveness of International Regimes in Global Challenges
Comparative Analysis of Diplomacy and Military Force in India
Impact of Globalization and Multinational Corporations
Role of International Aid Organizations in the India
Amnesty International Controversies
Global Poverty Causes

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2. Political Science Research Topics on Domestic Relations

Research topics related to domestic relations in political science includes a wide range of issues and policies within a country. Here are some political science research topics related to domestic relations:

Public Opinion of the Black Lives Matter Movement Across the Political Spectrum
Prospective Candidates for the Upcoming 2024 Elections
Revisions Needed for the Indian Constitution
Rights to Privacy on the Internet
Reforming the Two-Party Political System
Politicians' Responsibility in Combating Misinformation
Understanding the Notion of "Freedom" in the India
Role of Ideology in Indian Foreign Policy and International Relations

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3. Political Science Research Topics on Comparative Politics

Research topics in comparative politics includes all the issues and the analysis of political institutions, and policies frameworks. Here are some political science research topics

in the field of comparative politics:

Digital Technology Impact in India Public Administration
Public-Private Partnerships in India's Public Services
Civil Society Oversight in India
Environmentalism's Influence on Indian Public Policy
Public Administration and Citizen Engagement in Schools
Comparative Analysis of Public Administration Efficiency
Collaborative Leadership in Public Administration
Diversity and Inclusion in Police Services
Corrupt Public Administration in India
Public Administration and Civil Rights in India
Public Policy Impact on Income Inequality in India
Addressing Climate Change in India: Legal, Economic, and Social Instruments
Role of Interest Groups in Shaping Land-Use Policy
Globalization's Influence on Climate Change Policies in India
Public Policy and Social Justice in Tertiary Education in the India

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4. Political Science Research Topics on Public Administration

Research topics in public administration include the critical analysis of government policies, public organisations, and the bureaucracy. Here are political science research topics

in the field of public administration:

Ethics in prosecution by top officials
A comparison of political systems and social disparities is used to analyse democracy and inequality.
Implementing Immediate Changes to the Legislative Process with Federalism Traces
Should one view religion as a source of social power?
Social Media's Impact on Democracy: An Analysis of How It Shapes Political Discourse
Social movements after the war
Comparing Federal Crimes in Europe and America: Is Pardoning Criminals Acceptable?
Political Reforms and Innovations: Reimagining Democracy in the Post-Epidemic World
current leaders International Dependence
Cyberwarfare's Effects on Security and International Relations
Political & armed conflict differences
Corruption Prevention Techniques
Democracy's Evolution: How Digital Technology Affects Democratic Procedures
Making Quick Changes to the Legislation Process
Health Policy Impact on Diabetes Management in Developing Countries
Evidence-Based Policymaking for Invasive Invertebrates in India
Dietary Public Policies in Multicultural Countries
Public Policy Impact on Urbanization in Rural India
Media and Public Opinion in Transport Policy in India

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5. Political Science Research Topics on Public Policy

Public policy research topics involve the study of government policies,legislations and the implementation of laws, and their impact on society. Listed below are some political science research topics in the field of public policy:

Civil War Peculiarities & Causes
Online Communities & Protest Movements
Government Repression in Syria
Mexico and the Immigrant Crisis
Afghanistan Conflict
Ukraine Divided - Political Powers at Play
Conflict Resolution Techniques in Yemen
Iraq War War Crimes Legacy
Central African Republic Rebellion Causes
Reagan's Political Agenda

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6. Political Science Research Topics on Public Law

Research topics in public law are all the legislations, rules and regulations, constitutional, judicial laws, and their impact on society. Listed below are some political science research topics in the field of public law:

Analysis of the arguments in judicial reviews
1998 Human Rights Act
law relating to public safety Interpretation of the law
renowned lawmakers from European legal history
Common Morality & Criminal Law
Complaints Regarding Civil Liberties & National Security
A Commercial Exploitation of Privacy Law?
Psychology of Gender Bias in Custody Conflicts
Post-Conflict Justice Inequality
Socio-Economic Preferences in Police Interrogation

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7. Political Science Research Topics on Security Studies

Research topics in security studies include all the relevant issues surrounding national security, international issues, and strategies to promote peace and stability across the globe. Here are some research topics in the field of security studies:

Conflicts in Post-War Nations Art Legacy
Conflicts with African Americans in Prison US Foreign Policy
Polaris Power Distribution
Security Leadership Conflicts Following 9/11
Iranian Oil War
Afghanistan Cooperation Techniques
A deal between the right and left-wing parties
Political Leaders and Their Individual Goals
Media bias in news reporting

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How to Choose the Right Political Science Dissertation Topic?

It's crucial to select the appropriate topic, which students can accomplish by learning more about politics. There's a lot to cover and a wide range of resources available,few tips to choose the right political science dissertation topics:.

Make an effort to stick to reasonably recent material and current trending issues.
Can opt for conflicting topics by delivering neutral opinions.
Choose a topic in which your interest and knowledge is adequate.
Try to keep your research paper topic original when coming up with it
Always look for the relevance of the topic.

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Research Topics & Ideas: Politics

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

Political science research topics and ideas

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

NB – This is just the start…

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

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

Overview: Politics-Related Topics

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

Topics & Ideas: Political Theory

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

Topics & Ideas: Comparative Politics

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

Research Topic Kickstarter - Need Help Finding A Research Topic?

Topics & Ideas: International Relations

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

Free Webinar: How To Find A Dissertation Research Topic

Tops & Ideas: Public Administration

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

Topics & Ideas: Public Policy

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

Examples: Politics Dissertations & Theses

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

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

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

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

Get 1:1 Help

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

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Collection 14 November 2023

Politics and the people in India: modern and historical perspectives

India’s fast growing economic and socio-political importance on the world stage has led to speculation and shifting expectations about how it can and will shape the global order.

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Studies in Indian Politics is a double blind peer-reviewed bi-annual journal. The journal publishes research writings that seek to explain different aspects of Indian politics. The journal adopts a multi-method approach and publish articles based on primary data in the qualitative and quantitative traditions, archival research, interpretation of texts and documents, and secondary data. The Journal covers a wide variety of sub-fields in politics, such as political ideas and thought in India, political institutions and processes, Indian democracy and politics in a comparative perspective particularly with reference to the global South and South Asia, India in world affairs, and public policies. While such a scope makes it accessible to a large number of readers, keeping India at the centre of the focus makes it target-specific.

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Methodologies To Select Political Science Project Topics

Table of Contents

When selecting political science project topics, researchers can employ various methodologies to ensure their projects are relevant, feasible, and ethically sound. Here are some key methodologies:

Literature Review: Conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature in political science to identify gaps, debates, and emerging trends. This helps researchers understand the current state of knowledge and locate areas for potential research.
Stakeholder Analysis: Identify key stakeholders in the field of political science, including policymakers, academics, activists, and community members. Engage with these stakeholders to understand their priorities, concerns, and research needs, which can inform the selection of project topics.
Problem Identification: Identify pressing political issues, challenges, or controversies that require further investigation and analysis. This may involve monitoring current events, policy debates, and societal trends to identify topics that are relevant and timely.
Research Design: Develop a clear research design that outlines the objectives, scope, and methodology of the project. Consider the feasibility of different research methods, such as qualitative interviews, surveys, experiments, or archival research, and select methods that are appropriate for the research questions and objectives.
Pilot Studies: Conduct pilot studies or feasibility assessments to test research methodologies, gather preliminary data, and identify potential challenges or limitations. This helps researchers refine their research design and ensure that their project is viable before committing to a full-scale study.
Ethical Considerations: Consider ethical considerations such as informed consent, privacy, and confidentiality when selecting project topics. Ensure that research projects adhere to ethical guidelines and protect the rights and well-being of participants.

By employing these methodologies, researchers can select political science project topics that are relevant, feasible, and ethically sound, ultimately contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field of political science.

International Relations

The role of international organizations in global governance.
Conflict resolution mechanisms: Case studies of successful peace processes.
Nuclear proliferation and arms control regimes.
Humanitarian intervention: Ethics and effectiveness.
Environmental diplomacy: International cooperation on climate change.
The impact of globalization on state sovereignty.
Regional integration and the European Union: Lessons for other regions.
Cybersecurity and international relations: Threats and responses.
Soft power diplomacy: Cultural diplomacy and public diplomacy strategies.
Diaspora politics: The influence of diaspora communities on foreign policy.

Political Theory

The concept of justice in political philosophy.
Democracy and its critics: Authoritarianism, populism, and elitism.
Political liberalism vs. communitarianism: Balancing individual rights and community values.
Feminist political theory: Gender, power, and social justice.
Postcolonialism and decolonial perspectives in political theory.
Environmental ethics and political theory: The rights of nature.
The ethics of global distributive justice.
Theories of revolution and political change.
Cosmopolitanism vs. nationalism: Debates on global citizenship.
Postmodernism and the challenge to traditional political theory.

Globalization and Development

The impact of globalization on economic inequality.
Development aid and foreign assistance: Effectiveness and accountability.
Trade liberalization and economic development: Winners and losers.
Global health governance: Challenges and opportunities.
Migration and development: Brain drain vs. brain gain.
Sustainable development goals (SDGs) and global governance.
Technology transfer and innovation for development.
Corruption and development: Causes, consequences, and remedies.
Human rights and development: The role of international organizations.
Social movements and development: Grassroots activism and political change.

Public Policy and Governance

Policy responses to climate change: Carbon pricing, renewable energy, and adaptation strategies.
Healthcare reform: Universal healthcare vs. privatization.
Education policy: Access, equity, and quality.
Welfare state reforms: Austerity measures and social protection.
Criminal justice reform: Alternatives to incarceration and restorative justice.
Immigration policy: Border security, asylum, and refugee resettlement.
Internet governance: Privacy, censorship, and digital rights.
Urban planning and sustainable cities: Smart growth, public transportation, and affordable housing.
Environmental policy: Biodiversity conservation, pollution control, and sustainable resource management.
Energy policy: Renewable energy transition, energy security, and energy poverty.

Identity Politics and Social Movements

Ethnic conflict and reconciliation: Truth commissions, peacebuilding, and transitional justice.
Gender politics and women’s rights movements: Intersectionality, reproductive rights, and political representation.
LGBTQ+ rights and activism: Marriage equality, anti-discrimination laws, and LGBTQ+ visibility.
Indigenous politics and sovereignty movements: Land rights, cultural preservation, and self-determination.
Disability rights and accessibility: Inclusive policies and social integration.
Youth activism and political engagement: Student movements, youth-led protests, and social media mobilization.
Environmental justice movements: Indigenous environmentalism, climate justice, and eco-feminism.
Labor movements and workers’ rights: Union organizing, collective bargaining, and fair wages.
Anti-racism and anti-fascism movements: Countering hate speech, xenophobia, and white supremacy.
Religious freedom and secularism: Separation of church and state, religious pluralism, and blasphemy laws.

Security Studies

National security strategy and military doctrine: Deterrence, defense, and preemptive strikes.
Terrorism and counterterrorism: Radicalization, recruitment tactics, and intelligence gathering.
Cybersecurity threats and defenses: Hacking, cyber espionage, and critical infrastructure protection.
Nuclear deterrence theory: Mutually assured destruction (MAD) vs. limited nuclear war.
Non-state actors in security: Private military contractors, militias, and terrorist organizations.
Human security: Protection from violence, food insecurity, and environmental hazards.
Arms control and disarmament agreements: Treaty compliance, verification mechanisms, and arms races.
Intelligence analysis and decision-making: Risk assessment, threat evaluation, and strategic forecasting.
Peacekeeping operations and conflict resolution: United Nations missions, peacebuilding efforts, and peace negotiations.
Maritime security challenges: Piracy, illegal fishing, and territorial disputes.

Media and Politics

Political communication strategies: Spin doctoring, propaganda, and framing techniques.
Media bias and agenda-setting: The role of journalism in shaping public opinion.
Social media and political mobilization: Hashtag activism, online communities, and digital advocacy.
Fake news and disinformation campaigns: Misinformation, echo chambers, and filter bubbles.
Media ownership and concentration: Corporate consolidation, media monopolies, and editorial independence.
Public opinion polls and survey research: Sampling methods, questionnaire design, and data analysis.
Political advertising and campaign finance: Dark money, Super PACs, and campaign finance reform.
Media literacy and digital citizenship: Critical thinking skills, fact-checking, and media literacy education.
Celebrity politics and political endorsements: The influence of celebrities on public opinion and electoral outcomes.
Government censorship and press freedom: Press laws, libel laws, and whistleblower protection.

Political Economy

Economic globalization and income inequality: Winners and losers in the global economy.
Neoliberalism and austerity policies: Privatization, deregulation, and fiscal retrenchment.
Economic sanctions and trade wars: Coercive diplomacy, economic statecraft, and retaliatory measures.
Taxation policies and fiscal reforms: Progressive taxation, tax loopholes, and tax evasion.
Monetary policy and central banking: Interest rates, inflation targeting, and quantitative easing.
Economic development strategies: Import substitution vs. export-led growth.
Financial regulation and systemic risk: Too big to fail, shadow banking, and derivatives trading.
Labor market reforms and unemployment: Flexibility vs. job security.
Globalization and environmental degradation: Ecological footprints, carbon emissions, and ecological debt.
Economic nationalism and protectionism: Tariffs, trade barriers, and import substitution.

Political Psychology

Political socialization and civic education: Political attitudes, values, and behaviors.
Leadership psychology and political charisma: Personality traits, leadership styles, and public perception.
Group dynamics and political polarization: In-group bias, out-group hostility, and echo chambers.
Voter decision-making processes: Rational choice theory, heuristics, and cognitive biases.
Political identity formation: Party identification, ideological self-placement, and social identity theory.
Authoritarianism and political intolerance: Authoritarian personality traits, authoritarianism scale, and authoritarian populism.
Fear appeals and political persuasion: Fear mongering, threat perception, and message framing.
Emotion regulation and political behavior: Emotional intelligence, emotional contagion, and emotional labor.
Moral psychology and political ethics: Moral foundations theory , ethical dilemmas, and moral reasoning.
Social psychology of protest movements: Collective identity, group dynamics, and mobilization strategies.

Political science project topics encompass a diverse range of themes, from traditional subjects like comparative politics and international relations to emerging areas such as data-driven political analysis and identity politics.

By exploring these topics and employing rigorous methodologies, researchers can deepen our understanding of political phenomena, inform policy making, and contribute to positive social change.

As the field of political science continues to evolve, there is boundless potential for innovative research that addresses pressing challenges and advances knowledge in the pursuit of a more just and equitable world.

Step by Step Guide on The Best Way to Finance Car

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Political Science Research Topics Across All Fields

Politics – it's everywhere these days, from news headlines to heated dinner table discussions. But have you ever stopped to wonder why things work the way they do? Why do some countries have strong democracies while others struggle? Or how does social media influence elections? Political science is the academic discipline that dissects these complexities and equips us with the tools to understand the acquisition, distribution, and exercise of power.

In this article, we'll cover various political science research paper topics, from figuring out how fair elections work to exploring the hot-button issue of climate change and its impact on global politics. Whether you're tackling these topics or need help with your own analytical paper, our research paper help is here for you!

Political Science Research Topics: The List of 125 Best Picks

Check out our list of 125 great topics for political science research that offer a window into understanding how governments and societies operate. With these suggestions, you won't need to struggle to find a good project idea for your political science class.

Feeling Bogged Down by Writer's Block?

Let us nudge you in the right direction and help you nail your political theory essay!

Easy Political Science Research Topics

How do local governments manage public services?
The impact of political advertisements on voter behavior
What is the influence of political cartoons on public opinion?
The history and evolution of political parties in your country
How do political leaders use rhetoric to gain support?
The effect of political debates on election outcomes
How does voter turnout vary by age group?
The significance of political symbols and slogans
What are the causes and consequences of low voter turnout?
How much does social media contribute to political campaigns?
The relationship between politics and education policies
How do political protests shape policy changes?
The role of the judiciary in upholding democratic principles
How do political ideologies influence policy decisions?
The impact of youth participation in politics

Current Research Topics in Political Science

How is climate change shaping international relations?
The role of technology in modern governance
How do pandemics affect political stability?
The influence of global trade policies on national economies
How do authoritarian regimes use propaganda?
The impact of migration policies on international relations
How are digital currencies affecting global economies?
The role of international organizations in conflict resolution
How does fake news influence political outcomes?
The effectiveness of anti-corruption measures in different countries
How do populist movements affect democratic institutions?
The role of cybersecurity in national defense strategies
How do political sanctions influence international behavior?
The impact of social justice movements on political change
How do electoral reforms impact voter representation?

International Relations Political Science Research Topics

How do economic sanctions influence international relations?
The role of the United Nations in peacekeeping
How does globalization impact national sovereignty?
The influence of cultural diplomacy on international relations
How do international trade agreements affect global economies?
The impact of Brexit on European Union politics
How do nuclear weapons affect global security?
International law in resolving conflicts
How do international organizations address human rights violations?
The influence of foreign aid on developing countries
How do environmental policies shape international relations?
Terrorism on Global Political Stability
How do refugee crises affect international relations?
The role of military alliances in global politics
How does cyber warfare influence international relations?

