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research paper topics political economy

Best Political Economy Dissertation Topics in 2023

Political Economy Dissertation Topics: Universal political Economy is considered an interdisciplinary academic discipline, which assesses global and economic relations. IPE is mostly connected with international business, macroeconomics, improvement of financial aspects, and international advancement. Political economy is the study of how economic and political systems interact with and shape each other. It is a broad […]

political economy dissertation topics

Political Economy Dissertation Topics: Universal political Economy is considered an interdisciplinary academic discipline, which assesses global and economic relations. IPE is mostly connected with international business, macroeconomics, improvement of financial aspects, and international advancement.

Political economy is the study of how economic and political systems interact with and shape each other. It is a broad field that encompasses the ways in which economic policies and political institutions affect the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

Political economy also looks at how different economic systems, such as capitalism, socialism, and communism, function and how they influence political, social, and cultural outcomes. The study of political economy can help us understand how economic and political decisions impact people’s lives and how we can create more equitable and efficient societies.

Check out related posts:

  • Best Politics Dissertation Topics
  • 37 Public economics dissertation topics Ideas

Table of Contents

Best Political Economy Dissertation Topics Ideas for Students

Here are some potential political economy dissertation topics that you might consider:

Good Political Economy Research Titles

  • The political economy of taxation in developing countries
  • The impact of trade policy on economic inequality
  • The political economy of monetary policy
  • The effects of government regulation on financial markets
  • The role of international institutions in global economic governance
  • The political economy of environmental policy
  • The influence of campaign finance on government decision-making
  • The economic consequences of government corruption
  • The impact of interest groups on economic policy
  • The relationship between economic growth and political stability
  • The effects of globalization on labor markets
  • The political economy of education policy
  • The role of the media in shaping economic policy
  • The impact of technology on the global economy
  • The effects of demographic change on economic outcomes
  • The political economy of healthcare policy

Hot Dissertation Titles Ideas on Political Economy

  • The role of civil society in shaping economic policy
  • The effects of cultural factors on economic development
  • The political economy of immigration policy
  • The impact of natural disasters on economic outcomes
  • The economic consequences of war and conflict
  • The effects of technological change on income inequality
  • The political economy of infrastructure investment
  • The role of the state in shaping economic development
  • The impact of macroeconomic policies on poverty reduction
  • The political economy of food security
  • The effects of urbanization on economic outcomes
  • The role of the private sector in economic development
  • The impact of development assistance on economic growth
  • The political economy of education financing

Trending Political Economy Dissertation Topics

  • The effects of financial sector development on economic growth
  • The role of entrepreneurship in economic development
  • The impact of property rights on economic performance
  • The political economy of public goods provision
  • The effects of monetary policy on financial inclusion
  • The role of industrial policy in economic development
  • The impact of trade openness on economic growth
  • The political economy of natural resource management
  • The effects of infrastructure development on economic growth
  • The role of social protection in economic development
  • The impact of corruption on economic performance
  • The political economy of health financing
  • The effects of exchange rate policy on economic outcomes
  • The role of development banks in economic development
  • The impact of political instability on economic growth
  • The political economy of income redistribution
  • The effects of trade agreements on economic performance
  • The role of the informal sector in economic development
  • The impact of climate change on economic outcomes
  • The political economy of public sector reform
  • The effects of technological change on employment
  • The role of regional integration in economic development
  • The impact of inequality on economic growth
  • The political economy of financial regulation
  • The effects of monetary policy on income distribution
  • The role of foreign direct investment in economic development
  • The impact of population aging on economic outcomes

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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

Research topic evaluator

Topics & Ideas: Public Policy

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

Examples: Politics Dissertations & Theses

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

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

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

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

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

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  • Frontiers in Political Science
  • Political Economy
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Insights in Political Economy: 2022

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Keywords : state and business relations, globalization, political economy, monetary politics, coordinated capitalism

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Article contents

International political economy: overview and conceptualization.

  • Renée Marlin-Bennett Renée Marlin-Bennett International Studies, Johns Hopkins
  •  and  David K. Johnson David K. Johnson Political Science, Johns Hopkins University
  • https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.013.239
  • Published in print: 01 March 2010
  • Published online: 22 December 2017
  • This version: 22 January 2021
  • Previous version

The concept of international political economy (IPE) encompasses the intersection of politics and economics as goods, services, money, people, and ideas move across borders. The term “international political economy” began to draw the attention of scholars in the mid-1960s amid problems of the world economy and lagging development in the third world. The term “global political economy” (GPE) later came to be used frequently to illustrate that what happens in the world is not only about interactions between states and that the GPE includes many different kinds of actors. The survey aims at a comprehensive picture of the different schools of IPE, both historically and as they have developed in the early 21st century. Authors of antiquity, such as Aristotle and Kautilya, explored the relationship between the political and the economic long before the term “political economy” was coined, presumably by Antoine de Montchrestien in 1613. The mercantilist writings of the 17th and 18th centuries, including those of Colbert, Mun, and Hamilton, argued in favor of the state using its powers to increase its wealth. List, writing in the 19th century, emphasized the tension between national economic self-determination and free markets. The 19th- to 20th-century iteration of the mercantilist view can be found in the form of economic nationalist policies, which link to a realist approach to international relations more generally. Theorists of the Global South have adapted economic nationalist policies to address the problem of development. The liberal tradition of IPE also has historical antecedents, beginning with classical political economy. Examples include the influential works of Locke, Hume, Smith, and Ricardo. After World War II, the economic writings of Keynes, Hayek, and Friedman were influential. Variants of neoliberal IPE can be found from the 1950s with scholarship on integration and from the late 1970s with scholarship on international regimes. Late-20th-century and early-21st-century liberal scholarship has also explored varieties of capitalism and economic crises. An alternative stream of IPE can be traced through Marxian political economy, beginning with the work of Marx and Engels in the 19th century and proliferating globally. This approach provides a critique of capitalism. Other critical approaches that have emerged in the 20th and 21st centuries include feminist global political economy and postcolonial critiques of liberal and Marxian analyses. Trends in scholarship include analyses of China and transition of the neoliberal order, queer theory for global political economy, and studies of growing trends toward precarious forms of labor. A final section discusses research beginning in the 1990s that is relevant to the global political economy of transborder transmission of disease, a topic of special concern in light of the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020.