Political Science Research Topics on Public Administration

Continuing our list of political science research paper topics, here are some good ideas regarding public administration:

The role of ethics in public administration
How do public policies address social inequality?
The impact of e-government on public services
How do public administrators manage emergency situations?
The effectiveness of public sector reforms
How do local governments implement public health policies?
The role of public administration in urban development
How do public administrators ensure transparency and accountability?
The impact of budget cuts on public services
How do public policies address climate change?
The role of public administration in disaster management
How do public administrators engage with communities?
The influence of political leadership on public administration
How do public administrators handle corruption?
The role of technology in modern public administration

Philosophy Political Science Research Topics

The philosophical foundations of democracy
How does political philosophy influence policy-making?
The concept of justice in political theory
How do different political ideologies define freedom?
The role of ethics in political decision-making
How does political philosophy address the issue of equality?
The influence of ancient political thought on modern politics
How do theories of power shape political systems?
The role of civic virtue in democratic societies
How do philosophical concepts of rights influence law?
The impact of social contract theory on modern governance
How does political philosophy address the concept of authority?
The role of individualism in political theory
How do different political philosophies view the role of the state?
The influence of feminist political theory on contemporary politics

Political Science Research Topics on Public Law

The impact of judicial review on public policy
How do constitutional amendments shape public law?
The role of the Supreme Court in protecting civil liberties
How do public laws address discrimination?
The influence of international law on domestic legal systems
How do public laws regulate freedom of speech?
The effectiveness of environmental laws in combating climate change
How do public laws protect consumer rights?
The role of public law in healthcare regulation
How do public laws address cybercrime?
The impact of public law on immigration policy
How do public laws ensure data privacy?
The role of public law in education policy
How do public laws address labor rights?
The influence of public law on criminal justice reform

Political Science Research Paper Topics on Comparative Politics

How do different electoral systems affect voter representation?
The role of political culture in shaping government policies
How do federal and unitary systems of government compare?
The impact of colonial history on contemporary politics
How do welfare states differ in their approaches to social security?
The role of political parties in different democratic systems
How do presidential and parliamentary systems compare?
The influence of religion on politics in different countries
How do authoritarian and democratic regimes differ in policy-making?
The impact of economic development on political stability
How do different countries address corruption?
The role of the media in shaping political opinions across countries
How do social movements influence political change in different contexts?
The impact of globalization on national politics
How do different countries handle minority rights?

Political Science Research Topics on Conflict Resolution

If you're interested in helping to end conflicts peacefully and promote reconciliation, these political science research topics are a great place to start.

The role of mediation in resolving international conflicts
How do peace treaties impact long-term stability?
The influence of cultural understanding in conflict resolution
How do international organizations facilitate conflict resolution?
The impact of economic sanctions on conflict resolution
How do grassroots movements contribute to peacebuilding?
The role of diplomacy in resolving territorial disputes
How do conflict resolution strategies differ in civil wars vs. international wars?
The effectiveness of truth and reconciliation commissions
How do psychological approaches aid in conflict resolution?
The role of gender in peace processes
How does media coverage influence conflict resolution efforts?
The impact of historical grievances on contemporary conflicts
How do power-sharing agreements contribute to peace?
The role of education in promoting conflict resolution skills

Government Research Paper Topics

The structure and functions of local government
How does federalism shape governance?
The role of government in economic development
How do governments address public health crises?
The impact of government policies on education
How do governments manage national security?
The role of government in environmental protection
How do governments handle social welfare programs?
The impact of government regulations on businesses
How do governments ensure public safety?
The role of government in housing policy
How do government policies address unemployment?
The influence of political lobbying on government decisions
How do governments balance budgets and public spending?
The role of government in disaster management

Political Theorists Research Topics

The contributions of John Locke to political thought
How did Karl Marx influence political theory?
The political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes
How did Jean-Jacques Rousseau shape modern democracy?
The impact of Niccolò Machiavelli's ideas on political strategy
How did Hannah Arendt's theories address totalitarianism?
The influence of John Stuart Mill on liberalism
How did Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy impact political theory?
The role of Alexis de Tocqueville in understanding democracy
How did Edmund Burke's ideas influence conservatism?
The contributions of Antonio Gramsci to political theory
How did Simone de Beauvoir's work influence feminist political thought?
The political philosophy of Immanuel Kant
How did W.E.B. Du Bois shape theories on race and politics?
The impact of Leo Strauss on contemporary political philosophy

Political Conflicts Research Topics

To understand and address past and ongoing political tensions effectively, consider these political science research paper topics:

The causes and consequences of the Syrian Civil War
How did the Cold War shape global politics?
The impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Middle Eastern politics
How did the Rwandan Genocide affect regional stability?
The role of ethnic tensions in the Yugoslav Wars
How do resource disputes lead to international conflicts?
The influence of political ideology on the Vietnam War
How did the American Civil War shape the United States?
The role of colonial history in African conflicts
How did the Kashmir conflict affect India-Pakistan relations?
The impact of the Irish Troubles on Northern Ireland
How did the Arab Spring lead to political conflicts?
The role of terrorism in contemporary political conflicts
How did the South China Sea dispute affect international relations?
The influence of historical grievances on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Democracy and Democratization Research Topics

The process of democratization in Eastern Europe
How do social movements promote democratization?
The role of international organizations in supporting democracy
How did the fall of the Soviet Union influence global democratization?
The impact of technology on democratic participation
How do electoral reforms strengthen democracy?
The role of civil society in democratization processes
How does economic development affect democratization?
The challenges of establishing democracy in post-conflict societies
How do political parties contribute to democratic consolidation?
The influence of education on democratic engagement
How do media freedoms support democratic governance?
The impact of corruption on democratization efforts
How do democratic transitions affect political stability?
The role of constitutional design in new democracies

Political Corruption Research Topics

The causes and consequences of political corruption
How does corruption affect economic development?
The role of anti-corruption agencies in fighting corruption
How does political corruption undermine democracy?
The impact of corruption on public trust in government
How do transparency measures reduce corruption?
The influence of political corruption on electoral outcomes
How does corruption affect foreign aid effectiveness?
The role of the media in exposing political corruption
How do whistleblower protections help combat corruption?
The impact of corruption on public service delivery
How does political patronage contribute to corruption?
The effectiveness of international anti-corruption initiatives
How does corruption affect environmental policies?
The role of civil society in fighting political corruption

Globalization and Politics Research Topics

These political science research paper topics are designed to help you address how global trends impact political dynamics around the world.

The impact of globalization on national sovereignty
How does globalization affect economic policies?
The role of international organizations in global governance
How does globalization influence cultural identity?
The impact of global trade on political relations
How does globalization affect labor markets?
The influence of multinational corporations on politics
How does globalization shape immigration policies?
The impact of global financial crises on political stability
How do global environmental issues affect international politics?
The role of technology in driving globalization
How does globalization impact social inequality?
The influence of global media on public opinion
How does globalization affect policy-making in developing countries?
The impact of global health issues on international relations

Political Ideologies Research Topics

The evolution of liberalism in modern politics
How does conservatism shape policy-making?
The impact of socialism on economic policies
How does libertarianism influence political debates?
The role of nationalism in contemporary politics
How does feminism shape political discourse?
The influence of anarchism on political movements
How does environmentalism impact policy decisions?
The role of communism in global politics
How does fascism manifest in modern political systems?
The impact of populism on democratic institutions
How does progressivism shape social policies?
The influence of religious ideologies on politics
How does multiculturalism affect political ideologies?
The role of political pluralism in democratic societies

Once you've chosen your topic, our political science essay writer is ready to craft a thorough research paper just for you!

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Don't let a complex topic hold you back. Our experts can craft exceptional papers on even the most heated political campaigns!

How to Choose a Political Science Research Topic

Good research essay topics should be interesting to YOU, specific enough to be manageable and allow you to find enough information to write a solid paper. Here are some tips to help you find topics for political science research paper that are both interesting and manageable:

Ask Questions: A good research topic is a big question you want to answer. What are the challenges of implementing campaign finance reform? How does a country's political system affect its economic growth? The more specific your question, the better.
Start with What Sparks You: Is there a current event that has you glued to the news? Maybe a debate in class left you wanting to know more? Research is way more fun when you're genuinely curious about the topic.
Talk to Your Professor: They're there to help! Discussing your interests with your professor can open doors to new ideas and resources you might not have considered.
Don't Be Afraid to Get Creative: Political science is not just stuffy old theories. Is there a political trend in pop culture you'd like to analyze? The possibilities are endless.
Think Specific: Broad topics like "democracy" are great for starting points, but to really dig in, you need to narrow it down. For example, you could discuss how social media impacts voter turnout in young people.

5 Do's and 5 Don'ts of Political Papers

Here are five do's and five don'ts to keep in mind when working on your political science topics for research.

Do's	Don'ts
This seems obvious, but it's key. Use credible sources like academic journals, government websites, and reputable news outlets. Don't just rely on Wikipedia.	Don't wait until the last minute to start writing. Break down the research and writing into smaller tasks to avoid a pre-deadline meltdown.
Clearly explain important concepts and terms to ensure your readers understand your argument.	Stay focused on your topic. While interesting side points might pop up, save them for another paper.
A clear structure makes your paper easy to follow. Typically, you'll have an introduction, a body with well-supported arguments, and a conclusion that ties everything together.	Even if you have a strong opinion, acknowledge opposing viewpoints and explain why your argument holds weight.
Present your arguments and evidence without personal bias. Balance your paper with different perspectives.	Avoid overly complex words and phrases. Explain complex concepts in a way that's easy to understand.
Proper citations show you've done your research and avoid plagiarism (copying someone else's work). Ask your professor about the preferred citation style (e.g., MLA, APA).	Always give credit to the original authors of your sources. Plagiarism can discredit your work and result in serious consequences.

Writing a political science paper can feel tough, but don't worry—you can do it! If you're wondering where to pay someone to write my paper , we're here to support you every step of the way.

What are Some Good Political Science Research Topics?

Which topic is best for research in political science, what type of research is done in political science.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

Political Science . (2017, July 5). International Association for Political Science Students. https://iapss.org/political-science/
‌ What is Political Science? | Department of Political Science | University of Washington . (n.d.). www.polisci.washington.edu . https://www.polisci.washington.edu/what-political-science

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100 Best Political Science Research Topics

June 3, 2024

Political science is an incredibly broad and variated discipline, containing numerous subfields that attract immense amounts of research. Researchers in the field can utilize diverse empirical or theoretical methodologies, sometimes in combination. There are specialized fields based on geographic areas, time periods, political forms and institutions, and bodies of thought. Researchers might aim to impact policy, inspire advocacy, or produce knowledge about the nature of political ideas, systems, and processes. There are even sub-disciplines that focus separately on either relations or comparisons between nation-states (international relations and comparative politics, respectively). Given this expansiveness, it can be challenging to quickly pick out compelling political science research topics.

This article provides a broad sample of political science topics. Most of the topics are already the subject of intensive research, which is ultimately something to look for when identifying a topic. Understanding the themes and subfields that already structure study in the field can ultimately help toward locating a unique research interest. From there, it’s a matter of refining interests into specific topics and, eventually, questions that drive research.

Picking Political Science Research Topics

Finding political science topics usually involves doing two things, sometimes simultaneously. The first requires understanding what prominent topics already exist in the field(s). After all, this discipline has been around for many decades, with incredible amounts of published research each year. It’s best to not try to wholly reinvent the wheel in this case, or risk selecting a topic for which there is no available research. The second entails reflecting on what feels important to research. A topic could be significant because it is remarkably timely or because there is some pragmatic outcome in mind. The researcher might even have a personal connection with the topic on top of these other kinds of factors. Pursuing research that feels important is an evergreen recommendation – otherwise, research can be produced without any clear purpose or benefit in mind.

So, when picking political science research topics, consider these processes and resources:

1) Start with what interests you. Take inventory of your personal and intellectual experiences and how they might intersect with what you know about political research. How would you map your experiences geographically or historically? What themes in the political sphere grab your attention? In what ways have you and others around you interacted with formal politics? Understanding what you are motivated to learn about makes the process of selecting among political science topics more organic.

Picking Political Science Research Topics (Cont.)

2) Consider what feels urgent. Political science has a good deal of overlap with the discipline of history. But perhaps even more than historians, political scientists are committed to understanding and improving politics in the present. A great deal of tremendous scholarship is sparked from this presentist impulse. What news items are persistently interesting or seem to revolve around intractably complex problems? A topic connected to widely recognized issues in the present will almost immediately justify the resulting research.

3) Survey field categories and literature. Usually, topics that are timely will already be drawing attention from other researchers. It’s also possible to spark curiosity through understanding how others have framed topics and questions. However, the most important reason for this step is to ensure that a research topic will have enough published writing around it to warrant attention. There are many ways to complete a survey within or across political science fields. To start, fields like comparative politics have field-specific journals and anthologies with useful descriptions and citations. There is the Journal of Comparative Politics , a journal called Comparative Political Studies , and a big anthology called Comparative Politics: A Practical Guide . Another extremely helpful resource is the research database known as Oxford Bibliographies . There, political science scholars compile bibliographic entries that define subfields and provide key citations.

Again, these are not strictly sequential steps. Often, it’s necessary to engage existing topics and research questions and use them to inspire reflection on what feels significant. Or it’s likely that specific interests will help delimit subfields, making it easier to comb through topics.

It’s important to narrow topics so that a researcher could reasonably become an expert on. In Oxford Bibliographies, many times they break very broad topics into multiple subtopics, each with its own body of literature. But it can also be useful to think about the research question that might stem from the broad topic. What specifically is it that needs to be known about this topic? What causes and effects are involved in phenomena we can see and describe but have not yet analyzed? Or what can be critiqued, evaluated, improved or replaced? Finding how a broad topic can lead to descriptive, analytical, or evaluative research questions is the most effective way to identify compelling and specific topics.

The List – Political Science Research Topics (1-30)

African politics.

1) African Ethnic, Linguistic, and Religious Minority Political Representation

2) Authoritarianism in the Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa

3) Comparative Political Structures of African Urban Governments

4) Democratization Policies and Political Movements in Africa

5) Ethnic and Religious Plurality in the Politics of Nigeria

6) National and Transnational LGBTQ Political Movements in Africa

7) Political Organization Around Climate Crises in Africa

8) Public Opinion on International NGOs in Africa

9) South Africa’s Governmental Policies for COVID Vaccination

10) Women in African Politics

Asian Politics

11) Competing Claims to Sovereignty in the South China Sea

12) Economic and Cultural Effects of China’s One-Child Policy

13) Labor Politics in China

14) Media Politics and Expression in Asian Countries

15) Nationalism and Religious Minorities in India

16) Philippine Politics and the Illicit Drug Economy

17) Social Movements in East Asia

18) South Korean Policies Addressing Demographic Decline

19) Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong

20) Youth Protest Movements in Taiwan

Comparative Politics

21) Authoritarian Populism in Brazil, Hungary, and India

22) Countries that Host Foreign-Owned Nuclear Weapons

23) Diasporas and National Politics in South and East Asian Countries

24) Differences in Environmental Politics Between the Global North and Global South

25) Elections in Sierra Leone and Their Differences from Other Countries

26) Governmental Responses to Gang Violence in Different Latin American Countries

27) Income Inequality in Advanced Democracies

28) Indigenous Rights and Politics in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand

29) Laws Surrounding Abortion in the U.S. and the U.K.

30) State Legitimacy and Authority in Botswana and Somalia

Political Science Topics (31-60)

European politics.

31) Authoritarianism and Media Politics in Turkey

32) Austerity, White Identity Politics, and Brexit

33) Ethnic and Religious Minority Representation in the European Union

34) European Public Opinion on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

35) Far-Right Political Mobilization in Europe

36) France’s Political Opposition to Multicultural Pluralism

37) Immigration, Islamophobia, and European Union Political Campaigns

38) Political Challenges and Opportunities for European Integration

39) Regime Transitions in Post-Communist Eastern Europe

40) Welfare State Development in Western Europe

International Relations

41) Border Security Politics, Immigration, and International Relations

42) Efficacy of International Criminal Justice Bodies

43) Energy Politics of International Relations

44) Global Economy of Illicit Drugs

45) Global Politics of Intellectual Property

46) International Conflict Management

47) International NGOs and Their Effects on National Politics

48) Political Responses to Transboundary Pollution

49) Preferential Trade Agreements and Tariff Wars

50) Regulation of International Private Corporations

Latin American Politics

51) Authoritarianism and Democratization in Brazil’s Political History

52) Christian Transnational Political Mobilization in Latin America

53) Electoral Volatility and Suppression in Venezuela

54) Government Responses to Organized Crime in Mexico and Central America

55) Guerilla Insurgencies in Latin America

56) Neoliberalism and Democracy in Latin America

57) Military Government in Latin America, 1959-1990

58) Populism’s Role in Shaping Latin American Politics

59) Poverty, Inequality, and Development in Latin America

60) Regional Economic, Political, and Cultural Integration in Latin America

Political Science Research Topics (61-90)

Methodology.

61) Accuracy and Reliability of Models Predicting Election Outcomes

62) Applying Game Theory to Understand Political Strategies

63) Development of Survey Methods and Research

64) Ethical Problems Surrounding the Use of Experiments in Political Research

65) Experimental Methods for Promoting Voter Turnout

66) Impact of Survey Design and Sampling Techniques on Validity in Public Opinion Polls

67) Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Political Research

68) Machine Learning Techniques and Political Science

69) Researching Politics Through Big Data

70) Using Ethnography to Study Political Behavior and Institutions

Middle Eastern Politics

71) Comparative Politics of the Middle East and North Africa

72) Democracy, Statehood, and the Israel-Palestine Peace Process

73) Immigrant Labor Politics in Oil-Rich Middle East Countries

74) Mobilization and Oppression Through Media Control in the Arab Spring

75) Oil Wealth, Political Stability, and Economic Development in the Middle East

76) Political Islam, National, and International Politics in the Middle East

77) Postcolonialism and the Political Development of Iran

78) S. Foreign Policy and Its Effects on Stability and Governance in the Middle East

79) Women’s Political Participation in the Middle East and North Africa

80) Water Politics and Their Impact on Middle Easter International Relations and Security

Political Theory

81) Critical Political Theory and the Frankfurt School

82) Development of Political Thought in Ancient China

83) Effects of New Media (i.e., TVs, CDs, social messaging platforms) in Politics

84) Feminist Interventions in Political Thought

85) Hegelian and Counter-Hegelian Political Thought

86) Intersectionality in Political Theory

87) Nationalist and Cosmopolitan Political Thought

88) Religion in Classical and Contemporary Political Thought

89) Political Representation and Policy Responsiveness to Public Opinion

90) Postcolonial and Decolonial Political Theory

Political Science Topics (91-100)

U.s. politics.

91) Age and Generational Differences in U.S. Politics

92) Asian American Politics and Political Movements

93) Campaign Advertising in U.S. Elections

94) Celebrity Influence on Political Campaigns in the U.S.

95) Interest Groups and Modern U.S. Conservativism

96) Litigation Strategies in Political Contests Over Abortion

97) Politics of Electoral Redistricting in the U.S.

98) Politics of U.S. Healthcare System and Reform

99) S. Politics and Policies of Mass Incarceration

100) Voter Opinion on Women Political Candidates

Final Thoughts on Political Science Research Topics

Political science topics are rarely one-size-fits-all. Like many humanistic and other modes of research, topics typically suit the specific interests and motivations of the researcher. Do you want to improve a method or practical process? Are you interested in the politics of a specific region, or motivated to learn about something especially urgent? Where is the conversation within or across fields, and where might you have the most to contribute? Combining careful self-assessment and knowledge of research fields is the best way to effectively carve out your own chunk of the gigantic discipline that is political science.

Political Science Research Topics – Additional Resources

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The Top 10 Most Interesting Political Science Research Topics

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

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

Find your bootcamp match

What makes a strong political science research topic.

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

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

Tips for Choosing a Political Science Research Topic

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

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

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

How to Create Strong Political Science Research Questions

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

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

2. Influence of Social Movements and Advocacy Groups on Policymaking

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

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

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

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

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

4. Prosperity and Equality Through Public Policy

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

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

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

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

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

7. The Role of Government in Providing Affordable Healthcare

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

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

8. Mitigating Cyber Breaches And Security Challenges Through Policymaking

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

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

9. Harnessing Data for Good Governance

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

10. Regulating Disinformation In the United States Through Public Policy

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

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

Political Science Research Questions

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

Choosing the Right Political Science Research Topic

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

Political Science Research Topics FAQ

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

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

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

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

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South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal

Home Thematic Issues 3 Studying Elections in India: Scie...

Studying Elections in India: Scientific and Political Debates

Election studies (which are here defined as scholarly work focusing on the major phases of the electoral process, i.e. the campaign, the vote, the announcement of results and subsequent government formation) constitute a distinct sub-genre of studies on democracy, which focuses, so to speak, on the ‘mechanics’ more than on the ‘substance’ of representative democracy. This sub-genre, being relatively more visible than other studies of representative democracy, has specific implications, in the academic but also in the political arena, which are the focus of this critical review of the literature on Indian elections since the 1980s. The paper argues that election studies are really in between science and politics, and that it is important, therefore, to contextualize them.

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Keywords: .

1 Studying elections in the largest democracy in the world is bound to be a challenge: given the size of the country and of its population, Indian national elections have been the largest electoral exercise in the world ever since the first national elections in 1952. Moreover the cultural, linguistic, ethnic and religious diversity of the Indian society, as well as the federal nature of the Indian state, make this event a particularly complex one. What, then, have been the methodologies and approaches deployed to study this major political event? What have been the disciplines and foci of election studies? Who have been the main authors? In what form have these studies been publicized, and what type of readership have they targeted? Reading the available literature with these questions in mind, I have tried to identify some major shifts over time, and to grasp their meaning and implications; a few interviews with specialists of the field have allowed me to test some of the interpretations suggested by the readings. Through a review of the literature on Indian elections since the 1980s, this paper aims at mapping the scientific and political debates around election studies.

1 Most works considered here deal with national elections, but some of them also focus on state elect (...)
2 I owe this formulation to Amit Prakash, whose comments on a previous version of this paper were ver (...)

2 Election studies are here defined as scholarly work focusing on the major phases of the electoral process, i.e. the campaign, the vote, the announcement of results and subsequent government formation. 1 This is a restrictive definition: elections are obviously a central institution of representative democracy, and as such they are connected to every aspect of the polity. Yet election studies constitute a distinct sub-genre of studies on democracy, which focuses, so to speak, on the ‘mechanics’ more than on the ‘substance’ of representative democracy. 2 This sub-genre, being relatively more visible than other studies of representative democracy, has specific implications, in the academic but also in the political arena, which will be the focus of this critical review. This paper will argue that election studies are really in between science and politics, and that it is important, therefore, to contextualize them.

3 The paper starts with a quick overview of the different types of election studies which have been produced on India, and goes on to analyze a series of dilemmas and debates attached to election studies, which highlight the intricate nature of the political and scientific issues at stake.

The study of Indian elections: an overview

4 At least three previous reviews of election studies have been realized, by Narain (1978), Brass (1985), and Kondo (2007). Both Narain and Kondo provide a fairly exhaustive list of publications in this field, and discuss their relevance and quality. Brass’ review also offers a detailed discussion of the advantages and limitations of ecological approaches, to which I will later return.

5 There is no need to repeat this exercise here. But in view of situating the debates described in the next section of the paper, I simply want to sketch a broad typology of election studies published since the late 1980s—a moment which can be considered as the emergence of the new configuration of the Indian political scene, characterized by (i) the importance of regional parties and regional politics; (ii) the formation of ruling coalitions at the national and regional levels; and (iii) the polarization of national politics around the Congress, the BJP, and the ‘third space’.

6 All three reviews of the literature highlight the diversity of disciplines, methods, authors, institutions, and publication support of studies of Indian elections. But a major dividing line appears today between case studies and survey research (which largely match a distinction between qualitative and quantitative studies), with a number of publications, however, combining elements of both.

Case studies

7 Case studies analyze elections from the vantage point of a relatively limited political territory, which can be the village (for instance Somjee 1959), the city (or, within the city, the mohalla , the basti ), the constituency, the district, or the state. The major discipline involved in this type of research has been political science. Indeed elections have been the object par excellence of political science worldwide. In India as elsewhere, as we will see below, election studies reveal characteristic features of this relatively recent discipline, insofar as they embody some tensions between science and politics.

3 Another example is a study of parliamentary and state elections in a village in Orissa at the end o (...)

8 Paul Brass developed the case study method in the course of his long interest for politics in Uttar Pradesh. His monograph on the 1977 and 1980 elections focuses on Uttar Pradesh (he justifies this choice saying that this election was largely decided in North India). His research is based on fieldwork in five selected constituencies whose ‘electoral history’ is minutely recalled. Here the choice of the unit of analysis is linked to pedagogical considerations: ‘Each constituency chosen illustrates a different aspect of the main social conflicts that have been prominent in UP politics’, he writes (Brass 1985: 175). Indeed in the case study approach, the detailed observation of elections in a particular area aims at uncovering processes and dynamics which are relevant for a much wider territory. 3

4 In the early years of independent India, the Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR) com (...)
5 One must note that among the various disciplines producing case studies, anthropology uses the larg (...)

9 Beside political science, anthropology has also approached elections in a manner close to case studies. 4 But anthropological studies are usually focused on a more limited political territory (typically, the village), and more importantly, they are centered on a questioning of the meaning of the electoral process 5 for voters: why do people vote? More precisely, why do they bother, what is the meaning of voting for them? Thus anthropologists often focus on the symbolic dimension of elections:

From this [symbolic] perspective, democracy is really an untrue but vitally important myth in support of social cohesion, with elections as its central and regular ritual enactment that helps maintain and restore equilibrium (Banerjee 2007: 1556).

10 Taking the ritual as a central metaphor in their accounts of elections, anthropologists help us see the various ‘ceremonies’ and ‘performances’ that constitute the electoral process:

To define [the] cultural qualities of Indian democracy, it is important to view the ritual of the election process through four consecutive ceremonies [:] Party endorsement […], the actual campaign […], the day of polling [and the] public announcement [of winners] (Hauser & Singer 1986: 945).

11 On the basis of their observations of two elections in Bihar in the 1980s, Hauser and Singer define the electoral process as a ‘cycle’. They describe the successive phases of this cycle, and draw parallels with religious rituals, noting for instance that the electoral process involves a series of processions. Their likening of the electoral campaign to a ‘pilgrimage’ manifesting the ‘inversion of power from the hands of the politicians back to the hands of the voters’ (Hauser & Singer 1986: 947) goes a long way in explaining the festive dimension of Indian elections.

12 Anthropological studies of elections also clearly show how elections precipitate, or at least highlight, otherwise latent political dynamics. The long fieldwork characteristic of the discipline makes it possible to concretely demonstrate how elections render visible otherwise subtle, if not invisible, relationships of influence:

[…] election day was when the complexity of the village’s social life was distilled into moments of structure and clarity, when diffuse tensions and loyalties were made unusually manifest (Banerjee 2007: 1561).

13 For Banerjee, who studied politics from the standpoint of a village in West Bengal, an election is a celebration in two ways: (i) it is a festive social event; (ii) it involves a sense of democracy as sacred. Therefore she understands ‘elections as sacred expressions of citizenship’ (Banerjee 2007: 1561).

14 For all their evocative strength, one can regret that anthropological studies of Indian elections deal mostly with villages and with traditional electoral practices. However one must also note that elections elsewhere have attracted even less attention from anthropologists. Indeed, a recent issue of Qualitative Sociology deplored that ‘at a time when few, if any, objects are beyond the reach and scrutiny of ethnographers, it is quite surprising that politics and its main protagonists (state officials, politicians and activists) remain largely un(der)studied by ethnography’s mainstream’ (Auyero 2006: 257).

Other approaches

15 A number of articles and books on Indian elections combine different methodological approaches. Thus some of Banerjee’s conclusions are shared by the political scientists Ahuja and Chibber ( n.d. ), in an interesting study combining quantitative and qualitative methods ( i.e. election surveys (1989-2004) and a series of focus group discussions) in three large Indian states. In order to understand the particular pattern of electoral turnout described by Yadav as characteristic of the ‘second democratic upsurge’ (Yadav 2000), Ahuja and Chibber identify three broad social groups, defined by three distinct ‘interpretations’ of voting. They argue that ‘differences in the voting patterns of opposite ends of the social spectrum exist because each group interprets the act of voting differently’. Thus the act of voting is considered as a ‘right’ by the groups who are on the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum—the ‘marginalized’; as an ‘instrument […] to gain access to the state and its resources’ by those in the middle of that spectrum—the ‘State’s clients’; and as ‘civic duty’ by those at the top—‘the elite’ (Ahuja & Chibber 2009: 1-9).

6 One must also mention the ‘Chronicle of an Impossible Election’— i.e. the 2002 Assembly election in (...)

16 Among the ‘other approaches’ of elections, one also finds a number of monographs devoted to a single election 6 . For instance Myron Weiner’s study of the 1977 election constitutes an interesting, contemporary account of the beginning of the end of Congress dominance over Indian politics, with the first part devoted to the campaign and the second part to the analysis of results, on the basis on a medley of methods typical of political science:

In four widely scattered cities – Bombay […], Calcutta, Hyderabad, and New Delhi […]—[the author] talked to civil servants, candidates, campaign workers, newspaper editors, and people in the streets, attended campaign rallies and visited ward offices, collected campaign literature, listened to the radio, and followed the local press (Weiner 1978: 21)

17 In the 1990, a series of collective volume were published on parliamentary elections (for instance Roy & Wallace 1999). Often based on aggregate data such as those published by the Election Commission of India, they offer a series of papers that are interpretative, speculative, critical in nature.

7 This is in sharp contrast with France, where electoral geographers such as André Siegfried have bee (...)

18 I have found one single book of electoral geography (Dikshit 1993), 7 which presents election results (crossed with census data) as a series of maps. This particular method highlights unexpected regional contrasts and similarities, which stimulates the production of explanatory hypotheses.

8 This inventory of ‘ other’ election studies, that is, studies of elections that fall neither in the (...)

19 Finally, a recent book by Wendy Singer (2007) makes a case for an application of social history to elections. Going through a large material relating to elections (national, state, local) from 1952 to the 1990s, she shows how some details of the electoral process reveal important social changes over time. 8

20 The gathering of the above mentioned writings in a single, residual category is not meant to suggest that they are less effective than case studies or survey research in describing and explaining elections. On the contrary, the variety of methodologies that they mobilize shows the richness of elections as an object of scientific enquiry. But these studies eschew the strong methodological choices which define the other two categories and which point to the political stakes specific to election studies.

Survey research

21 Survey research has been dominating election studies since the 1990s for a variety of reasons. I will here use Yadav’s definition of this particular method:

[…] a technique of data gathering in which a sample of respondents is asked questions about their political preferences and beliefs to draw conclusions about political opinions, attitudes and behavior of a wider population of citizens (Yadav 2008: 5).

9 Eric Da Costa founded the Journal of Public Opinion .

10 The CSDS was meant, in Kothari’s own words: ‘One, to give a truly empirical base to political scien (...)
11 The CSDS did not even study the 1977 election, on which we fortunately have Myron Weiner’s monograp (...)

22 Survey research exemplifies the close relationship between the media and political science. It was introduced in India in the late 1950s by an economist turned journalist, Eric Da Costa, considered ‘the father of opinion polling in India’ (Butler et al. 1995: 41), 9 who went on to work with the Indian Institute of Public Opinion (IIPO) created in 1956—but it was political scientists such as Bashiruddin Ahmed, Ramashray Roy and Rajni Kothari who gave it a scientific grounding. In his Memoirs (2002), Kothari recalls how he went to Michigan University—which had developed an expertise in psephology, i.e. the statistical analysis of elections - to get trained in survey research. When he came back to India, Kothari applied this new method in his work at the Delhi-based Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), which he had founded a few years earlier, in 1963. 10 The first election to which he applied this newly acquired expertise was the Kerala state election in 1965 (Lokniti team 2004: 5373). The CSDS team then went on to study general elections in 1967, 1971 and 1980, but it seems to have progressively lost interest for election studies—hence the gap between this first series 11 and the new series which started in 1996—in a new political context, as we will see further.

23 The renaissance, so to speak, of electoral surveys, came from another academic turned journalist: Prannoy Roy. An economist by training, Roy learnt survey research in the United Kingdom. After coming back to India in the early 1980s, he applied this method to Indian elections. He co-produced a series of volumes, with Butler and Lahiri, he conducted a series of all India opinion polls for the magazine India Today, but more importantly in 1998 he founded a new television channel, New Delhi Television (NDTV) on which he anchored shows devoted to the statistical analysis of elections—thus popularizing psephology.

12 The CSDS entered into a stable partnership with the new channel six months before it went on air, w (...)

24 The link between these two pioneering institutions of psephology, CSDS and NDTV, was provided by Yogendra Yadav, a young political scientist who was brought from Chandigarh University to the CSDS by Rajni Kothari. Yadav revived the data unit of the CSDS and went on to supervise an uninterrupted series of electoral studies which have been financially supported and publicized by the print media, but also by NDTV. Yadav’s expertise, his great ability to explain psephological analyses both in English and Hindi, made him a star of TV shows devoted to elections, first on NDTV, and then on the channel co-founded by the star anchor Rajdeep Sardesai after he left NDTV: CNN-IBN. 12 In 1995, the CSDS team around Yogendra Yadav created Lokniti, a network of scholars based in the various Indian states, working on democracy in general and on elections in particular. The Lokniti network has been expanding both in sheer numbers and in terms of disciplines, and it has consistently observed elections since 1996.

25 In a landmark volume published in 1995 by Roy along with two other scholars, David Butler and Ashok Lahiri, the authors had made a strong statement in favour of psephology, even while acknowledging its limits: ‘This book […] offers the ‘What?’ of the electoral record; it does not deal with the ‘Why?’’ (Butler et al. 1995: 4). In this regard, the CSDS data unit has strived, from 1996 onwards, to improve its data gathering in order to capture more of the ‘Why?’, i.e. to capture with increasing accuracy the electoral behaviour of Indians and its explanatory factors. More generally, it has aimed ‘to use elections as an occasion or as a window to making sense of trends and patterns in democratic politics’ (Lokniti Team 2004: 5373).