  • international political economy
  • global political economy
  • mercantilism
  • economic nationalism
  • classical liberalism
  • neoliberal institutionalism
  • neoclassical liberalism
  • postcoloniality

Updated in this version

Light revision throughout, added discussions of postcoloniality and Covid-19

Introduction

Research in the field of international political economy, as described in this overview, includes work grounded in different schools of thought and drawing upon distinct conceptualizations of important concepts, relationships, and causal understandings. Antoine de Montchrestien ( 1889 ) is reputed to have introduced the term œconomie politique in his treatise of 1613 , by which he referred to the study of how states should manage the economy or make policy. The concept of international political economy has come to encompass a larger range of concerns, including the intersection of politics and economics, as goods, services, money, people, and ideas move across borders. The term “international political economy” (IPE) began to appear in the scholarly literature in the mid-1960s as problems of the world economy and development in the third world gained scholarly attention. The term “global political economy” (GPE) came into sporadic use at about the same time. GPE was (and is) often used more or less synonymously with IPE, though IPE approaches usually emphasize the individual nation-state as the basic unit of analysis, while GPE approaches tend to be more holistic, placing states and other kinds of actors within larger structures or the global system. Gill ( 1990 ) notes that in the 1980s, the terminological difference between IPE and GPE came to mark a difference in methodological orientation, mapping onto more or less “mainstream” and “critical” approaches, respectively. By the end of the 1990s, the GPE came to be used by both mainstream scholars (Gilpin, 2001 , and Cohn, 2016 , are examples) and critical scholars, although critical scholars are more likely to use GPE exclusively. (This article omits a full discussion of the development of IPE in the Global South and its engagement with GPE, a topic covered in Deciancio and Quiliconi, 2020 ). This survey of IPE and GPE scholarship proceeds in a roughly historical plan and consists of eight sections. It begins with some very early works on the intersection of politics and economics, and then it turns to the mercantilist school and its 20th-century successor, economic nationalism. The next section traces the development of the liberal tradition of political economy, including classical political economy, Keynesianism, neoclassical economics, and neoliberalism. This discussion is followed by sections on the Marxian, feminist, and postcolonial global political economy. The penultimate section briefly discusses some trends of scholarship in the 21st century , especially moving into the 2020s. The survey concludes with a discussion of scholarship (published prior to May 2020 ) that is relevant for assessing the global political economy reverberations of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Politics and Economics: Early Works

The study of the relationship between economic activities and state interests originated long before the term “political economy” was coined. Two examples of very early works include writings by Aristotle ( 384–322 bce ), who criticized Plato’s conception of communal ownership and placed the state in the role of guarantor of private property in The Politics , and Kautilya ( ca . 350–283 bce ), the Indian author of Arthashastra , a book of statecraft, who wrote of the need for the ruler to send spies to the marketplace to ensure fair weights and measures (Kautilya, 1915 ). In the Middle Ages, Islamic social theorist Ibn Khaldun ( 1332–1406 ) wrote about the relationship between governing structures and productivity of people (Ibn Khaldun, 1967 ). Another Muslim scholar of this era, Al-Maqrizi (d. 1442) ( 1994 ), analyzed governmental policies, including monetary policy. Niccolò Machiavelli ( 1469–1527 ), generally seen as a political theorist, was mindful of the relationship between the state and the economy as well, at least in the sense that a primary role of the prince or of a republican government is to protect private property. He called “public security and the protection of the laws [. . .] the sinews of agriculture and of commerce,” and suggested that the protection of property rights was important “so that the one may not abstain from embellishing his possessions for fear of their being taken from him, and [. . .] not hesitate to open a new traffic for fear of taxes” (Machiavelli, 1882 , p. 448; see also Machiavelli, 1979 , ch. XVI, on how princes ought to spend—or not spend—money).

Governments traditionally were held responsible for defending their own citizens’ property, but they had no such obligation toward conquered peoples. The European Age of Exploration led unsurprisingly to the expropriation of resources, since the purpose of those conquests was to bring home wealth in the form of gold, silver, and other precious materials. Enslavement of the indigenous peoples and profiting from their resources was considered consistent with natural law, as Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda, drawing on Aristotle, argued in 1550 (Garcia-Pelayo, 1986 ).

Sepúlveda’s opinion was commonly, but not universally, held. The famous opposition to Spain’s inhuman treatment of indigenous people was published by Bartolomé de Las Casas in 1552 . He charged that the “avarice and ambition” that motivated the Spaniards and led them to perpetrate acts of barbarism were, to use a modern term, “illegitimate” (Las Casas, 2007 ). At a time when imperial conquest was considered the natural goal for states, Las Casas sounded a normative message—that the state cannot act with impunity and that the quest for riches does not excuse unjust forms of violence. The Sepúlveda–Las Casas debate prefigured future debates over the norms of international political economic interaction.

From Mercantilism to Economic Nationalism

Adam Smith referred dismissively to the various theories and policies on how states should intervene in markets to increase wealth and power as “mercantilism.” The more neutral-sounding “economic nationalism” became the successor term in more recent times. In both cases, assumptions about the role of the state conform to a general realist model, although a form of economic nationalism has also been espoused by theorists and polities of the Global South with the aim of “delinking” from relations of dependency on the North. This section traces the development of theories of mercantilism and economic nationalism from the 16th century to the 21st .

Mercantilism

The two-volume history of mercantilism by Eli Heckscher ( 1935 ) outlines at least four elements of this school of thought. Following List, and especially Schmoller, mercantilism is identified as the economic element of creating national states from disparate regions. Mercantilism is also characterized as a specific conceptualization of the nature of wealth that stresses the critical nature of inflows. The lack of reciprocal demand, the difficulty of facilitating accumulation in early agrarian societies, and the differential ability of various economic pursuits regarding generating employment opportunities are central to this element. A third characterization of mercantilism is as a body of policy designed to decrease the cost of inputs and facilitate production in the face of competition. Finally, mercantilism is characterized as a belief in the importance of enhancing the power and wealth of a state, so that it is better able to direct resources both at home and abroad. The best-known mercantilist theories focus on maintaining a positive balance of trade and payments by limiting imports or encouraging exports. One variant, bullionism, focuses on the desirability of increasing a country’s supply of gold and silver. (See Viner, 1937 , for a detailed history of English writings on mercantilism and “bullionism” prior to Adam Smith. A more recent and strongly proneoclassical liberal discussion of the relationship of historical theories of mercantilism to monetary policy can be found in Humphrey, 1999 .)

European exploration and conquest of new lands led to intellectual debate, starting in France in the 16th century , over which policies would best achieve these ends. An influx of gold and silver led to instability in the value of money. Commentators began to consider the government’s role in determining the value of money, the terms of trade, and other facets of what scholars since the mid- 20th century would call international political economy. Jean Bodin, for example, wrote in 1568 about how the value of specie would fluctuate with supply and demand and warned that government interference would only worsen the situation. “A ruler,” he wrote, “who changes the price of gold and silver ruins his people, country and himself” (cited in Turchetti, 2018 ). Instead, as Luigi Cossa ( 1880 , p. 117) noted, Bodin argued that the oversupply of money that resulted in price increases “would be turned to better advantage by a fiscal system promoting the growth of national manufactures in opposition to the excessive consumption of foreign goods.” Antoine de Monchrestien drew heavily on the work of Bodin to advocate for government protection of manufactures. (See Ashley, 1891 , and Perry, 1883 , for discussions of Monchrestien’s work.)

An influential supporter of mercantilism was Jean Baptiste Colbert, minister of finance for King Louis XIV of France. He increased taxes, created benefits for production that would substitute for imports, and worked to bring wealth into the country through his policies, which were referred to as Colbertism. In 1664 , he wrote a memorandum to the king in which he argued “that only the abundance of money in a State makes the difference in its greatness and power.” He advocated government intervention in markets to increase domestic manufactures, to encourage imports of raw materials to be used for manufactures, and to support the exportation of manufactured goods. To encourage French traders to sell goods widely, he also advocated rewards for building or buying new ships and for long-distance voyages (Colbert, 1998 ). Thomas Mun, a director of the British East India Company, expressed similar views in a widely read defense of mercantilism. He argued that a country’s wealth is increased if a positive balance of trade is maintained. England should try to produce as much of what it must consume as possible and import as little as possible for its own consumption. People should tame their appetites to avoid wanting foreign garments and foods. However, having English traders purchase valuable wares from distant locales, bring them back to England, and, from England, reexport them would, according to Mun, serve to increase the national treasure. Mercantilism, in other words, would result in a net inflow of gold and silver—commodities not produced in any great quantity from English mines—and this would be the only way for England to increase its wealth (Mun, 1895 ).

The protectionist policies of mercantilism held considerable attractiveness as countries sought to industrialize and develop their economies. Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, provided a Report on Manufactures to Congress in which he outlined steps that the young country should take to secure its economy, especially in opposition to the economic might of other countries. Creating an economy based on manufactures, Hamilton argued, would protect the United States from being dependent on other countries “for military and other essential supplies.” He implicitly countered the argument of the physiocrats, discussed in the section “ Early Liberal Writers ,” who stressed the importance of agriculture over manufactures. Hamilton maintained that the country was best served by encouraging the development of manufacturing. Using machines would allow for the full employment of the population (including women and children) in order to increase the country’s self-sufficiency—and therefore its wealth and security (Hamilton, 1913 , p. 3).

Friedrich List, a German scholar and politician who later became a naturalized American citizen, extended Hamilton’s argument by emphasizing that states should take advantage of their own human resources—that is, the ability of people to produce agricultural and manufactured products through their innovation, hard work, and the natural environment. He argued that “it is of the utmost concern for a nation [. . .] first fully to supply its own wants, its own consumption with the products of its own manufactures,” he wrote. Only then should a country trade with others. List also developed the proposition that young economies could not compete with more established, more technologically advanced ones until the younger country had invested in developing its domestic industry. He emphasized “that a nation is richer and more powerful in proportion as it exports more manufactured products, imports more raw materials, and consumes more tropical commodities.” Government policies should therefore work toward these goals (List, 1909 , pp. 76–77). For a classic but much overlooked contribution to the tensions between protectionism and free trade in theories of IPE, see E. H. Carr ( 2001 , pp. 41–62).

Economic Nationalism

The 20th century marked a shift in theoretical labels. “Mercantilism” was supplanted by “economic nationalism,” a more neutral term and one that is more easily interpreted from a realist perspective. Economic nationalists are realists who expect the contest for wealth to mirror the contest for power in international relations. However, they often articulate a somewhat schizophrenic view: theorists who write about economic nationalism often see it as an unfortunate, economically inefficient, but unavoidable fact of international life. For example, in 1931 , T. E. Gregory criticized economic nationalism, but explained that such policies continued to be implemented because citizens and governments were reacting to six factors. They (a) feared “dependence on foreign markets for the sale of your products”; (b) saw “the danger of intervention in the domestic market by the foreign capitalist”; (c) desired “to reserve for the intelligence of the country itself such positions of honour and prestige as are offered by the existence of growing industries and a growing financial structure”; (d) realized “the undesirability of allowing [. . .] raw materials to be owned by foreigners”; (e) worried about the risk “that in a period of war, if you depend on foreign food supplies, you may find yourself in a very difficult situation, and therefore you ought to grow your own food”; and (f) believed that keeping “agriculture going as a type of economic production” would guarantee a supply of “vigorous manhood”—men who would be strong soldiers in times of war (pp. 292–294). Similarly, Gregory’s contemporary, Charles Schrecker, begins his discussion of “the causes, characteristics and possible consequences” of economic nationalism with the caveat that he “consider[s] this tendency [toward economic nationalism] in its ultimate effects to be regrettable and detrimental to the future economic welfare of humanity” (Schrecker, 1934 , p. 208).

This differentiation between the scholars’ personal beliefs and their analytical stance continues in more recent scholarship. Judith Goldstein ( 1986 ) discusses the principle of “free and fair” trade as a norm of U.S. trade policy, and she finds that while “free trade” is consistent with liberal economic analysis (which, by implication, she endorses), “fair trade” refers to protecting U.S. firms from unfair trade practices of other countries. In other words, U.S. trade policy ultimately pursues mechanisms that support the interests of those groups that capture the state and persuade policymakers of their claims. Eric Helleiner ( 2002 ), through a careful reading of the 19th-century economic nationalists, makes the sophisticated argument that economic nationalism has always been nationalist—that is, realist—first and economic second. In other words, he argues that countries choose economic policies for nationalist purposes. Sometimes these policies will be liberal, when it suits the country to deploy liberal policies; sometimes the policies will be protectionist, when protection is expected to lead to desired ends. In this analysis, liberal policies may be wholly consistent with theoretical explanations of economic nationalism. In a similar vein, Robert Gilpin clarifies the separation of analytical tools and preferred outcomes. He implicitly accepts the normative goals of liberalism while interpreting behavior in terms of “state centric realism,” a theoretical perspective closely connected to economic nationalism. He writes, “Although realists recognize the central role of the state, security, and power in international affairs, they do not necessarily approve of this situation. [. . .] It is possible to analyze international economic affairs from a realist perspective and at the same time to have normative commitment to certain ideals” (Gilpin, 2001 , pp. 15–16). Cohn ( 2016 ) elaborates these difficulties in the treatment of “neomercantilism.”