13 The ‘notes on elections’ published in Electoral Studies favour a strongly institutional perspective (...)

26 The CSDS election studies have also been published in academic supports such as the Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) in India, or Electoral Studies on the international level 13 , and they have been used by a large number of academic works in political sociology (for instance Jaffrelot (2008) on the vote of the urban middle classes). Recently, the Lokniti network has published a series of state election studies in Hindi and in English, with academic publishing houses (Mohan 2009, Shastri 2009).

Scientific and political debates

27 Debates around the study of Indian elections involve political and scientific arguments which are sometimes difficult to disentangle. These debates underline that no method is politically neutral, and they illustrate the particularly problematic relationship of one discipline, political science, with the political sphere and with the media.

Scientific dilemmas

28 The opposition between case studies and survey research can be broken into a series of dilemmas and choices.

29 The first dilemma concerns the most relevant unit of analysis: should one privilege width or depth? The central difficulty here is often to combine feasibility and relevance. In his introduction to a series of case studies done in the 1960s and 1970s, Shah writes:

A major limitation of the survey method is its inability to capture the influence of local politics on the electoral behavior of small communities. A questionnaire administered to individual voters can elicit information about individual attitudes and opinions but cannot capture the larger reality of events involving a collectivity of individuals acting over a longer period of time. A fieldworker who knows the community is better equipped to capture that reality (Shah 2007: 12).

14 Both Brass (1985) and Palshikar (2007) make a forceful argument in favour of taking the constituenc (...)

30 As we saw, case studies, focusing on a limited area, 14 do offer historical depth, for example in Brass (1985). The anthropological brand of case studies also offers ‘cultural’ depth, through a wealth of concrete details which suggest the multiple meanings of elections for voters. However survey research allows generalizations; and it contextualizes results by identifying patterns, linked to regions or social groups.

31 The second dilemma concerns quantitative vs. qualitative methods. This opposition cannot be reduced to the use of figures vs. words. While many case studies involve some quantified description of the vote, they are deeply qualitative in nature, insofar as they aim at uncovering the qualities of particular political trajectories—of a community, a party, a constituency, a state etc. Survey research on the contrary aims at revealing general patterns. Here again the question of feasibility is central: while surveys are expensive, case studies are time intensive.

15 For instance, the first National Election Study, conducted by the CSDS in 1967, did not take women (...)

32 An important dimension of that dilemma relates, again, to the capacity of these two types of methods to capture the meaning of elections for voters. Survey research, functioning with closed questions, conveys only the meanings that the survey design has anticipated, and risks perpetuating the prejudices of its authors. 15 By contrast, qualitative methods such as open interviews and direct observation are more likely to bring out unexpected interpretations.

33 However one large consensus appears to bridge the divide between survey research a la CSDS and case studies: the ‘ecological’ approach is preferred to the ‘strategic’ approach of elections. Ecological analyses ‘correlate electoral with other kind of aggregate data’ (Brass 1985: 3). They focus on ‘the sociological characteristics of voters, which determine the construction of their representation of politics and their social solidarity’ (Hermet et al. 2001: 31), whereas the ‘economical’ or strategic approach is based on methodological individualism and the problematic of the rational voter. Already in 1985 Paul Brass argued that ‘ecological analyses had a ‘useful place in India electoral studies’ ( ibid )—indeed he expanded on their advantages and limitations, through a detailed discussion of the methodological issues arising from the difficulty of relating electoral and census data, and of the technical solutions found by a number of works which he reviewed.

34 The evolution of National Election Studies (NES) conducted by the CSDS since 1996 shows an attempt to develop increasingly ecological types of analysis, by introducing more and more variables in their considerations. Indeed the latest surveys come close to meeting the advantages of ecological approaches as explained by Brass: ‘Identifying the underlying structural properties of party systems, […] presenting time series data to discover trends in voting behaviour, […] identifying distinctive regional contexts in which voting choices occur, and […] discovering unthought of relationships through the manipulation of available data’ (Brass 1985: 4).

35 A recent exception vis-à-vis this consensus is Kanchan Chandra’s work on ‘ethnic voting’ (Chandra 2008), which analyses electoral mobilization as a mode of negotiation used by marginal groups. Chandra argues that the poorer groups in India use their vote as ‘their primary channel of influence’. In a description of ‘elections as auctions’, she argues that the ‘purchasing power of small groups of voters’ depends ‘upon the degree to which electoral contests are competitive’ (Chandra 2004: 4). Her interpretation of the relatively high turnout in Indian elections, even as one government after the other fails the poor, is a materialist one:

16 Emphasis mine. When survival goods are allotted by the political market rather than as entitlements, voters who need these goods have no option but to participate. […] Voters do not themselves have control over the distribution of goods. But by voting strategically and voting often, they can increase their chances of obtaining these goods (Chandra 2004: 5). 16

Academic rivalries

36 The above dilemmas are extremely widespread, but in the Indian context they also correspond, to some extent, to academic rivalries between scholars and institutions, which might explain their persistence over time.

17 The debate on the scientific legitimacy of survey research as opposed to more theoretical, or more (...)
18 The preference for qualitative methods actually extends to other disciplines among social sciences (...)
19 In this regard, Mukherji’s account of State elections in the early 1980s in a constituency of West (...)

37 One can identify, to start with, an implicit rivalry between political science and psephology—even though the latter can be considered as a sub-discipline of the former. 17 A few texts, but also interviews, reveal a mutual distrust, both in scientific and political terms. Indian political science values theoretical work more than empirical research; qualitative more than quantitative methods; 18 politically, it favours a radical critique of the political system. 19 Survey research, of course, is essentially empirical, quantitative and ‘status quoist’. Yogendra Yadav thus sums up the situation that prevailed in the late 1980s:

The label ‘ survey research’ stood for what was considered most inappropriate in the third world imitation of American science of politics: it was methodologically naïve, politically conservative and culturally inauthentic (Yadav 2008: 3).

38 Even today, quantitative methods, which are much fashionable in American (and more lately in French) political science, are hardly taught in the political science curriculum of Indian universities. Thus Kothari’s endeavour to launch a ‘so-called ‘new political science’’ in the CSDS in the 1960s—this was the time of the behaviorist revolution in social sciences—was a lonely one. He describes this ambition thus:

[It] was mainly based on the empirical method leading to detailed analytical understanding of the political processes […] The ‘ people’ came within that framework, as voters and citizens with desires, attitudes and opinions; our task as academics was to build from there towards a macro-theory of democracy, largely through empirical surveys of political behavior (by and large limited to electoral choices) but also through broader surveys of social and political change (Kothari 2002: 60-61).

39 This project actually seems to be realized through the Lokniti network which links the CSDS data unit with a number of colleges or universities across the country (and thus contributes to training an increasingly large number of students who are then hired as investigators for National and State Election studies).

40 As far as the political agenda of survey research is concerned, Yadav makes a passionate plea for ‘transfer as transformation’ (Yadav 2008: 16) i.e. for an adaptation of survey research to the political culture of countries of the global South, with a double objective: (i) to make survey research more relevant scientifically; (ii) to use it as a politically empowering device, that is ‘[…] to ensure that subaltern and suppressed opinions are made public’ (Yadav 2008: 18).

41 Much of the latent opposition between psephologists and other political scientists is probably due to the disproportionate visibility of psephologists when compared to other social scientists working on elections. But the close connection between psephology and the media is a double edged sword. On the one hand, it offers researchers a much needed financial support:

Some of the leading media publications like the Hindu, India Today, Frontline and the Economist supported [National Election Studies] between 1996 and 1999 (Lokniti team 2004: 5375).

20 Thus in spite of the continuing efforts of NES to improve its methods, it failed to accurately pred (...)

42 On the other hand, it forces them to engage with the scientifically dubious, and economically risky, exercise of predicting results, 20 or explaining them immediately after their publication. However, the consistent transparency and critical self-appraisal of surveys conducted by the CSDS goes a long way in asserting their scientific credibility:

Within India, the NES series has sought to distinguish itself from the growing industry of pre-election opinion polls […] The difficulties of obtaining independent support for NES made the Lokniti group turn to media support which in turn required the group to carry out some pre-election opinion polls and even exit polls linked to seats forecast. The experiment yielded mixed results, some reasonably accurate forecasts along with some embarrassing ones (Lokniti team 2004: 5380)

21 See, for instance, Lokniti Team 2004, in which the methodological flaws and evolutions (in terms of (...)

43 A more explicit and constructive debate has been taking place, lately, between psephology and anthropology. Notwithstanding his refusal to ‘participate in methodological crusades on social sciences’ (Yadav 2008: 4), Yadav has consistently sought to situate, explain, improve and diffuse his brand of survey research on elections 21 . His call for a ‘dialogue’, elaborated upon by Palshikar (‘how to integrate the methods and insights of field study and survey research’ 2007: 25) has been answered by Mukulika Banerjee, who is currently directing, along with Lokniti, an unprecedented project of Comparative Electoral Ethnography, which aims at ‘bringing together the strengths of large-scale and local-level investigations’ ( www.lokniti.org/comparative_electoral_ethnography.html accessed in May 2009) .

Political issues

44 One can distinguish three types of relationship between elections studies and politics, which correspond to three distinct, if related, questions. Firstly, how do elections studies meet the need of political actors? Secondly, to what extent are they an offshoot of American political science? And thirdly, what representation of democracy do they support?

45 Firstly, the development of survey research is directly linked to Indian political life:

In the 1950s there were virtually no market research organizations in India. The dominance of the Congress diminished any incentive to develop political polls (Butler et al . 1995: 41).

46 At the time of the second non-Congress government at the Centre (1989-1991), political parties started commissioning surveys which they used to build their electoral strategy (Rao 2009). Indian elections have been decided at the state level since the 1990s, and the proliferation of national pre-poll survey from the 1991 election onwards can be linked to the uncertainty of the electoral results in a context of increasing assertion of regional parties (Rao 2009). The fact that the CSDS resumed its elections series in 1996 is doubtlessly linked to the transformations that have been characterizing the Indian political scene since the beginning of that decade. The rise to power of the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh and its emergence in other North Indian states, and more generally the fragmentation of political representation, with new parties representing increasingly smaller social groups, has made it increasingly necessary to know who votes for which party in which state—and why.

47 Furthermore the decentralization policy adopted in 1992 has generated a lot of interest both from actors and observers of Indian politics. Today the newfound interest for ethnographic, locally rooted types of election studies may well have to do with the fact that the national scale is increasingly challenged as the most relevant one to understand Indian politics.

48 Secondly, a more covert, but no less important aspect of the debate relates to what could be roughly called the ‘Western domination’ of survey research. Methods have been learnt by leading Indian figures in the United States or in the United Kingdom (even in the 2000s, CSDS members get trained in the summer school in survey research in Michigan University). Authors are often American (or working in the American academia). Funding often involves foreign funding agencies.

22 This problem is not restricted to survey research alone: thus Mitra evokes the ‘Americanisation of (...)
23 Linz, Stepan and Yadav 2007 represents a good example of the changing status of the Indian case in (...)

24 See Fauvelle 2008.

49 More importantly, the key concepts of survey research are often drawn from the rich field of American election studies, 22 and particularly from behaviourism, a school of thought which is rejected by part of the Indian academia. Lastly, the general (and often implicit) reference to which the Indian scenario is compared is actually the United States and Western Europe. On the one hand, these comparative efforts 23 testify to the fact that India is not an outsider any more as far as democracies are concerned. On the other hand, one can regret an excessive focus, in comparisons, on the West, insofar as it skews the assessment of the Indian case (for instance the Indian pattern of voter turnout, which is qualified as ‘exceptional’ by Yadav because it breaks from the trend observed in North America and Western Europe, might appear less so if it was compared, say, to post-Apartheid South Africa). 24

50 Thirdly, all election studies support a (more or less implicit) discourse on Indian democracy; they can always be read as a ‘state of democracy report’ (Jayal 2006). In this regard, one of the criticisms addressed to psephological studies is that their narrow focus tends to convey a rosy picture, since elections are usually considered as ‘free and fair’ in the Indian democracy, which is often qualified as ‘procedural’, i.e. which conforms to democratic procedures (regular elections and political alternance, a free press) but not to democratic values (starting with equality). The sheer magnitude of the logistics involved in conducting national elections is bound to evoke admiring appraisals, which tend to obliterate the limits of procedural democracy. Thus Jayal criticizes the ‘the fallacy of electoralism’:

The scholars who subscribe to the limited, proceduralist view of democracy, are generally buoyant about Indian democracy... Their analyses emphatically exclude the many social and economic inequalities that make it difficult for even formal participation to be effective (Jayal 2001: 3).

51 Moreover the huge costs involved in conducting sample surveys on ever larger samples imply that the funders—which include the media—can put pressure on the team conducting the survey. And one can see two reasons why survey research is so media friendly: one, its (supposed) ability to predict results makes it an indispensable component of the horse-race, entertaining aspect of elections; two, it contributes to the ‘feel good’ factor as it shows, election after election, that the turnout is high and that results are unpredictable; it thus gives credit to the idea of democratic choice.

52 To this positive assessment, some Indian political scientists oppose the more critical vision offered by case studies of Indian politics focusing not on the mainstream, but on the margins. Here anthropology offers a way out, since the informed perspective of the long time fieldworker allows a simultaneous perception of the mainstream and of the margins. Thus the works of Hauser and Singer or that of Banerjee, offering a minute description of the various ‘ceremonies’ that together constitute the election process from the vantage point of voters, highlight both the empowering and the coercive dimensions of voting. Their studies suggest that when it comes to elections, the relationship between celebration and alienation is a very subtle one.

53 Elections are a complex, multi-dimensional social and political event which can be captured only through a variety of methods: this literature review underlines how the different approaches complete each other and are therefore equally necessary. While Indian election studies, at least at the national and state levels, have been dominated, since the 1990s, by survey research, the Lokniti based project of ‘Comparative Electoral Ethnography’ should contribute to restoring some balance between various types of studies. Also, academic debates around the scientific and political implications and limitations of election studies seem to lead to a convergence: while questionnaire-based surveys evolve towards a finer apprehension of the opinions and attitudes of Indian voters, anthropological studies strive to overcome the limitations of fieldwork based on a single, limited area.

25 For instance anthropological studies tend to focus on the short period comprised between the beginn (...)

54 One can regret that studies of Indian elections, by all disciplines, tend to focus exclusively on the vote, which certainly is a climactic moment of the electoral process, but by no means the only interesting one. 25 Indeed a recent attempt by the CSDS team to understand participation beyond voting, in order to qualify the ‘second democratic upsurge’ (Yadav 2000) through a state wise analysis of the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, suggests that a broader definition of the electoral process might significantly contribute to solving the ‘puzzle of Indian democracy’ (Chibber & Petrocik 1989, Lijphart 1996). They conclude that ‘comparison across social sections shows that a broader entry of the underprivileged into the political arena is much more limited, even today, than the entry of the more privileged social sections’ (Palshikar & Kumar 2004: 5414). The complementarities of different approaches are here glaring: ethnographic work is much needed to understand the implications of the fact that ‘over the years there is a steady increase in the number of people who participated in election campaign activity’ (Palshikar & Kumar 2004: 5415).

55 One wishes also that anthropological studies of future elections deal not only with the traditional elements of voting (the campaign procession, the inking of the finger etc.), but also with newer elements of the process: what has been the impact of the model code of conduct, or of the increasing use of SMS and internet in the campaign, on electoral rituals? What about the collective watching of TV shows focusing on elections, both before and after the results are known?

56 Finally, at a time when election surveys have acquired an unprecedented visibility, due to their relationship with the mass media, one can only lament the absence of rigorous studies on the role of the media, both print and audio-visual, in funding, shaping and publicizing election studies.

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Chandra, Kanchan (2008) ‘Why voters in patronage democracies split their tickets: Strategic voting for ethnic parties’, Electoral Studies , 28, pp. 21-32.

Chhibber, Pradeep; Petrocik, John R.K. (1989) ‘The Puzzle of Indian Politics: Social Cleavages and the Indian Party System’, British Journal of Political Science , 19(2), pp. 191-210.

Dikshit, S.K. (1993) Electoral Geography of India, With Special Reference to Sixth and Seventh Lok Sabha Elections , Varanasi: Vishwavidyalaya Prakashan.

Eldersveld, Samuel; Ahmed, Bashiruddin (1978) Citizens and Politics: Mass Political Behaviour in India , Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Fauvelle-Aymar, Christine (2008) ‘Electoral turnout in Johannesburg: Socio-economic and Political Determinants’, Transformation, Critical Perspectives on Southern Africa , 66/67, pp. 142-67.

Hauser, Walter; Singer, Wendy (1986) ‘The Democratic Rite: Celebration and Participation in the Indian Elections’, Asian Survey , 26(9), pp. 941-58.

Hermet, Guy; Badie, Bertrand; Birnbaum, Pierre; Braud, Philippe (2001) Dictionnaire de la science politique et des institutions politiques , Paris: Armand Colin.

Jaffrelot, Christophe (2008) ‘‘Why Should We Vote? ’ The Indian Middle Class and the Functioning of the World’s Largest Democracy’, in Christophe Jaffrelot & Peter Van der Veer (eds.), Patterns of Middle Class Consumption in India and China , Delhi: Sage.

Jayal, Niraja Gopal (2001) ‘Introduction’, in Niraja Gopal Jayal (ed.), Democracy in India , Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 1-49.

Jayal, Niraja Gopal (2006) ‘Democratic dogmas and disquiets’, Seminar , 557.

Kondo, Norio (2007) Election Studies in India , Institute of Developing Economies: Discussion Paper n°98.

Kothari, Rajni (2002) Memoirs. Uneasy is the Life of the Mind , Delhi: Rupa & Co.

Lijphart, Arend (1996) ‘The Puzzle of Indian Democracy: A Consociational Interpretation’, The American Political Science Review , 90(2), pp. 258-68.

Linz, Juan; Stepan, Alfred; Yadav, Yogendra (2007) ‘‘Nation State’ or ‘State Nation’—India in Comparative Perspective’, in Shankar K. Bajpai (ed.), Democracy and Diversity: India and the American Experience , Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 50-106.

Lokniti Team (2004) ‘National Election Study 2004: An Introduction’, Economic and Political Weekly , 18 December, pp. 5373-81.

Lyngdoh, James Michael (2004) Chronicle of an Impossible Election: The Election Commission and the 2002 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections , Delhi: Penguin/Viking.

Mitra, Subrata K. (1979) ‘Ballot Box and Local Power: Electoral Politics in an Indian Village’, Journal of Commonwealth and Comparative Politics , 17(3), pp. 282-99.

Mitra, Subrata K. (2005) ‘Elections and the Negotiation of Ethnic Conflict: An American Science of Indian Politics?’, India Review , 24, pp. 326-43.

Mohan, Arvind (ed.) (2009) Loktantra ka Naya Lok , Delhi: Vani Prakashan.

Mukherji, Partha N. (1983) From Left Extremism to Electoral Politics: Naxalite Participation in Elections , New Delhi: Manohar.

Narain, Iqbal; Pande, K.C.; Sharma, M.L.; Rajpal, Hansa (1978) Election Studies in India: An Evaluation , New Delhi: Allied Publishers.

Palshikar, Suhas; Kumar, Sanjay (2004) ‘Participatory Norm: How Broad-based Is It?’, Economic and Political Weekly , 18 December, pp. 5412-17.

Palshikar, Suhas (2007) ‘The Imagined Debate between Pollsters and Ethnographers’, Economic and Political Weekly , 27 October, pp. 24-8.

Rao, Bhaskara (2009) A Handbook of Poll Surveys in Media: An Indian Perspective , Delhi: Gyan Publications.

Roy, Ramashray; Wallace, Paul (1999) Indian Politics and the 1998 Election: Regionalism, Hindutva and State Politics , New Delhi, Thousand Oaks, London: Sage Publications.

Saez, Lawrence (2001) ‘The 1999 General Election in India’, Electoral Studies , 20, pp. 164-9.

Shah, A.M. (2007) ‘Introduction’, in A.M. Shah (ed.), The Grassroots of Democracy: Field Studies of Indian Elections , Delhi: Permanent black, pp. 1-27.

Shastri, Sandeep; Suri, K.C.; Yadav, Yogendra (2009) Electoral Politics in Indian States: Lok Sabha Elections in 2004 and Beyond , Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Singer, Wendy (2007) ‘A Constituency Suitable for Ladies’ And Other Social Histories of Indian Elections , New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Somjee, A.H. (1959) Voting Behaviour in an Indian Village , Baroda: M.S.University.

Sundar, Nandini; Deshpande, Satish; Uberoi, Patricia (2000) ‘Indian Anthropology and Sociology: Towards a History’, Economic and Political Weekly , 10 June, pp. 1998-2002.

Weiner, Myron (1978), India at the Polls. The Parliamentary Elections of 1977 , Washington D.C.: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research.

Yadav, Yogendra (2000) ‘Understanding the Second Democratic Upsurge: Trends of Bahujan Participation in Electoral Politics in the 1990s’, in Francine R. Frankel; Zoya Hasan; Rajeev Bhargava; Balveer Arora (eds.), Transforming India: Social and Political Dynamics of Democracy , Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Yadav, Yogendra (2007) ‘Invitation to a dialogue: What work does ‘fieldwork’ do in the field of elections?’, in A.M. Shah (ed.), The Grassroots of Democracy: Field Studies of Indian Elections , Delhi: Permanent black, pp. 345-68.

Yadav, Yogendra (2008) ‘Whither Survey Research? Reflections on the State of Survey Research on Politics in Most of the World’, Malcom Adiseshiah Memorial Lecture, Chennai.

1 Most works considered here deal with national elections, but some of them also focus on state elections.

2 I owe this formulation to Amit Prakash, whose comments on a previous version of this paper were very helpful.

3 Another example is a study of parliamentary and state elections in a village in Orissa at the end of Emergency, in which S. Mitra describes the caste dynamics in the village and the way it plays out during electoral times to show how ‘elections are used as instruments by various sections of the society to convert their political resources and power into authority’ (Mitra 1979: 419).

4 In the early years of independent India, the Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR) commissioned a series of case studies, some of which are reviewed by Narain (1978). A more recently published volume offers a sample of such studies, conducted in the late 1960s by the sociology department of Delhi University under the supervision of M.N.Srinivas and A.M.Shah (Shah 2007).

5 One must note that among the various disciplines producing case studies, anthropology uses the largest definition of political participation, to include not only voting, but also participating in meetings, supporting the campaign of a particular party or candidate etc.

6 One must also mention the ‘Chronicle of an Impossible Election’— i.e. the 2002 Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir - as told by the then Chief Election Commissioner, J.M. Lyngdoh (2004), which provides an insider’s view of how election procedures are the result of a series of (sometimes minute) decisions—aiming at asserting that the Election Commission does not represent the Indian government.

7 This is in sharp contrast with France, where electoral geographers such as André Siegfried have been the founding fathers of political science. For an illustration of how geography enriches our understanding of elections, see Lefèbvre and Robin in this volume.

8 This inventory of ‘ other’ election studies, that is, studies of elections that fall neither in the ‘case study’ nor in the ‘survey research’ type, would obviously become much more complex and large if we were to include in it the large body of literature on the party system, or on the federal structure as they evolve over time in India. However that literature does take elections as its main focus, and has therefore not been considered here.

10 The CSDS was meant, in Kothari’s own words: ‘One, to give a truly empirical base to political science [...] Two, to engage in a persistent set of writings through which our broad conceptualisation of democracy in India was laid out [...] And three, institutionalise not just the Centre as a place of learning but as part of the larger intellectual process itself’ (Kothari 2002: 39-40). Over the years, the CSDS has retained a unique place in the Indian academia, as it remains distinct from universities even while engaging in a number of collaborations with their faculty—Lokniti being a case in point.

11 The CSDS did not even study the 1977 election, on which we fortunately have Myron Weiner’s monograph.

12 The CSDS entered into a stable partnership with the new channel six months before it went on air, which testifies to the saleability of this brand of research. One week before the results of the Fifteenth election were announced, huge signboards bore a picture of the star anchor of CNN-IBN along with Yogendra Yadav, asserting the latter’s increasing popularity.

13 The ‘notes on elections’ published in Electoral Studies favour a strongly institutional perspective, concerned almost exclusively with political parties (the alliances they form, the issues they raise, the candidates they select etc.) Interestingly, nothing is said about voters.

14 Both Brass (1985) and Palshikar (2007) make a forceful argument in favour of taking the constituency as a unit of analysis.

15 For instance, the first National Election Study, conducted by the CSDS in 1967, did not take women voters into account! (Lokniti team 2004: 5374).

16 Emphasis mine.

17 The debate on the scientific legitimacy of survey research as opposed to more theoretical, or more qualitative, approaches is by no means restricted to India. Political science is a relatively young discipline, defined more by its objects than by its methods, and by a scientific community that strives to assert its scientific credentials. In this regard, electoral surveys have an ambiguous record. On the one hand, the highly technical aspect of quantitative methods gives an image of ‘scientificity’; on the other hand, the proximity (in terms of sponsors, institutions and publication supports) of electoral surveys to opinion polls (characterized by a large margin of error, and a close association with marketing techniques) maintains a doubt on the scientificity of this sub-discipline.

18 The preference for qualitative methods actually extends to other disciplines among social sciences in India: ‘A tabulation of articles in Contributions to Indian Sociology and the Sociological Bulletin [...], though not a comprehensive account of scholarship in sociology and social anthropology, did nevertheless seem to substantiate the fact that ethnographic methods far outpaced any other kind of research method’ (Sundar et al. 2000: 2000).

19 In this regard, Mukherji’s account of State elections in the early 1980s in a constituency of West Bengal dominated by Naxalites is an exception among monographic studies of elections. The book offers a candid evocation of the methodological dilemmas, constraints and solutions inherent in studying elections, and particularly of the political agenda behind election studies (in this particular case, the author, engaged in a study of the Naxalite movement, presents himself early on as a Naxalite) (Mukherji 1983).

20 Thus in spite of the continuing efforts of NES to improve its methods, it failed to accurately predict the results of elections, both in 2004 and in 2009.

21 See, for instance, Lokniti Team 2004, in which the methodological flaws and evolutions (in terms of sample size, number of languages used, decentralization of data entry and analysis etc.) of National Election Studies are discussed in detail.

22 This problem is not restricted to survey research alone: thus Mitra evokes the ‘Americanisation of [the study of] ethnic politics in the Indian context’ (Mitra 2005: 327)

23 Linz, Stepan and Yadav 2007 represents a good example of the changing status of the Indian case in comparative studies of democracy—from an exception to a major case.

25 For instance anthropological studies tend to focus on the short period comprised between the beginning of the electoral campaign and the announcement of results. A larger timeframe is needed if we are to understand how clientelism operates through the electoral process.

Electronic reference

Stéphanie Tawa Lama-Rewal , “ Studying Elections in India: Scientific and Political Debates ” , South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal [Online], 3 | 2009, Online since 23 December 2009 , connection on 24 August 2024 . URL : http://journals.openedition.org/samaj/2784; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/samaj.2784

About the author

Stéphanie tawa lama-rewal.

Research fellow, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris

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Niraja Gopal Jayal, Citizenship and its Discontents: An Indian History [Full text] Published in South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal , Book Reviews
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Introduction. Contextualizing and Interpreting the 15 th Lok Sabha Elections [Full text] Published in South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal , 3 | 2009

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100 Best universities for Political Science in India

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in India ranked based on their research performance in Political Science. A graph of 2.57M citations received by 329K academic papers made by 470 universities in India was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Delhi

For Political Science

2. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

3. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

4. Jawaharlal Nehru University

5. Indian Institute of Science

6. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

7. All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi

8. VIT University

9. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

10. Indian Statistical Institute

11. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

12. Indian Institute of Technology Madras

13. Jadavpur University

14. Christ University

15. University of Hyderabad

16. Manipal Academy of Higher Education

17. Anna University

18. Banaras Hindu University

19. Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research

20. Amity University

21. National Islamic University

22. Aligarh Muslim University

23. Symbiosis International University

24. Amrita University

25. Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology

26. University of Calcutta

27. Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

28. Panjab University

29. Birla Institute of Technology and Science

30. National Institute of Technology, Rourkela

31. Savitribai Phule Pune University

32. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences

33. Pondicherry University

34. National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra

35. National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli

36. Lovely Professional University

37. Delhi Technological University

38. Indian School of Mines

39. Guru Nanak Dev University

40. Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad

41. SRM Institute of Science and Technology

42. IMS Unison University

43. KIIT University

44. University of Mumbai

45. University of Petroleum and Energy Studies

46. Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur

47. Tata Institute of Social Sciences

48. University of Kalyani

49. Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research

50. National Institute of Technology, Karnataka

51. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

52. Jaypee Institute of Information Technology

53. Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat

54. Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University

55. Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research

56. Punjabi University Patiala

57. Chandigarh University

58. Nirma University

59. Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology

60. Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad

61. Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology

62. International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad

63. Annamalai University

64. National Institute of Technology, Calicut

65. Mangalore University

66. K L University

67. Vidyasagar University

68. Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur

69. University of Kashmir

70. Cochin University of Science and Technology

71. Chitkara University - Punjab

72. National Institute of Technology, Durgapur

73. SASTRA University

74. Saveetha University

75. Galgotias University

76. King George's Medical University

77. Graphic Era University

78. Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology

79. University of Mysore

80. Birla Institute of Technology

81. University of Burdwan

82. Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad

83. Bharathiar University

84. International Institute for Population Sciences

85. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University

86. Dr. Hari Singh Gour University

87. Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University

88. University of Allahabad

89. Narsee Monjee Institute of Management and Higher Studies

90. Institute of Chemical Technology

91. Indian Institute of Technology Indore

92. National Institute of Technology, Warangal

93. University of Jammu

94. Sambalpur University

95. Kalasalingam University

96. Presidency University - Kolkata

97. Jamia Hamdard University

98. Andhra University

99. Dr. B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar

100. Indian Institute of Technology Patna

The best cities to study Political Science in India based on the number of universities and their ranks are Delhi , Kharagpur , Bangalore , and Mumbai .

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Religion in India: Tolerance and Segregation

6. nationalism and politics, table of contents.

The dimensions of Hindu nationalism in India
India’s Muslims express pride in being Indian while identifying communal tensions, desiring segregation
Muslims, Hindus diverge over legacy of Partition
Religious conversion in India
Religion very important across India’s religious groups
Near-universal belief in God, but wide variation in how God is perceived
Across India’s religious groups, widespread sharing of beliefs, practices, values
Religious identity in India: Hindus divided on whether belief in God is required to be a Hindu, but most say eating beef is disqualifying
Sikhs are proud to be Punjabi and Indian
Most Indians say they and others are very free to practice their religion
Most people do not see evidence of widespread religious discrimination in India
Most Indians report no recent discrimination based on their religion
In Northeast India, people perceive more religious discrimination
Most Indians see communal violence as a very big problem in the country
Indians divided on the legacy of Partition for Hindu-Muslim relations
More Indians say religious diversity benefits their country than say it is harmful
Indians are highly knowledgeable about their own religion, less so about other religions
Substantial shares of Buddhists, Sikhs say they have worshipped at religious venues other than their own
One-in-five Muslims in India participate in celebrations of Diwali
Members of both large and small religious groups mostly keep friendships within religious lines
Most Indians are willing to accept members of other religious communities as neighbors, but many express reservations
Indians generally marry within same religion
Most Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Jains strongly support stopping interreligious marriage
India’s religious groups vary in their caste composition
Indians in lower castes largely do not perceive widespread discrimination against their groups
Most Indians do not have recent experience with caste discrimination
Most Indians OK with Scheduled Caste neighbors
Indians generally do not have many close friends in different castes
Large shares of Indians say men, women should be stopped from marrying outside of their caste
Most Indians say being a member of their religious group is not only about religion
Common ground across major religious groups on what is essential to religious identity
India’s religious groups vary on what disqualifies someone from their religion
Hindus say eating beef, disrespecting India, celebrating Eid incompatible with being Hindu
Muslims place stronger emphasis than Hindus on religious practices for identity
Many Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists do not identify with a sect
Sufism has at least some followers in every major Indian religious group
Large majorities say Indian culture is superior to others
What constitutes ‘true’ Indian identity?
Large gaps between religious groups in 2019 election voting patterns
No consensus on whether democracy or strong leader best suited to lead India
Majorities support politicians being involved in religious matters
Indian Muslims favor their own religious courts; other religious groups less supportive
Most Indians do not support allowing triple talaq for Muslims
Southern Indians least likely to say religion is very important in their life
Most Indians give to charitable causes
Majorities of Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Jains in India pray daily
More Indians practice puja at home than at temple
Most Hindus do not read or listen to religious books frequently
Most Indians have an altar or shrine in their home for worship
Religious pilgrimages common across most religious groups in India
Most Hindus say they have received purification from a holy body of water
Roughly half of Indian adults meditate at least weekly
Only about a third of Indians ever practice yoga
Nearly three-quarters of Christians sing devotionally
Most Muslims and few Jains say they have participated in or witnessed animal sacrifice for religious purposes
Most Indians schedule key life events based on auspicious dates
About half of Indians watch religious programs weekly
For Hindus, nationalism associated with greater religious observance
Indians value marking lifecycle events with religious rituals
Most Indian parents say they are raising their children in a religion
Fewer than half of Indian parents say their children receive religious instruction outside the home
Vast majority of Sikhs say it is very important that their children keep their hair long
Half or more of Hindus, Muslims and Christians wear religious pendants
Most Hindu, Muslim and Sikh women cover their heads outside the home
Slim majority of Hindu men say they wear a tilak, fewer wear a janeu
Eight-in-ten Muslim men in India wear a skullcap
Majority of Sikh men wear a turban
Muslim and Sikh men generally keep beards
Most Indians are not vegetarians, but majorities do follow at least some restrictions on meat in their diet
One-in-five Hindus abstain from eating root vegetables
Fewer than half of vegetarian Hindus willing to eat in non-vegetarian settings
Indians evenly split about willingness to eat meals with hosts who have different religious rules about food
Majority of Indians say they fast
More Hindus say there are multiple ways to interpret Hinduism than say there is only one true way
Most Indians across different religious groups believe in karma
Most Hindus, Jains believe in Ganges’ power to purify
Belief in reincarnation is not widespread in India
More Hindus and Jains than Sikhs believe in moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth)
Most Hindus, Muslims, Christians believe in heaven
Nearly half of Indian Christians believe in miracles
Most Muslims in India believe in Judgment Day
Most Indians believe in fate, fewer believe in astrology
Many Hindus and Muslims say magic, witchcraft or sorcery can influence people’s lives
Roughly half of Indians trust religious ritual to treat health problems
Lower-caste Christians much more likely than General Category Christians to hold both Christian and non-Christian beliefs
Nearly all Indians believe in God
Few Indians believe ‘there are many gods’
Many Hindus feel close to Shiva
Many Indians believe God can be manifested in other people
Indians almost universally ask God for good health, prosperity, forgiveness
Acknowledgments
Questionnaire design
Sample design and weighting
Precision of estimates
Response rates
Significant events during fieldwork
Appendix B: Index of religious segregation

Indians nearly universally take great pride in their country. Fully 96% of Indian adults say they are very proud to be Indian, and similarly large percentages say they are very proud to be from their state and to be a member of their religious community.