Economic Nationalism and Development

For many theorists, however, economic nationalism takes on a more positive hue when argued from the position of infant industries and developing country economies that need to develop internally before they can compete in global markets. Thus, tenets of economic nationalism have appealed to many writers in the Global South. Julius Nyerere, the first president of Tanzania, could be considered a (somewhat ironic) example. Nyerere’s ujamaa (“familyhood”) policies can be divided into two: a frankly socialist “villagization” policy in which people were moved onto collective farms and a mercantilist self-reliance policy in which Tanzania was supposed to detach itself from dependence on the industrialized world. Ultimately, his policy failed on both counts: the collective farms were unproductive, Tanzania became more dependent on aid from other countries, and the democratic ideals of the movement deteriorated (Prashad, 2008 , pp. 191–203). The idea of self-reliance, however, resonates closely with economic nationalist emphasis on the ability of states to produce for their own basic needs (Amin, 1990 ; Nyerere, 1967 ).

In general, theories advocating import substitution industrialization fall into this category of developing country economic nationalism. Economist Raúl Prebisch, working on behalf of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America, formulated the theory of dependent development, which explained how industrialization in the developing world could continue to keep countries dependent on advanced economies in the “core.” These peripheral country economies were too closely tied to production for export. Instead, he argued that developing countries needed to implement import-substituting industrialization (ISI) policies. By delinking from the dependent economic relationships that they have with core countries, developing countries could build their own economies. He advocated the mechanization of agriculture, industrialization, and technological advance (Prebisch, 1986 ). In short, “the fundamental arguments of [Alexander] Hamilton’s Report on Manufactures have a striking similarity with those of Prebisch and his staff” (Grunwald, 1970 , p. 826). (Of course, the results of ISI policies have been highly uneven. See, for example, the analysis of Albert Hirschman, 1968 , and Vijay Prashad, 2014 , on the difficulties of ISI as a development strategy.)

From Classical Liberalism to Neoliberal Institutionalism and Neoclassical Liberalism

In contrast to the emphasis on state power and state interests that characterizes mercantilism and economic nationalism, liberalism emphasizes possessive individualism and the individual as the bearer of rights (Macpherson, 1973 ). The political economic theory that results from the emphasis on the individual is grounded in the idea that markets should be allowed to function as freely as possible and that the purpose of economic activity is not to benefit the government but rather to benefit individuals who, through their efforts, earn income, purchase goods, and constitute the basic unit of economic life.

Early Liberal Writers

Among the most important of these liberal rights from the perspective of political economy is that of property. For John Locke ( 1884 ), the right to property was natural; for David Hume ( 1992 ), the right to property was the result of interactions over time between people. (See also Sugden, 1989 , on Hume’s view of property.) Liberals reject the idea that the purpose of the state is to gather wealth. Instead, the state exists to provide security and to safeguard property.

In the liberal tradition, “political economy” came to be associated expansively with the relationship between governments, markets, welfare, and wealth. Discourse on Political Economy by Jean-Jacques Rousseau ( 1983 ), originally written for Diderot’s Encyclopédie , was an example of this. For Rousseau, political economy referred rather generally to those policies and laws that aim to protect and promote society being governed. What set Rousseau’s view apart from mercantilism was the liberal ethos that pervaded his writing: citizens were individuals who held rights; they had private wills; and collectively the community as a whole had a general will. States were bound by the rule of law and, in adhering to the general will, had the responsibility for protecting citizens’ rights, including property rights, but Rousseau was silent on what later writers would term “laissez-faire” policies, a free market vision of popular (as opposed to tyrannical) political economy. Instead, Rousseau seemed to have a very specific view of important government intervention in the economy: “One of the most important functions of the government” is to prevent extreme differences in wealth, since extremes of opulence and poverty erode the sense of “common cause” among citizens. To prevent such inequality and to provide the other functions of government, the state must tax, but, because the right to one’s own property was fundamental, taxation must be limited and levied fairly and progressively (those living at subsistence levels paying nothing, the rich paying relative to their wealth), in accordance with the general will. Rousseau’s popular political economy was thus liberal in protecting rights yet interventionist with respect to taxation and the uses of taxes.

The physiocrats introduced the idea of laissez-faire , laissez-passer (“let do and let pass,” in other words, the government should not interfere in the market) as a goal for states. They argued that the state should avoid intervention wherever possible, and especially avoid the taxation of agriculture. François Quesnay’s Economical Table presented a view of economics that placed a strong emphasis on the value of agriculture and the “sterility” of manufactures (Quesnay, 1968 ), in contrast to the mercantile emphasis on encouraging manufactures. The physiocrats favored agriculture because, in their calculation, the value of the output—crops—exceeded the value of the inputs used to produce the crops: land, labor, seeds, and the like. Artisans who manufactured things, the physiocrats maintained, only produced goods that equal the value of the inputs because competition would drive prices down to the level that only covered costs. Quesnay and the other physiocrats understood the limited supply of land and the ability of farmers to produce more than was needed for subsistence as evidence of the superior productivity of agriculture (Quesnay, 1968 ; also Bilginsoy, 1994 ). A major policy goal of the physiocrats was to “prevent deviations of the market price of industrial goods from their fundamental price, and to guarantee the maintenance of the proper price in the agricultural sector—the price high enough to cover the unit costs and rent” (Bilginsoy, 1994 , p. 531). The government, in their view, should limit taxes on agricultural products to ways that meet this goal. The French policies then in place of protecting manufacturers from foreign imports and of the government selling the right to tax farming to wealthy citizens thus had a particularly deleterious effect on the economy (Quesnay, n.d. ).