While nearly everyone is proud to be Indian, there is somewhat less consensus on whether Indian culture stands out above all others. A majority of Indians (72%) completely agree with the statement that “Indian people are not perfect, but Indian culture is superior to others.” But while an especially large share of Indians in the Central region (81%) completely agree that Indian culture is superior, only a slim majority say this in the Northeast (59%).

There also are a range of views on what it means to be “truly Indian.” For instance, Indians widely agree that respecting India’s institutions and laws and respecting elders are very important to being truly Indian. But there is less unanimity about whether language and religion are tied up with Indian identity. In a country with 22 official languages and dozens of others, a slim majority (56%) say being able to speak Hindi is very important to being truly Indian. And a similar share of Indian adults (57%), including 64% of Hindus, say being Hindu is very important to being truly Indian.

India’s religious groups and supporters of the country’s different political parties disagree on questions of national identity. While 64% of Hindus say being a Hindu is very important to being truly Indian, far fewer Muslims (27%) stress Hinduism’s importance to being Indian. Politically, Indians with a favorable view of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are also much more likely than other Indians to say being Hindu is very important to Indian identity (65% vs. 45%). (See “ An index of religious segregation in India ” in Chapter 3 for additional analysis of the connection between national identity, voting patterns and religious segregation.)

Some attitudes about national identity are closely tied to religious observance. Nearly three-quarters of Indians who say religion is very important in their lives (74%), for example, say that having Indian ancestry is very important to being truly Indian, while only half of those who say religion is less important consider ancestry a central part of national identity.

Although India’s Constitution declares the country a democratic republic – and India is often called the world’s largest democracy – Indians express mixed attitudes when asked whether “a democratic government” or “a leader with a strong hand” would be better suited to solve the country’s problems. Slightly fewer than half of Indians surveyed (46%) indicate a preference for democracy, while a nearly identical share (48%) would prefer a leader with a strong hand. Support for democracy versus a strong leader varies considerably by region. People in the Central part of the country are the least likely to lean toward democracy (33%), while support for a democratic form of government (instead of a leader with a strong hand) is considerably higher in the Northeast (61%), South (53%) and North (51%).

The survey also asked about two policy issues concerning Muslims in India: triple talaq and allowing Muslims to use their own religious courts. Muslims tend to support having their own religious courts (74% in favor), but most oppose Muslim men being allowed to divorce by saying “talaq” three times (56%).

Across India, high levels of pride in country, state and religion

Across the nation, nearly all Indian adults say that they are very proud not only to be Indian, but also to be residents of their respective states. This pattern is consistent across different religions, regions and age groups.

Survey respondents also were asked how proud they are to be a member of their particular religion (e.g., Sikhs were asked how proud they are to be Sikh). Again, roughly nine-in-ten or more among all major religions say they are very proud to be a member of their religious group.

Indians who say religion is very important in their lives are slightly more likely than others to be very proud of their national, state and religious identities, although these views are widespread regardless of how religious people are.

People in the South of the country are somewhat less likely than those in other regions to say they are very proud of their religious identity. For example, among Hindus in the South, 89% say they are very proud to be Hindu, compared with 98% in the Central region. Among Muslims in the South as well, fewer people than elsewhere say they are very proud to be Muslim (88% vs. 96% nationally).

To some extent, Indians’ pride in their religious identities is tied to their views on keeping their own religious community separate from others. Those who say it is important to stop interreligious marriages of men and women are somewhat more likely to say that they are very proud of their religious identity. 14 Among Hindus, for example, 97% of those who say it is very important to stop the interreligious marriage of Hindu women also say they are very proud to be Hindu, compared with 90% among those who don’t see stopping interreligious marriage as a top priority. Muslims show a similar pattern: Those who want to stop Muslims from marrying outside of Islam are more likely to say that they are very proud to be Muslim, although large majorities are very proud to be Muslim regardless of their stance on religious intermarriage.

Majorities across different religious and regional backgrounds view Indian culture as superior

For another perspective on national pride, the survey also asked respondents if they completely agree, mostly agree, mostly disagree or completely disagree with the statement “Indian people are not perfect, but Indian culture is superior to others.”

An overwhelming majority of Indians agree with the statement (90%), including 72% who completely agree. Three-quarters of Hindus and roughly the same share of Buddhists (73%) completely agree that Indian culture is superior to others. Among other religious minority groups, somewhat fewer people share this sentiment – about half of Christians (52%) completely agree Indian culture is superior, as do 63% of Muslims and 57% of Sikhs.

Those who say religion is very important in their lives are particularly likely to say Indian culture is superior. Among Hindus, for example, a large majority of those who say religion is very important also completely agree that Indian culture is superior (79%), compared with just over half (54%) of those who consider religion less important in their lives. A similar pattern is seen among Muslims (64% vs. 48%).

Regionally, in the Central part of the country, 81% completely agree that Indian culture is superior, while about six-in-ten in the Northeast (59%) share the sentiment.

As education level increases, so does agreement with the statement. Among college graduates, for example, 79% completely agree that Indian culture is superior to others, compared with 69% of those without a formal education.

Politically, Indians who express a favorable view of the BJP also are more likely than those with an unfavorable view of India’s ruling party to completely agree that Indian culture is superior (77% vs. 68%).

Civic elements seen as key to Indian identity

The survey also asked respondents how important a series of items are to being “truly Indian.” This series included both civic measures (respecting the country’s institutions and laws, knowing the history of India’s freedom struggle, supporting the national cricket team, respecting all religions, respecting elders, respecting the army and standing for the national anthem) and more nativist measures (Indian ancestry, speaking Hindi and being a Hindu). 15

On the whole, Indians emphasize civic aspects of national identity over nativist ones. For example, while nearly nine-in-ten Indians (88%) say respecting elders is very important to being truly Indian – with little variation by religion, region, caste or age – only a slim majority (56%) say being able to speak Hindi is crucial.

Religious groups differ on whether ability to speak Hindi, being Hindu are important to be ‘truly Indian’

At the same time, even though Indians live in a diverse multireligious and multilingual society, majorities link Indian identity with a particular religion and language, as well as with ancestry. A large majority (70%) say it is important to have Indian ancestry to be truly Indian. And 57% of Indian adults say it is very important to be Hindu to be truly Indian.

While most Hindus (64%) say it is very important to be Hindu to be truly Indian, considerably smaller shares of people in other religious communities link the Hindu religion with national identity. Still, 27% of Muslims and 20% of Christians say being Hindu is very important to being truly Indian.

Muslims who have lower levels of education are more likely to say it is important to be Hindu to be truly Indian. This view is also more common among Muslims who are religiously segregated. For example, among those who say all their friends are Muslim, 34% say it is very important to be Hindu to be truly Indian, compared with 22% among other Muslims.

Indians in the Central region are the most likely to link Hindu identity with Indian identity (78%), while Indians in the Northeast and South are the least likely to say that being Hindu is very important to being truly Indian (33% and 39%, respectively). Regional patterns also exist among Muslims: 40% of Muslims in the Central region say it is very important to be Hindu to be truly Indian, compared with 17% in the East.

Indians’ views on the importance of speaking Hindi to national identity also vary by region. In regions where more Indians speak Hindi, more people view the language as intrinsic to national identity. Fully 85% of those in the Central region – where more than 99% of respondents list Hindi among the languages they speak – say that speaking Hindi is very important to being truly Indian, while only 27% of those in Southern India (a region where just 14% report speaking Hindi) take the same view. 16 This regional pattern is once again true for both Hindus and Muslims.

Adults with lower levels of formal education are somewhat more likely than their college-educated counterparts to link being able to speak Hindi and being Hindu with true Indian identity. Relatedly, members of Other Backward Classes (including a small share of people who volunteered “Most Backward Class”) also are more likely than members of either General Categories or Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to say speaking Hindi and being Hindu are very important to Indian identity. And Hindus who are more supportive of keeping religious groups segregated from each other – i.e., who support stopping Hindu men and women from marrying non-Hindus – are more likely to express these nativist views of national identity.

When it comes to politics, Hindus who have a favorable view of the BJP are more likely than those with unfavorable views of the ruling party to link being Hindu and speaking Hindi with national identity. For example, a majority of Hindus who have positive views of the BJP (66%) say speaking Hindi is very important to being truly Indian, compared with about half of those who have an unfavorable view of the ruling party (48%).

Half or more among all religious groups surveyed say having Indian ancestry is important to being truly Indian. Still, this attitude is most common among Hindus (72%), especially those who live in the Northern (82%) and Central (81%) parts of the country. Once again, Southern Hindus are less likely than Hindus in most other places to say having Indian ancestry is very important to being truly Indian (59%).

A slim majority of Indian adults (56%) say it is very important to support India’s cricket team to be truly Indian. Majorities of Hindus (58%) and Jains (62%) support this view, but among other religious groups, the share who see a strong link between sports and national identity stands generally lower: Half of Muslims say it is very important to support the country’s cricket team to be truly Indian.

Across all measures, nativist or otherwise, respondents who say religion is very important in their lives are more likely to say that all of these aspects are important to being truly Indian. For example, 90% of those who say religion is very important in their lives say it is crucial to respect elders to be truly Indian, compared with 74% among those who consider religion less important in their lives.

About half of Hindus voted for the BJP in 2019

In the spring of 2019, India held a national election for its lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha. About two-thirds (67%) of the eligible population voted in the election , ultimately giving the BJP a majority of seats in the Lok Sabha.

This survey asked respondents whom they voted for in 2019. While a plurality (44%) say they voted for the winning party, responses vary significantly by religious group. Nearly half of Hindu voters (49%) say they voted for the BJP, compared with significantly fewer people among minority religious groups with a large enough sample size of voters to analyze.

Indeed, the survey indicates that Indian National Congress (INC) – one of the main opposition parties to the BJP – was the top choice among Muslim (30%), Christian (30%) and Sikh (33%) voters in 2019. Buddhist voters were more evenly split, with 29% supporting the BJP and 24% supporting Congress. While the survey did not include enough Jain voters to report how they voted in this election, Jains appear to strongly embrace India’s ruling party: In response to a separate question, fully 70% of Jains say they feel closest to the BJP, regardless of whether they voted in the last election.

One-in-five Muslims (19%) did vote for the BJP, despite the party sometimes being described as promoting a Hindu nationalist agenda in its policies. 17 Muslim voters who supported the BJP in the last election differ in multiple ways from those who did not. For example, Muslims without a college degree are more likely than college graduates to say they voted for the BJP, while the opposite pattern is true for Muslims who voted for the INC. Religious observance is also a significant factor: Muslim voters who say religion is very important in their lives are more likely to have voted for the BJP than voters who say religion is less important (19% vs. 12%). Regionally, about four-in-ten Muslim voters in the Northeast (39%) say they voted BJP, compared with one-quarter or fewer in all other regions.

India has a multiparty system. According to official statistics , there are seven national parties, more than 50 state or regional parties, and over 2,000 other unlisted political parties. Many voters in minority religions opted to vote for parties other than the BJP or Congress, the two largest national parties. For example, fully 14% of Buddhists say they voted for the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a national party focused primarily on the welfare of lower castes and minority religions (89% of Buddhists are members of Scheduled Castes). Support for regional parties also is tied to religion. For example, 16% of Sikhs say they voted for Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in 2019. SAD is a regional party representing Punjabi interests; according to the census, 77% of India’s Sikhs live in Punjab.

Despite decades of elections and being lauded as the world’s most populous democratic republic, support for democracy (as opposed to a more authoritarian form of government) is far from unanimous in India.

The survey asked which would be better suited to solve the country’s problems: a “democratic form of government” or a “leader with a strong hand.” Of course, it is possible for a leader who rules with a strong hand to be democratically elected, but by forcing a choice between these two options, the question sought to capture respondents’ preferences for what type of government is best, on balance.

Slightly fewer than half of Indians say that the country should rely on a democratic form of government to solve the country’s problems (46%). The other half say that it would be better for the country to have a leader with a strong hand (48%).

Pew Research Center’s survey is not the only one that finds ambivalence among Indians about the efficacy of democracy. A 2019 survey conducted by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) asked Indian adults whether they agree or disagree that “The country should be governed by a strong leader who does not have to bother about winning elections.” Roughly six-in-ten Indians agreed with the statement. (See “ What other surveys on religion, democracy and pluralism in India show ” below for a discussion of this and other CSDS findings.)

This ambivalence toward democracy exists to some degree among all the country’s religious groups. In the Pew Research Center survey, among Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Jains, there is no clear majority position on this question. Only among Buddhists (57%) and Sikhs (54%) do more than half of adults express a preference for a democratic form of government.

Regional differences are more stark. Fully six-in-ten Indians in the Central region say that a leader with a strong hand is best suited to solving India’s problems, compared with only one-third who prefer a democratic form of government. The opposite is true in the Northeast, where about six-in-ten adults prefer democracy (61%). There also is a modest gap between urban and rural regions, with half of urban residents (50%) preferring democracy, compared with 44% of adults in rural districts.

Indian adults with a college degree are more likely than those with less education to prefer a democratic form of government (51% vs. 45%). And Indians who belong to General Category castes (51%) are more likely than those who belong to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (44%) or Other Backward Classes (43%) to favor democracy.

The 2019 Indian general election included more voters than any other election in human history. Despite this level of democratic participation, roughly half of those who report that they voted in the election say they would prefer a leader with a strong hand (48%) over a democratic form of government (46%). BJP voters are slightly more likely than those who voted for the opposition Indian National Congress party to say they see a leader with a strong hand as more suited to solve the country’s problems (53% vs. 47%).

Sidebar: What other surveys on religion, democracy and pluralism in India show

While this study is the first large-scale, nationally representative survey of India performed by Pew Research Center, other surveys in India have asked similar questions. One of the largest is the National Election Study conducted by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) through its research wing, Lokniti. This survey has been conducted alongside every Lok Sabha election since 1996, and the most recent round included about 24,000 respondents in the post-election poll. Due to differences in question wording and sampling, data from Pew Research Center’s survey and that of CSDS should not be directly compared. But looking at the CSDS studies in conjunction with Pew Research Center’s survey shows broadly similar findings on issues around religion and nationalism.

High levels of support for religious pluralism

Previous work conducted by CSDS shows that support for religious pluralism has remained high over time. In 2009, more than 80% of Indians agreed with the statement “Citizens of India should promote harmonious relationship between all religions.” The 2019 National Election Study by CSDS also demonstrates a high level of support for religious pluralism. Roughly three-quarters of Indians in the CSDS study (76%) say that “India belongs to citizens of all religions equally, not just Hindus,” while just 15% say “India primarily belongs to only Hindus.” Meanwhile, 2019 Pew Research Center data shows that 84% of Indians believe respecting all religions is very important to being truly Indian. (See “ What constitutes ‘true’ Indian identity? ” above for more details.)

Declining support for democracy

The CSDS National Election Studies show that, over time, Indians have become less supportive of democracy. In 2009, about four-in-ten Indians agreed with the statement “The country should be governed by a strong leader who does not have to bother about winning elections.” A decade later, more than six-in-ten Indians say they would prefer a strong leader who does not have to worry about elections.

Strong preference for religious segregation

In addition to the National Election Study, CSDS, in collaboration with Azim Premji University, measured public opinion around communal relations in 2018. The survey interviewed roughly 24,000 Indians from 12 states, and the findings highlight a preference for public policies that maintain the separation of religious groups: Hindus and Sikhs in the states surveyed say people who engage in religious conversion should be punished by the government. Members of other minority religions are less supportive than Hindus and Sikhs of policies that would punish proselytizing. Similarly, Pew Research Center’s survey shows an inclination for religious segregation; for example, roughly two-thirds of Indians say it is very important to stop men and women in their religious community from marrying into another religion. (See Chapter 3 for more details.)

Hindus, Muslims most likely to favor political involvement in religious affairs

A majority of Indians say that politicians should have at least “some” influence in religious matters (62%), including roughly three-in-ten (29%) who say politicians should have “a large” influence. Meanwhile, 31% of all Indian adults say politicians should generally stay out of religious affairs, including 17% who think politicians should have no influence at all.

Majorities of both Hindus (64%) and Muslims (59%) – India’s two largest religious groups – say politicians should have at least some influence in religious matters, while on balance, Sikhs and Buddhists tend to prefer little or no political influence in religious affairs.

Generally, men and women, Indians of different age groups and those living in different parts of the country lean toward the position that politicians should have at least some influence in religious matters. Indians who have a favorable view of the BJP are slightly more likely than other Indians to say politicians should have some or a large influence in religious matters (66% vs. 60%).

Among Hindus, those who say religion is very important in their lives are somewhat more likely than other Hindus to say that politicians should have at least some influence in religious matters (65% vs. 59%).

No consensus on allowing Muslims to use their own religious courts

Alongside the civil court system, Muslims in India have the option of settling family disputes such as inheritance issues in courts that follow Islamic legal principles (for more information, see “ Islamic courts in India ” in the report overview). But whether or not Muslims should be allowed to go to their own religious courts remains a hotly debated topic .

Indians on the whole express mixed opinions on this issue, with similar proportions of the public supporting (35%) and opposing (38%) the use of these courts. Roughly a quarter of Indians (27%) do not take a position, perhaps reflecting the low salience of this issue for many people.

However, a clear majority of Muslims (74%) say they should be allowed to have their own courts to resolve family and property disputes. Hindus, on the other hand, are more likely to oppose (41%) rather than support (30%) religious courts for Muslims; the same pattern holds among Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains, although substantial shares of all non-Muslim groups do not express an opinion on this subject.

Majority of Muslims support having access to their own religious courts

There is far less opposition to Islamic courts in Northeastern India than in any other region.

Muslims across different regions, castes and educational backgrounds consistently support religious courts for their group. Muslim men (76%) are slightly more likely than Muslim women (71%) to support religious courts.

For the first seven decades after Indian independence, it was legal for Muslim men to instantly divorce their wives by saying “talaq” (“divorce” in Urdu and Arabic) three times – commonly referred to as “triple talaq” (for more information, see “ Islamic courts in India ” in the report overview). The Supreme Court ruled triple talaq unconstitutional in 2017, and in 2019, after much public debate, India’s Parliament passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights of Marriage) Bill, which banned the practice .

A clear majority of Indians as a whole (68%) – including seven-in-ten or more Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains – say that Muslim men should not be allowed to divorce their wives using triple talaq. Just 14% say triple talaq should be allowed, while 18% do not answer the question, perhaps reflecting some unfamiliarity with the practice – especially among Christians.

Slim majority of Muslims oppose triple talaq

Among Muslims, too, a majority (56%) oppose allowing Muslim men to divorce their wives by saying “talaq” three times. Still, 37% of Muslims favor the practice, which is considerably higher than in any other religious group surveyed.

Muslim opinions of triple talaq differ based on several factors. For example, Muslim men are more likely than women to approve of the practice (42% vs. 32%). And Muslims in General Category castes (43%) are more likely than members of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (29%) and Other Backward Classes (33%) to say triple talaq should be allowed. Relatedly, Muslims with college degrees also are more supportive of triple talaq than are Muslims with less education (46% vs. 37%).

Religious observance also plays a significant role. Muslims who say religion is very important in their lives are more likely to support triple talaq than those who say religion is less important (39% vs. 26%). And Muslim men who attend religious services at least once a week also are more likely than other men to support the practice (44% vs. 27%).

Muslim men more likely than women to support triple talaq

Muslims in the South (58%) and Northeast (50%) are more likely than those in other regions of India to say Muslim men should be allowed to divorce their wives by triple talaq. Conversely, at least two-thirds of Muslims in the Western (71%), Central (70%) and Northern (67%) regions of the country do not support the practice.

The survey asked two separate questions: “How important is it to stop women in your community from marrying into another religion?” and “How important is it to stop men in your community from marrying into another religion?” (See Chapter 3 .) These variables were combined for analysis. A similar set of questions was asked about caste (see Chapter 4 ). ↩
The distinction between civic measures and nativist measures of national identity is broadly based on factor analysis. Saying that being Hindu and that speaking Hindi are very important to true Indian identity are highly correlated with each other. Having Indian ancestry also is correlated with these variables, although not as closely. These concepts are defined as “nativist” based on research by Brubaker (1992) , Greenfield (1992) and others. ↩
Respondents were asked, “Including Indian languages and English, what languages do you speak?” They could list as many languages as they wanted. This question did not specifically ask about the respondent’s primary language or “mother tongue.” ↩
The BJP’s 2014 election manifesto mentions as a priority lifting Muslims out of poverty, including a national madrasa modernization plan and preservation of the Urdu language. The party’s 2019 manifesto continues to stress inclusive development with a particular focus on religious minorities, but no longer focuses on the promotion of the Urdu language or madrasa modernization, focusing instead on promoting the Sanskrit language and a commitment to building the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. ↩

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100 Original Political Science Research Topics

Updated 13 Jun 2024

Political Science research papers can easily become overly complex and weak if there are too many ideas scattered across assignment. In order to remedy such situation, choose suitable political science research topics that not only meet initial requirements, but suit author’s personal interest and skills. It should be noted that such assignments are written by Law students, educators, sociologists, or philosophers.

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Always make sure that opposite opinion or counter argument paragraph is included before conclusion part.
Backup provided facts with reliable academic sources.
Turn to statistics & data to support provided ideas.
Research related literature & similar projects.
Adhere to one idea - one paragraph rule.

Things that you should avoid while completing a research paper for political science class:

Addressing sensitive subjects, do not use harsh tone.
Unless working with personal reflection, avoid portrayal of only one side of an issue.
Stay neutral when talking of political parties. In such way, it allows seeing benefits & flaws of each actor on his or her own.
Do not use extensive quoting unless absolutely necessary.
Avoid colloquial language along with slang term elements.

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100 Political Science Research Topics

Political science research topics on comparative politics.

This study field focuses on empirical approach, including comparative methods. Practical examples may include domestic politics, institutions analysis, and diverse conflicts related to domestic or international issues. When choosing such topic, it’s necessary to focus not on study object per se, but on method that is implemented for particular political science issue analysis. Examples can be two parties politics comparison, check some research topics:

Comparative Analysis of Electoral Systems in Democracies Worldwide
The Impact of Political Culture on Policy Making: A Cross-National Study
Federalism vs. Unitarism: A Comparative Study of Government Structures
Political Party Systems: A Comparative Analysis of European Countries
The Role of Civil Society in Democratic Consolidation: A Comparative Perspective
Authoritarian Regimes in the 21st Century: A Comparative Study
Comparative Study of Political Corruption in Emerging Economies
Welfare State Models in Scandinavia and Southern Europe: A Comparative Analysis
The Influence of Religion on Politics: A Comparative Study of Middle Eastern and Western Countries
Political Responses to Immigration: A Comparative Study of the U.S. and Europe
Environmental Policies: A Comparative Analysis of Developed and Developing Countries
The Impact of Globalization on National Sovereignty: A Comparative Study
Women in Politics: A Comparative Analysis of Gender Quotas in Different Countries
The Effectiveness of Counter-Terrorism Policies: A Comparative Study
Social Media and Political Mobilization: A Comparative Analysis of Different Political Regimes

International Relations Political Science Research Topics

Quoting Hans Morgenthau, one can assume that international politics deal with power balance between actors in the international arena. All these struggle involved, filled with conflicts, negotiations, along with controversies take minds of scientists all over the world as they try their best to achieve peaceful resolution of occurring issues. From human rights, global poverty to global ethics, globalization, environmental issues, and security. Here are research topic examples:

The Role of International Organizations in Mediating Global Conflicts
China's Rising Influence in International Politics: Opportunities and Challenges
The Impact of Globalization on Sovereignty of Nation-States
Climate Change Diplomacy: International Efforts and Agreements
Cybersecurity and International Relations: Emerging Threats and Policies
The Effectiveness of Economic Sanctions as a Foreign Policy Tool
The Role of Soft Power in Shaping International Public Opinion
Post-Brexit European Union: Challenges and Prospects for International Relations
The Influence of Non-State Actors in Shaping Global Policies
Nuclear Proliferation and International Security: Case Studies of Iran and North Korea
The United Nations' Role in Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution
Human Rights and International Law: Case Studies of Violations and Responses
The Impact of International Trade Agreements on National Economies
Refugee Crises and International Response: Policy and Humanitarian Perspectives
The Dynamics of US-China Relations in the Context of Global Power Shifts

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Political science philosophy research topics.

This science branch deals with fundamental state legislation aspects, government, liberty, democracy, justice, and legal code mechanics as issued by authority. Most political science essay topics dealing with this subject speak about how society should be set up, what ethics should be applied. There are many political topics to write about. Here are practical topic examples:

The Evolution of Social Contract Theory from Hobbes to Rawls
Analyzing Machiavelli's Influence on Modern Political Thought
The Concept of Justice in Plato’s and Aristotle’s Philosophies
John Locke's Political Philosophy and Its Impact on Liberal Democracies
The Role of Power and Ethics in Foucault's Political Analysis
Hannah Arendt’s Views on Totalitarianism and Modern Political Crises
Karl Marx's Theory of Class Struggle and Its Relevance Today
The Intersection of Feminist Theory and Political Philosophy
Rousseau’s Concept of General Will and Its Implications for Modern Democracy
The Philosophy of Human Rights: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
Utilitarianism in Political Decision-Making: Benefits and Limitations
Libertarianism vs. Communitarianism: A Philosophical Debate
The Impact of Postmodernism on Contemporary Political Theory
Thomas Hobbes and the Notion of State of Nature in Political Philosophy
The Concept of Liberty in the Philosophies of Isaiah Berlin and John Stuart Mill

Political Science Research Topics on Public Administration

This science studies daily functions performed by governmental structures, public administrators work, and various agencies implementation that administer functioning of laws, regulations, as well as introduced policies. Also, many subjects deal with Sociology. Our experts offer such research topics:

The Role of Public Administration in Crisis Management and Response
E-Government and Digital Transformation in Public Administration
Public Policy Analysis: Case Studies of Successful Policy Implementations
The Impact of Public Administration on Urban Development and Planning
Comparative Study of Bureaucratic Systems in Different Countries
Public Sector Reforms: Best Practices and Lessons Learned
The Role of Ethics and Accountability in Public Administration
Public-Private Partnerships: Benefits, Challenges, and Opportunities
The Influence of Political Leadership on Public Administration Efficiency
Innovations in Public Service Delivery: Case Studies from Around the World
The Impact of Globalization on National Public Administration Systems
Decentralization and Local Governance: Challenges and Opportunities
The Role of Public Administration in Environmental Policy and Sustainability
Human Resource Management Practices in the Public Sector
The Effectiveness of Public Administration in Healthcare Policy Implementation

Political Science Research Topics on Public Law

It is part of law that studies relationships between state and public members. In terms of challenges, it covers broad range of topics from administrative law, constitution, taxes, and criminal legislation among others. It should not be confused with Private Law that deals with families, small groups, private businesses where economics and more personal issues are considered. Public Law deals with administrative authority in relation to citizens. As an example, when certain decision is questioned, individual society member can ask for plea or review analysis by state authority. Even if it sounds too complex, here are interesting political science research questions samples to inspire you for a great research topic:

The Evolution of Constitutional Law in Emerging Democracies
Judicial Review and Its Impact on Democratic Governance
Comparative Analysis of Civil Liberties in Different Legal Systems
The Role of International Law in Resolving Territorial Disputes
Human Rights Legislation: Global Trends and National Impacts
The Effectiveness of Anti-Corruption Laws in Different Political Systems
Public Law and Its Role in Regulating Cybersecurity and Privacy
Environmental Law and Policy: International Agreements and National Implementation
The Influence of Lobbying on Public Policy and Lawmaking
Legal Frameworks for Immigration and Refugee Policies in Various Countries
The Intersection of Public Law and Health Care Policies during Pandemics
Freedom of Speech and Press: Legal Boundaries and Political Implications
The Impact of Public Law on Economic Development and Trade Policies
Gender Equality Legislation: Comparative Studies of Different Nations
The Role of Public Law in Regulating Artificial Intelligence and Technology

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Political Science Research Topics

What we have here is analysis and an in-depth study of processes that relate to politics. A scientist can approach certain event and study cause-and-effect of an issue, study political leader personality or write reflection essay about police officers behavior that have bias towards African American teenagers or those that wear a hood. It does cover sensitive topics, yet what makes it unique is scientific approach along with paper structure. Political science research paper topics should be researchable and include sufficient amount of academic sources. Here are some topics to consider:

The Political Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Global Governance
Analyzing the Role of Social Media in Modern Political Revolutions
The Influence of Space Exploration on International Relations and Policy
Political Consequences of Climate Change on Small Island Developing States
The Rise of Virtual States: Implications for Traditional Sovereignty
Cyber Warfare and Its Effects on National Security Policies
The Politics of Pandemics: COVID-19 and Global Political Transformations
The Role of Youth Movements in Shaping Contemporary Political Agendas
The Impact of Cryptocurrencies on National and Global Economics
Political Dimensions of Deep Sea Resource Exploitation
The Influence of Celebrity Culture on Political Campaigns and Elections
The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Shaping Environmental Policies
The Politics of Water Scarcity and Its Global Security Implications
The Intersection of Neuroscience and Ethics in Political Decision Making
The Future of Work: Political Responses to Automation and AI in the Labor Market

Political Theorists Research Topics

As with any scientific field, theorists works take honorary place, especially when student should complete dissertation and include extensive literature review. To make matters easier, it is recommended by most college professors in the United States to examine works and political science theorists legacy. While such paper may not provide answers to global issues. Moreover, students can also choose comparative politics research questions by comparing several important personalities. Check this research topic ideas:

The Political Theories of John Rawls and Their Contemporary Relevance
Hannah Arendt's Analysis of Totalitarianism in the 21st Century
Michel Foucault's Concept of Power and Its Application in Modern Politics
The Influence of Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan on Modern State Theory
Karl Marx's Critique of Capitalism: Relevance in Today's Global Economy
Machiavelli's The Prince and Its Impact on Modern Political Leadership
The Contributions of Simone de Beauvoir to Feminist Political Thought
Jürgen Habermas and the Concept of the Public Sphere in Democratic Societies
Max Weber's Theory of Bureaucracy and Its Modern Interpretations
The Political Ideas of Frantz Fanon and Post-Colonial Studies
Isaiah Berlin's Two Concepts of Liberty and Modern Liberal Thought
Ayn Rand's Objectivism and Its Influence on Libertarian Politics
The Relevance of Rousseau's Social Contract in Contemporary Political Debates
Antonio Gramsci's Theory of Cultural Hegemony and Its Modern Applications
John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism and Its Role in Contemporary Policy Making

Political Conflicts Research Topics

Ranging from economic battles and elections to interests of each country in natural resources, most American senior college professors in different disciplines advice choosing social issues topics . Just look at countries that are in the middle of conflicts and focus on causes & effects at each stage. Here are several research topic examples:

The Geopolitical Dynamics of the South China Sea Dispute
The Political and Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen: Causes and Consequences
The Role of International Actors in the Syrian Conflict
The Impact of Brexit on Political Stability in Europe
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Historical Roots and Future Prospects
The North Korean Nuclear Crisis: Regional and Global Implications
The Political Ramifications of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
The United States-Iran Tensions: A Study of Escalation and Diplomacy
The Venezuelan Crisis: Political, Economic, and Social Dimensions
The Kashmir Conflict: Historical Background and Current Developments
The Role of Ethnicity in the Rwandan Genocide
The Cyprus Dispute: A Study of Divided Nations and International Mediation
The Impact of Climate Change on Political Conflicts in Africa
The Political Aftermath of the Arab Spring in the Middle East
The Role of Resource Wealth in Fueling Conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa

Political Science Research Topics on Conflict Resolution

It studies peaceful resolution methods of conflicting issues that vary from custody battles, gender bias in the workplace, and up to international conflicts with several countries involved. Most conflicts relate to social studies project topics because there is always socio-cultural argumentation to start with. Each conflict should be analyzed by offering background, methodology, clear structure, and strong thesis. Here are interesting topics for brainstorming:

The Effectiveness of the United Nations in Mediating International Conflicts
Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Reconciliation in Rwanda
The Role of Women in Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution
The Impact of International Sanctions on Conflict Resolution
The Oslo Accords: Lessons in Middle East Peace Negotiations
The Use of Track II Diplomacy in Resolving International Disputes
The Challenges of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration in Post-Conflict Societies
The Role of Regional Organizations in Conflict Resolution: The Case of ASEAN
The Impact of Natural Resources on Conflict and Its Resolution in Africa
Cyber Conflict Resolution: Emerging Trends and Strategies
The Role of International Courts in Resolving Territorial Disputes
The Impact of Climate Change on Resource Scarcity and Conflict
The Effectiveness of Peacekeeping Missions in Civil War Situations
The Role of Grassroots Movements in Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding
The Influence of External Actors on Internal Conflict Dynamics and Resolution Strategies

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Political Science Research Topics on Mediation & Negotiation

While negotiation deals with finding suitable compromise or conditions in a process, mediation stands for intervention in certain dispute with an aim to resolve it. It can be compared to arbitration, yet with involvement of good third party that is impartial. Topics also relate to conflicts and elections often covered by media.