Adam Smith, whose Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations is often seen as the foundational work in the field of political economy, built on the work of the physiocrats, as well as that of Hume. Smith, who first referred to political economy in the eighth paragraph of the introduction to the book, understood the term as concerning causal theories about what governments believe they ought to do—which policies they think they should implement—to increase their wealth. The purpose of political economy, according to Smith ( 1904 ), was

first, to provide a plentiful revenue or subsistence for the people, or more properly to enable them to provide such a revenue or subsistence for themselves; and secondly, to supply the state or commonwealth with a revenue sufficient for the public services. It proposes to enrich both the people and the sovereign. (Book IV, Introduction)

The first purpose is achieved primarily through free markets, with Smith advocating for reliance upon “invisible hand.” The second is achieved through some government involvement in the economy, including the provision of funds for militias to defend against foreign invaders; setting up a system to pay for the administration of justice (with revenues for this purpose coming, perhaps, from court fees); providing public works such as roads, bridges, and postal services (which, with fees attached, may produce revenue for the government); and education (Viner, 1948 ).

For what later came to be known as international political economy, Adam Smith, like the physiocrats before him, made a major intellectual contribution with his rejection of the common mercantile practices of his age. In contrast to mercantilists like Colbert and Mun, Smith opposed the government’s intervention in markets to maintain a positive balance of trade. Smith ( 1904 ) wrote:

We trust, with perfect security, that the freedom of trade, without any attention of government, will always supply us with the wine which we have occasion for; and we may trust, with equal security, that it will always supply us with all the gold and silver which we can afford to purchase or to employ, either in circulating our commodities or in other uses. (IV.1.11)

Some IPE scholars, however, have highlighted Smith’s “agonism” in relation to the contradictions of the free market system, reading Smith not so much as an unequivocal supporter of the laissez-faire economics, as he is often assumed to be, but rather as a careful observer of the positive and negative aspects of the market economy (Arrighi, 2007 ; Blaney & Inayatullah, 2010 ; Shilliam, 2020 ). This reading both contributes to a reappraisal of the classical tradition and serves as a critique of its contemporary reception in neoclassical economic theory, suggesting a different path for economic studies at large.

Immanuel Kant, in his famous essay on perpetual peace, extended the liberal optimism about the beneficial effects of trade. An international federation of republics would naturally trade with each other, and the positive effects of commerce would stand as a bulwark against hostilities. “The spirit of trade cannot coexist with war, and sooner or later this spirit dominates every people. For among all those powers (or means) that belong to a nation, financial power may be the most reliable in forcing nations to pursue the noble cause of peace (though not from moral motives)” (Kant, 1983 , p. 125). Thus, as scholars such as Jahn ( 2013 ) and Ince ( 2018 ) have demonstrated, classical liberal thought has always contained an essentially international dimension, the study of which is instructive for understanding later forms of liberal IPE.

Comparative Advantage

An important question for international political economy is, Why engage in international trade? In On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation , Englishman David Ricardo ( 1821 ) built upon Smith’s support for international trade. In this work, Ricardo outlined the theory of comparative costs (comparative advantage), a cornerstone of trade theory to the present day. The common view had been that states trade with one another when one has an absolute advantage in the production of something and the trading partner has an absolute advantage in the production of something else. (If England produced cloth more cheaply than Portugal did, and Portugal produced wine more cheaply than England did, then both countries would profit from trade.) Ricardo’s insight was that even if a country produced both wine and cloth more cheaply than another, it still made sense for the countries to specialize in and export that good it had the greatest advantage in producing. This theory depended on another theoretical contribution from Ricardo, the labor theory of value: the value of a product can be represented in the amount of labor (person-hours) needed to produce it (a good summary of the theory can be found in Ruffin, 2002 ).

Comparative advantage continued to be a topic of discussion in international political economy. Swedish economists Eli Hecksher and Bertil Ohlin ( 1991 ) contributed a major extension of Ricardo’s theory by focusing on the role that factor endowments play in determining comparative advantage. Since land, labor, and capital move less easily than goods, a country should specialize in those products that are produced with the factors that are relatively abundant in the country. (Jacob Viner, 1937 , pp. 500–507, provided a summary and critical analysis of this theory, and Wolfgang Stolper and Paul Samuelson further developed the theory by examining what happens to prices when two countries move from not trading to trading. The consequence can be higher prices, which can affect income distribution, as discussed in Lindert and Kindleberger, 1982 , pp. 58–60.)

Some scholars have begun to note areas in which the traditional understanding of comparative advantage no longer fits the evidence. For example, Michael Storper ( 1992 ) finds that

the world of production has changed fundamentally since the time of Ricardo. We now live in a world where factors of production for technologically stable products are not endowed, but produced as intermediate inputs. Almost any developed country making the effort can become as efficient as the next country in a technologically stable manufacturing sector. (pp. 63–64)

Storper ( 1992 ) argues that products that depend on technological innovation are traded with respect to “technological advantage” rather than comparative advantage.

Another question about the validity of comparative advantage is raised by strategic trade theory. James Brander and Barbara Spencer ( 1985 , p. 83) showed how protection through subsidies would “change the initial conditions of the game that firms play” and make a firm more profitable. By calibrating the protection properly—not too much, not too little—states, according to strategic trade theory, can lead to an equilibrium that may be jointly suboptimal, but the protecting country still gains because its firm is able to earn more. Although strategic trade theory shares some elements with mercantile support for the protection of infant industry, those arguing for strategic trade theory place themselves within a liberal model and seek rational intervention at the best possible levels (i.e., levels that provide net benefits). Some scholars suggest that strategic trade theory is most useful when considering the challenges faced by industries when there are large economies of scale, high learning curves, and knowledge-intensive advanced manufacturing processes. Paul Krugman and others offer a cautionary note, however. The benefits of strategic trade theory fall mainly to the protected firm or industry, not to the domestic economy. Overall costs are likely to outweigh benefits, especially when protectionism leads to trade war (Krugman, 1994 ).

Two Strands of Liberalism: Keynesianism and Neoclassical Liberalism

As the questions raised by strategic trade theory suggest, liberals wrestle with the appropriate role of the state in the economy. Since the middle of the 20th century , liberalism has been bifurcated into two major strands: Keynesianism and neoclassical liberalism. Keynesian economics, named after John Maynard Keynes, sees direct government intervention in markets as a way to improve welfare and make the economy function better, especially given inescapable market failures and inefficiencies. Neoclassical economics, sometimes understood as libertarianism, draws on the writings of Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich Hayek, and others who believed that governments had become too involved in the economy and that freedom suffered as a result. Keynesianism filtered into international political economy, with variants consistent with integration theory, neoliberal institutionalism, and regimes (which are a form of neoliberal institutionalism). Neoclassical liberalism can be seen in the “Washington Consensus,” which has led to deregulation of global and domestic economies, decreases in foreign aid, and further reliance on marketization.

Keynesianism and Neoliberal Institutionalism

John Maynard Keynes ( 1883–1946 ) served on the British delegation at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 . He resigned from this position in opposition to the draconian terms of peace. The Allies, in ending the war “with France and Italy abusing their momentary victorious power to destroy Germany and Austria-Hungary now prostrate, they invite their own destruction also, being so deeply and inextricably intertwined with their victims by hidden psychic and economic bonds” (Keynes, 1920 , I.4). During World War II, he served on the British delegation in the Bretton Woods negotiations on the postwar monetary order. Central to Keynesian economics is the idea that free markets will not ( contra classical theory) always find an equilibrium at full employment. Instead, crises of underemployment call for public expenditures, for example, in public works (Keynes, 1936 , 1937 ; Galbraith, 1968 .)

Integration Theory

An important inference from Keynesianism is that institutions and governance can be used to create better political, social, and economic outcomes. In contrast to economic nationalism and to neoclassical economics, as James Caporaso ( 1998 , pp. 3–4) noted, integration theorists understood that institutions matter because institutions alter the conditions in which exchanges of various kinds take place by establishing rules. In addition, integration theorists explicitly tied a goal of peaceful relations among nations to integration: liberal markets, with well-functioning institutions, would lead to peaceful outcomes that would be conducive to commercial ties, which would once again feed back and encourage more cooperation. Drawing on both Keynesian liberalism and contributions from sociology to an understanding of cooperative action (Parsons, Shils, & Smelser, 2001 ), integration theory sought a formula for creating the institutions that would promote positive, peaceful outcomes.

Historically, integration theory emerged with discussion by David Mitrany ( 1948 ) of functionalism and world organization. With the cataclysmic effects of both world wars firmly in mind, Mitrany described a world in which functional integration—cooperation and institution building on specific functional tasks and in specific functional areas—would lead to a more peaceful outcome. He wrote:

If one were to visualize a map of the world showing economic and social activities, it would appear as an intricate web of interests and relations crossing and recrossing political divisions comes that would be conducive to commercial, but a map pulsating with the realities of everyday life. They are the natural basis for international organizations: and the task is to bring that map, which is a functioning reality, under joint international government, at least in its essential lines. The political lines will then in time be overlaid and blurred by this web of joint relations and administrations. (Mitrany, 1948 , pp. 358RERL)

Karl Deutsch and Ernst Haas both furthered the study of how functional cooperation may lead to political cooperation. Deutsch found “economic ties,” communication across territorial borders and social strata, “mobility of persons,” and a wide range of different kinds of communication and transaction (among other factors) to be necessary conditions for amalgamation of separate states into a “security-community” (Deutsch, 1957 , p. 58). Haas ( 1964 ) further emphasized the connection between liberalism and functional integration theory. “Integration,” he wrote, “is conceptualized as resulting from an institutionalized pattern of interest politics, played out within existing international organizations. [. . .] There is no common good other than that perceived through the interest-tinted lenses worn by the international actors” (p. 35). Having functional interests in common, states would be able to cooperate, especially when international organizations create the conditions that would facilitate cooperation. Unfortunately, this theory failed in that the hopeful expectations about how international organizations would foster integration and peaceful cooperation did not come to fruition (at least not in the near term, after the publication of these works). Philippe Schmitter offered a revision of the theory that was at once more modest in its predictions and less precise in its specifications of complex expected interactions. Schmitter ( 1970 ) thus presents a less deterministic version: under some conditions, integration may result from the complex functional interactions of states.

Interdependence, Regimes, and Neoliberal Institutionalism

Although it soon became apparent that the hopeful expectation about how international organizations would foster integration and peaceful cooperation would not come to fruition, the main liberal tenets of integration theory continued to play a role in IPE theory. Neoliberal institutionalism soon superseded integration theory as the major approach to IPE among those who followed this Keynesian side of liberalism. The “institutionalism” in neoliberal institutionalism may have been drawn from the economics literature, in which institutionalism referred to “an approach which stresses the interactions between social institutions and economic relationships and aspects of behavior, aims to present an orderly arrangement of economic phenomena in which institutions are elevated from the status of the exception and the footnote, and integrated with the main body of economics” (Eveline Burns, in Homan et al., 1931 , p. 135). Both sociology (Parsons, 1935 ) and political science (Apter, 1957 ) adopted the term, to refer to approaches that explore how organized groups are and what they do in society.

Early links between institutionalism and political economy can be found in an International Studies Association conference panel on “Patterns of International Institutionalism” (Rohn, 1968 ). James March and Johan Olsen ( 1984 ) reviewed the revival of institutionalist thought in political science in the 1970s and 1980s and suggested that the new institutionalism is “simply an argument that the organization of political life makes a difference.” From this parsimonious insight, however, institutionalists opened the examination of how cooperative interactions could regularly, even ubiquitously, comprise IPE. These investigations resulted in the development of both interdependence theory and the concept of international regimes.

“Interdependence,” encapsulating various kinds of interactions and mutual dependencies that promoted peaceful interactions, did not rise to the level of significant scholarly appreciation until the 1970s. The idea had been around for a while. In 1958 , John Foster Dulles, then Secretary of State of the United States, referred specifically to interdependence when he asserted that providing development aid and encouraging trade would combine with military security cooperation to prevent developing countries from falling into the Soviet orbit. A few years later, Vincent Rock ( 1964 ) suggested, perhaps in a fairly unrealistic vein, that interdependence in scientific, trade, and other kinds of interactions would lead to peace between the United States and the Soviet Union. Edward L. Morse refined the concept of interdependence to argue that the “low policies” that involved economic transactions and welfare interests were becoming more important for international relations than the “high policies” of military strategic concerns. Consequently, “the classical goals of power and security have been expanded to, or superseded by, goals of wealth and welfare. [. . .] [T]he old identification of power and security with territory and population has been changed to an identification of welfare with economic growth” (Morse, 1970 , pp. 379–380). Richard Cooper ( 1972 , p. 159) further developed the idea “to refer to the sensitivity of economic transactions between two or more nations to economic developments within those nations.” Cooper, however, saw interdependence as a policy conundrum for states, rather than as a means to more peaceful outcomes in international relations. Richard Rosecrance and Arthur Stein ( 1973 , p. 22) emphasized the unpredictability of the situation in the 1970s: “Whether interdependence will emerge as positive or negative will depend largely on old-fashioned cooperation among governments.”