The Role of Mediation in Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
International Mediation Efforts in the Syrian Civil War
The Effectiveness of UN Mediation in Global Conflict Zones
The Impact of Cultural Differences on International Negotiation Processes
The Use of Shuttle Diplomacy in Modern International Relations
The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in Conflict Mediation
Mediation Strategies in the South China Sea Territorial Disputes
The Influence of Economic Interests in International Negotiation Outcomes
The Challenges of Mediating Conflicts in Failed States
The Evolution of Mediation Techniques in Diplomatic Relations
The Role of Track II Diplomacy in De-escalating Political Tensions
The Impact of Social Media on Public Perception of International Negotiations
The Use of Mediation to Resolve Electoral Disputes in Developing Countries
The Effectiveness of Good Offices in International Dispute Resolution
The Role of International Law in Mediation and Negotiation Processes

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Political Science Research Topics

Table of contents

1 What Is a Political Science Research Paper?
2.1 Political Science Research Topics on Comparative Politics
2.2 International Relations Political Science Research Topics
2.3 Public Administration Political Science Research Topics
2.4 Public Law Political Science Research Topics
2.5 Philosophy Political Science Research Topics
2.6 Political Conflicts Research Topics
2.7 Theorists Political Science Research Topics
2.8 Conflict Resolution Political Science Research Topics
2.9 Mediation & Negotiation Political Science Research Topics
2.10 Empirical Political Science Research Topics
3 Conclusion

Today we are going to present to you the best interesting political science research topics, the ones that will help you get the best grade and impress your teacher. Here you have a complete guide with all the elements and the details you need to know about. We will also answer interesting political science research questions and present you with good ideas, facts about the thesis, and a lot more. Keep in mind that writing on these topics can be difficult, and this is not something all students like and want to do. Even the most interesting political science research topics will require tons of research, details, accurate facts, and so much more. We can say that you need to understand the topic 100% in order to write a paper that will do well!

Then we can see that most students have to complete a paper of this kind at some point. It is not strange that many of them are looking for research paper writing service to get help as soon as possible. After all, you will get a paper that is written by a professional, has no errors, and offers all the answers your professor will need. Yes, all political science philosophy research topics are possible and available. Anyway, let’s move to the political science research topic ideas you would like to know more about.

What Is a Political Science Research Paper?

A paper of this kind is an essay focused on government, politics, institutions, and the state in general. It can be focused on local, state, national, or international levels . Many political science topics are actually focused on the national or international level. This makes them more interesting to a reader but at the same time more complicated for a writer. Let’s see the Chinese communist party hierarchy in Vietnam as an example. The paper will be focused on the communist party of China and its links and effects on Vietnam. As you can see, this is a complicated matter, and you will have to perform a lot of research.

There are three main variations here. The first one is comparative politics, where you will compare two or more elements of politics. You can pick one you are for. The second is international relationships which are focused on cooperation between countries, institutions from different countries, and more. The last is a political theory that explains the theory of politics in simple terms. Now you know why many students will prefer to buy custom research paper and get the job done within minutes rather than days. Yes, you are going to need days to write a paper of this kind! American federal crimes are a common option here that is very complex.

Political Science Research Paper Writing Tips

Once you know all about the best political science research topics, the time will come to start writing. Here we have all the essential tips and effects that you must use. These are obtained from professional writers who have been in the business for decades. Hence, you may want to use these. If possible, always consider research topics for political science that you like or at least have an interest in. This will help you consider the paper more appealing and desirable.

If that is not possible, you will probably want to use all of these tips in the paper and get the best outcome. Below you can see research topics in political science for every major variation, and most of these are ideal for all kinds of students. Don’t forget that you can get research paper outline college easily and learn about a few basics before you start. Anyway, here are a few tips that are mandatory these days.

Your paper must include the opposite opinion. This is essential and must be present when writing about western constitutional law or anything else.
The facts you use in the paper must be 100% accurate and meet the current situation. You need to back up these using academic sources only. No blogs or anything similar!
Use statistics that are reliable, accurate, and available to us all in the United States.
Always research other topics and ideas that are similar. Take a look at similar papers as well.
One idea must come in one paragraph. There is no exception. This rule applies to all papers.
Never use a harsh tone or focus too much on sensitive subjects.
Don’t focus on one side only. You must cover both sides and their elements.
If you are writing about political parties, stay neutral. This is always a good idea.
Use quotes only when you have to. Never use too much of them unless you must or specify.
Never use slang or similar words. They don’t look professional, and they are bad for these papers.

Political Science Research Topics on Comparative Politics

There are a lot of political topics to write about in this category. Basically, you will compare national or international issues. The best example is comparing laws between two countries. You need to keep your focus on the methods that are used and how they are implemented. These are considered the simplest papers of all. Here are a few great comparative politics research topics.

Government soviet union ideology of apartheid
Foreign policies of the US versus the UK
FDI policies in the United States versus those in India
Comparing two political parties in the country
Recruitment details and specifics in developing countries
Modernization theory: Complete explanation
Revolution and conflicts in the United States
Cultural pressure between Japan and the United States
Parliamentary versus presidential democracy
Apartheid Phenomenon explanations and details

International Relations Political Science Research Topics

These topics will be focused on the global perspective. We can see environmental factors, global hunger, similar issues, and global ethics in general. The topics are broad, the lack of a better word and these can either be about something in a specific country or something that affects multiple countries or the entire world. Some students like these good political topics, and we have excellent examples below.

What causes global poverty?
Battles about the arctic circle
Global security networks: Ultimate analysis
Relations between China and US
What kind of effect does nationalism in Germany has
Geopolitics: Theories explained
Why did the Afghanistan war happen?
World terrorism increase
What kind of power United Nations does have?
Human rights act in Somalia

Public Administration Political Science Research Topics

Here we have a few topics that are very special. What this means is that you will have to write a paper about how government institutions work, administrators work and all are related. You can see elements of civil law court versus mediation, for instance. Anyway, below are 10 topics that will help you with your writing and also explain this type more.

Transportation Security: careers
Ethics of non-profit organizations
John Rohr’s constitutional vision
Methods for community development
The prewar vision of the constitution by Abraham Lincoln
Crisis management in your city or country
Public organizational behavior in your country
Fiscal management: Strategic planning
Coordination of governmental efforts
Federal Emergency Management Agency analysis

Public Law Political Science Research Topics

In general, these topics are all about public law and how it deals with public members. Keep in mind that private law is not the same. It deals with families and small groups, among others. Public law is more about taxes, the constitution and similar elements. Here are 10 topics regarding this type of paper you are going to like and probably write on.

Human Rights Act of 1998
Common morality and the criminal law
Well-known Legislators from Europe
Constitutional law in your country: Complete analysis
Public law: Mandatory rules
Judicial Review Argumentation Analysis
Commercial Exploitation or private law
Public bodies act lawfully in discussion
Inequality in post-conflict situations
Private law and procedural law in the United Kingdom

Philosophy Political Science Research Topics

Here you will usually have to tell others how society should look and be set up. You will cover specifics about society, laws, justice, liberty, and similar elements. You can even touch on details like the republic by Plato, for instance. There are a lot of examples, and in general, you will be focused on the theoretical, and philosophical parts of this science. As you can assume, here we have 10 stunning ideas.

Traditions by republicans in education
What caused American Revolution
Ethics of elections
Post-socialist era: Transition methods
Neopatrimonialism Society Risks
Mutual tolerance: can it be political virtue?
Civil Republicanism compared with Liberalism
Western Constitutional Law existentialism
German Philosophy & Karl Schmidt’s Theses
Liberal democracy: Why is it perfect?

Political Conflicts Research Topics

Yes, these topics here will be about conflicts in the country during elections, political parties, or economic battles. There are countless examples. One interesting is to look at a specific country that is in conflict at the moment. Focus on the causes, effects, and all the rest. This can be an interesting topic for some of you or can be the first one you will try to avoid.

Resolution methods for the Yemen conflict
Conflict in Afghanistan
Religion and politics conflict
Immigrant crisis in Mexico
Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s conflict
Political conflicts: hate speech and free speech
Syrian Government Repression
Central African Republic: What caused rebellion?
What caused the civil war?
How can you settle a political dispute?

Theorists Political Science Research Topics

These topics are all about taking a deep look into the theory of something. You can even review a piece of literature which can make things easier. In general, the topics are easier because they are focused on theory rather than on practical application. But, they may need to activate your abstract mind in order to work well. The 10 you can see below are very common and very appealing.

Theory of Governance by Aristotle
Іs Karl max a father of communism?
Zionism explained and researched
Communism approach and Vladimir Lenin
Justice and liberty challenges
Phoenicianism Political theory
Sovereignty by Jean Bodin
Frederic Bastiat Theses
John Austin Theory
Communism and socialism in eastern Europe

Conflict Resolution Political Science Research Topics

For most of you, these ideas will be the simplest and most straightforward. You will discuss only peaceful methods and options that can be used to solve any political issues such as gender equality or similar. Your goal will be to find a problem and present a solution for that problem. It should be researched, and you should believe in it and that it will work.

African American prisoner conflict
The power distribution of Arctica
Oil conflict in Iran
Security leadership conflict after 9/11
Collaboration methods in Afghanistan
The bias of news coverage media
The foreign policy of the US
Right and left-wing parties: Concession
Personal ambitions of political leaders
Art legacy in post-war countries

Mediation & Negotiation Political Science Research Topics

Negotiation is finding a peaceful solution to a problem. Mediation is an intervention that should resolve a problem in order to prevent escalation. Here we have amazing ideas and examples of many papers that are very effective, detailed, and common. Take a deep look into these 10 and try to pick the ones you really like and want to write on.

Social movements and volunteering
Hostage care for prisoners in foreign countries
Agricultural land disputes: Negotiation methods
Mediation policies versus civil law
Dispute resolution methods: Alternatives you can use
Mediation agreement: a case study
Modern whistleblowers in America
Negotiation methods in wartime
Analysis of election agenda
International Arbitration Tribunal Mediation Process

Empirical Political Science Research Topics

Here you will write about the basics and main details of politics. You can see some of the examples, and you need to know one thing. You must include a lot of evidence here. But, this type of evidence is hard to find; hence you may need current help. As always, use only current data and facts when writing. These topics are the latest and must be valid right now.

Experimental research importance for political science
The foreign policy of Russia: Simple approach
Geneva convection and refugee rights
Educational inequalities in China: How it affects children
Civil society basics
How do civil wars start?
Constitution of the United States if founding fathers had access to modern technologies
Modern politics and civil society
Is social media a new public administration tool?
The rise of China and the transformation in the international system

If you are having trouble deciding on a political science research topic, consider looking into a custom essay writing service to help you out. They can provide you with a unique and interesting topic that you can use for your writing a research paper . Custom essay writing services are used by many students to get the best results and make sure their essays are interesting and well-thought out.

As you were able to see here, you will [have to write about anything that touches politics, state or government, or anything in between. You may have to write on war interests aggregation recruitment, liberal democracy justification, and so much more. Always remember to use the topics we have provided at the top and make sure to get as much help as needed. These are not simple essays that you can complete within hours. You will need days only to conduct the research.

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Political Science Research Guide

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Taking the time to carefully choose and refine your topic can save you significant time and effort later in your research.

How to Choose a Topic This short video tells you the questions to ask and describes the process of choosing a workable research question.
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Studies in Indian Politics: Sage Journals
0.3 0.6. JOURNAL HOMEPAGE. SUBMIT PAPER. Studies in Indian Politics (SIP) features research writings on various aspects of Indian politics. Articles based on original research and carried out in qualitative and quantitative methodological frameworks are published in SIP. With India being the … | View full journal description.
800 Political Science Research Paper Topics
Political Science Research Paper Topics. This page provides a comprehensive list of political science research paper topics, carefully curated to assist students pursuing studies in the field of political science. Covering a wide array of categories, these topics offer a wealth of options for research and exploration.
The Indian Journal of Political Science
The Indian Journal of Political Science is one of the most reputed refereed journals of Political Science at international level and the foremost journal of the discipline in India. A quarterly publication, the journal reflects the intellectual tradition and dedication of its parent body, the Indian Political Science Association (IPSA),toward the advancement of political science, scientific ...
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Political Science research topics are significant geo-political issues encompassing all the legislations, administration, policy frameworks, comparative politics, defence and safety measures of the nation. ... Media and Public Opinion in Transport Policy in India; Also Check: Types of Research Methodology for Students. 5. Political Science ...
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100+ Research Topics In Politics (+ Free Webinar)
Here, we'll explore a variety of politically-related research ideas across a range of disciplines, including political theory and philosophy, comparative politics, international relations, public administration and policy. NB - This is just the start…. The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps.
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Centre for Policy Research
August 30, 2024. The Centre for Policy Research (CPR) has been one of India's leading public policy think tanks since 1973. The institution nurtures and supports scholarly excellence.
: Studies in Indian Politics: Sage Journals
Age and Party Choice: Generational Shift in India. The State as Guardian of the Social Order: Conservatism in Indian Political Thought and Its Modern Manifestations. Saving Indian Villages: British Empire, the Great Depression and Gandhi's Civil Disobedience Movement. Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading ...
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The Indian Journal of Political Science (IJPS) is the quarterly peer-reviewed and refereed journal published by the Indian Political Science Association in March, June, September and December every year. Started in 1939, the IJPS is one of the most reputed and refereed journals of Political Science at international level and, in fact, the ...
Studies in Indian Politics
Established in 2013, Studies in Indian Politics (SIP) is a double-blind peer-reviewed bi-annual journal published by the Centre for the Studies of Developing Societies (CSDS) and managed by SAGE. SIP features research writings on various aspects of Indian politics. Articles based on original research, carried out in qualitative and quantitative ...
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By employing these methodologies, researchers can select political science project topics that are relevant, feasible, and ethically sound, ultimately contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field of political science. Top 100 Political Science Project Topics: Category Wise Comparative Politics. Comparative analysis of democratic ...
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576 views. An interdisciplinary journal which focuses on the actions, decisions, and policies made from local to international levels - and the societal factors that influence governmental operation.
Political Science Research Topics: 125 Best Ideas
Political Science Research Topics: The List of 125 Best Picks. Check out our list of 125 great topics for political science research that offer a window into understanding how governments and societies operate. With these suggestions, you won't need to struggle to find a good project idea for your political science class.
100 Best Political Science Research Topics
European Politics. 31) Authoritarianism and Media Politics in Turkey. 32) Austerity, White Identity Politics, and Brexit. 33) Ethnic and Religious Minority Representation in the European Union. 34) European Public Opinion on Russia's Invasion of Ukraine. 35) Far-Right Political Mobilization in Europe.
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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.
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134-139 Comparative Assessments of Indian Democracy. by Dishil Shrimankar. 140-149 â€˜Documents of Powerâ€™: Historical Method and the Study of Politics. by Tanweer Fazal. 150-152 Book review: Jelle J. P. Wouters, ed. Vernacular Politics in Northeast India: Democracy, Ethnicity & Indigeneity. by Ankur Tamuli Phukan.
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7Case studies analyze elections from the vantage point of a relatively limited political territory, which can be the village (for instance Somjee 1959), the city (or, within the city, the mohalla, the basti), the constituency, the district, or the state. The major discipline involved in this type of research has been political science.
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Political Science is not merely a discipline but an intellectual pursuit that goes beyond the boundaries of the discipline. It has the potential to provide. conceptual tools for reconstruction of social relations. We, in India, are. in need of a political theory empirically grounded and oriented to change.
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6. Nationalism and politics. Indians nearly universally take great pride in their country. Fully 96% of Indian adults say they are very proud to be Indian, and similarly large percentages say they are very proud to be from their state and to be a member of their religious community. While nearly everyone is proud to be Indian, there is somewhat ...
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Political science research paper topics should be researchable and include sufficient amount of academic sources. Here are some topics to consider: The Political Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Global Governance. Analyzing the Role of Social Media in Modern Political Revolutions.
Political Science Research Topics
Even the most interesting political science research topics will require tons of research, details, accurate facts, and so much more. ... FDI policies in the United States versus those in India; Comparing two political parties in the country; Recruitment details and specifics in developing countries; Modernization theory: Complete explanation ...
Getting Started
Taking the time to carefully choose and refine your topic can save you significant time and effort later in your research. ... The SAGE Handbook of Research Methods in Political Science and International Relations. Doing Research in Political Science. Empirical Research and Writing: A Political Science Student's Practical Guide.

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Top 7 Political Science Research Topics 2024

1. Political Science Research Topics on International Relations

2. Political Science Research Topics on Domestic Relations

3. Political Science Research Topics on Comparative Politics

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5. Political Science Research Topics on Public Policy

6. Political Science Research Topics on Public Law

7. Political Science Research Topics on Security Studies

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