In a 1974 publication, Robert O. Keohane and Joseph S. Nye Jr., focused on interdependence between the United States and Canada. Drawing on Oran Young’s definition of interdependence (Young, 1968 ), Keohane and Nye ( 1974 , p. 606) studied “patterns of interdependence, particularly with regard to symmetry” on policy issues and how patterns of interdependence were “used as sources of bargaining power.” Keohane and Nye ( 1977 ) further developed this concept into “complex interdependence,” in which actors would have varying levels of sensitivity or vulnerability to each other across “multiple channels” (i.e., across different issue areas) in which military issues would not be more important but rather there would be no clear hierarchy among the issues; and in which these ties across these issues would preclude the use of military force.

Attention to interdependence and international institutions highlighted how states and other actors were sensitive and vulnerable to each other. Scholars also questioned whether the interdependence would lead to coordinated action to solve collective international public goods problems. Even if integration, in the functional sense, was not happening completely and directly, could some sort of coordination short of full-fledged integration be going on? International “regimes,” a term borrowed from the legal scholarship by Ernst B. Haas, provided a tentative affirmative answer to this question. In Haas’s description, international regimes were “collective arrangements among nations designed to create or more effectively use scientific and technological capabilities” and that would “minimize the undesired consequences associated with the creation and exploitation of such capabilities” (Haas, 1975b , p. 147; see also Haas, 1975a ). Later debates over the definition of the term included Haas’s restatement: “ Regimes are norms, rules, and procedures agreed to in order to regulate an issue-area ” (Haas, 1980 , p. 358 (emphasis in the original); see also Young, 1980 ). Keohane and Nye ( 1977 , p. 19), in their book on interdependence, took up the issue of regimes as well, referring to them as “the sets of governing arrangements that affect relationships of interdependence.”

The concept of regimes became more formalized in 1982 with the publication of a special issue of the journal International Organization edited by Stephen D. Krasner ( 1982a ), which was republished as an edited book (Krasner, 1983 ). The group of influential scholars writing for this publication agreed upon a uniform definition:

Regimes can be defined as sets of implicit or explicit principles, norms, rules, and decision-making procedures around which actors that affect relationships of interdependencees” (Haasterdependence would lead to coordinated action to solve collective inte. Norms are standards of behavior defined in terms of rights and obligations. Rules are specific prescriptions or proscriptions for action. Decision making procedures are prevailing practices for making and implementing collective choice. (Krasner, 1982b , p. 186)

Under this umbrella definition, the authors divided themselves into three separate groups: those who understood regimes to be ubiquitous, “Grotians,” since their views were consistent with that of the 17th-century scholar of international law, Hugo Grotius (Young, 1980 ; e.g., Puchala & Hopkins, 1982 ); those who saw in regimes a possibility for states to escape—sometimes—the pessimistic outcomes of a realist world by creating opportunities for rational actors to cooperate (the “modified structuralists,” like Stein, 1982 ); and those, represented in the volume by Susan Strange ( 1982 ), who thought that regimes obscured, rather than elucidated, what was really going on in the world. (None of these authors questioned who “gave” the issue area, or how it was given, a question that was later raised by constructivists such as Onuf, 1989 , and Marlin-Bennett, 1993 .)

Notwithstanding criticisms, the usefulness of the analytical construct of regimes was that it shifted attention to issues, those questions of international political economy around which negotiations were held, agreements struck, deals kept or not kept. The regimes literature spawned a host of studies of different kinds of issues. By looking at the institutions and the normative structures that made cooperation possible, regimes theorists and empirical researchers opened up the opportunity to see how the vast majority of interactions in the world—those that do not involve military hostilities—actually occur and are ordered. Among the many such works are Rittberger ( 1993 ), Martin and Simmons ( 1998 ), Nadelmann ( 1990 ), Nye ( 1987 ), Peterson ( 2005a ), and Cogburn ( 2017 )

The attention to institutions and the role they play under conditions of a relatively liberal international political economy led scholars to start referring to all these approaches to integration and regimes in a globalizing world as “neoliberal institutionalism” (Keohane, 1984 ). Often contrasted with structural realism, neoliberal institutionalism assumes that rational actors can cooperate under conditions of anarchy because institutions provide rules that the actors are willing to accept and because actors are happy with absolute gains, rather than struggling for relative gains (as a state-centric realist or economic nationalist would assume), from any set of proposed arrangements. Many, however, see flaws in the theoretical edifice of neoliberal institutionalism. Robert Powell ( 1991 ), for example, suggests that both structural realism and neoliberal institutionalism are special cases of a single model of states attempting to pursue their interests under conditions of anarchy and constraints imposed by different capabilities among the actors in the system. Others contest neoliberal institutionalism’s empirical validity (Drezner, 2001 , among others) and its conceptualization of anarchy (Grieco, 1988 ). Yet others disagree with the implicit assumption that neoliberal institutionalist cooperation is good , that cooperation necessarily leads to more peaceful, more materially comfortable, and more emancipatory outcomes (Keeley, 1990 ; Kokaz, 2005 ; Marchand, 1994 ). The intellectual history by Cohen ( 2008 ) provides an overview and assessment of the development of regimes theory.

Neoclassical Liberalism

The other major stream of liberalism diverges from the neoliberal institutionalism and the Keynesian emphasis on coordination through regulation of (global) economic interactions. The neoclassical liberals, including economists of the Austrian School and leading U.S. economists such as Milton Friedman, understood government intervention as damaging to markets and consequently to the economic freedoms of society. Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich A. von Hayek, two leaders of the Austrian School, advocated antisocialist, antigovernment intervention policies (Hayek, 1994 ; von Mises, 1998 ).

Milton Friedman similarly argued in favor of letting markets operate without government intervention. Government policies that seek to manipulate markets for political outcomes are unavoidable errors, in his view. In an article coauthored with Anna J. Schwartz, the economists conclude that

leaving monetary and banking arrangements to the market would have produced a more satisfactory outcome than was actually achieved through governmental involvement. Nevertheless, we also believe that the same [political] forces that prevented that outcome in the past will continue to prevent it in the future. (Friedman & Schwartz, 1986 , p. 311)

For Friedman, the role of government is important but limited. With Rose Friedman, he wrote:

“Government is essential both as a forum for determining the ‘rules of the game’ and as an umpire to interpret and enforce the rules decided on.” Markets, on the other hand, “reduce greatly the range of issues that must be decided through political means, and thereby [. . .] minimize the extent to which government need participate directly in the game.” (Friedman & Friedman, 1982 , p. 15)

The ascendancy of laissez-faire economics resulted in the dominance of the “Washington Consensus,” which changed the way the international financial institutions (especially the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund) and governments made policies on foreign aid from the 1980s through the 1990s. Proponents of the Washington Consensus placed efficiency of the economy as their highest objective. Further, they did so under the assumptions that efficiency was good and that they understood mechanisms of economics sufficiently to identify good, efficient policies (Williamson, 1993 , p. 1330). Though pursuing equity or more fair distribution of resources had often been considered a goal of policy, supporters of the Washington Consensus were not concerned with equity; at best, they saw the possibility that some improvements in equity could come about “as a byproduct of seeking efficiency objectives” (Williamson, 1993 , p. 1329). As Dani Rodrik ( 2006 ) sardonically recounted:

Any well-trained and well-intentioned economist could feel justified in uttering the obvious truths of the profession: get your macro balances in order, take the state out of business, give markets free rein. “Stabilize, privatize, and liberalize” became the mantra of a generation of technocrats who cut their teeth in the developing world and of the political leaders they counseled. (p. 973)

Ultimately, the popularity of the Washington Consensus waned as it failed to produce positive economic growth in developing countries. By 2005 , the World Bank issued a careful analysis of the failures of its own policies that implemented the neoclassical economics of the Washington Consensus (Zagha & Nankani, 2005 ). The failure of the Washington Consensus cast attention back onto other liberal, but not neoclassical, political economy theories, specifically those dealing with how institutions can resolve externalities and other forms of market failure in an otherwise liberal global political economy.

In the wake of the decline of the Washington Consensus and the financial crisis beginning in 2008 , special mention of the scholarship of Susan Strange must be made. Strange, who could be classified, broadly, as a liberal in her understanding of markets and efficiency, strongly criticized the neoclassical position. She understood that markets did not function in the absence of good governance. Indeed, in 1986 and again in 1998 she analyzed a global political economy in which states had ceded control to markets, with the expectation of disastrous results for volatility and the health of the global economy (Strange, 1986 , 1998 ). She saw clearly the danger of fast-moving financial flows in a global political economy in which no government provided the appropriate regulation to ensure fair dealing and protect against the negative externalities that result when rational self-interested agents pursue their self-interest in the absence of such regulation. No one has been overseeing the global financial system, and the result has been, as Strange ( 1986 ) predicted, serious harm.

Strange’s contributions have only been confirmed in the wake of the global financial crisis of 2008 , in response to which liberal theorists have been challenged to critically reformulate the ideal and real relations between market forces and state planning. Landmark works in the empirical study of financial crisis and contemporary inequality such as Picketty ( 2014 ) and Tooze ( 2018 ) are essential contributions to the study of the contemporary salience of finance and financial crisis in contemporary global capitalism. Indeed, as John Ikenberry ( 2018 ) observes, the liberal international order faces grave challenges from resurgent economic nationalisms and social conservatisms. In addition to this 21st-century political challenge, the liberal tradition has historically been most broadly and deeply challenged by Marxian theories of global political economy.

Marxian Global Political Economy

The third major school of thought in international political economy has been Marxism, along with several “neo”-variants. Karl Marx, along with Friedrich Engels and (later) Vladimir Lenin, is considered the progenitor of a political economy that emphasizes the role class plays in society. Although the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the systemic changes within the People’s Republic of China have demonstrated the failures of Marxian-influenced policies, Marxian thought offers a useful critique of the structure of the global political economy by shedding light on capitalism and the production of inequities.

Marx, writing in the mid- 19th century , combined philosophical investigation of political economy with activism. He witnessed a world that was being changed by industrial development, in which the workers were increasingly subject not just to the authority of the state but also to the control of the capitalist. Marx adapted Hegel’s dialectic to the material world, seeing the contradictions within capitalism driving change, which he expected to lead to revolutionary transformation of society. This notion of the dialectic and the teleological view of history—that these contradictions would inexorably lead to a communist society as the predictable end state and (ironically, somewhat self-contradictorily) that this unavoidable revolutionary change should be fomented—has not been borne out and, arguably, has been contradicted. The Communist Manifesto (Marx & Engels, 1983 ) remains, though, the clearest explication of Marx’s view.

In terms of the development of political economy, Marx broke with the liberals in his identification of the sphere of production, as opposed to the sphere of exchange, as the focal point of sociopolitical and economic dynamics. Market mechanisms were relatively fixed, but the politics of production—whether it is on land used to grow food or on the shop floor—determined the nature and dynamics of the social order. Though there are several “Marxian” variations of the broad sweep of history, we basically find a succession of stages that are differentiated by the nature of the ownership of the means of production. Early history is characterized as an era of “primitive capitalism” without specialization where all members of the human community were essentially equal in the tasks they pursued and the status they held. A long period characterized by slavery followed, where some people subjugated others to the status of chattel and appropriated their labor power directly. This system is inefficient and comes to be plagued with high costs involved in maintaining order and overseeing production. In Europe, the period of slavery is followed by feudalism, where direct ownership of individuals ends, but peasants are nonetheless tied to the land, which itself can be owned. The peasant thus owes the owner of the land a level of labor dues. The transition to capitalism emerges when the social relations of production (the social overlay of the feudal system in this latest stage) become impediments to further development. Feudalism’s limits lead to changes that find landowners failing to control their charges, and peasants taking up a new position in the economy. They are stripped of their land and put in a position where they must sell their labor power in the market for a wage.

Marx extended this concept of alienated labor in two ways that are important for the study of global political economy. First, he emphasized the alienation of labor as the definitive element in the capitalist system. The division of labor in an industrializing society meant that workers would have no choice but to sell their labor power as a commodity to survive. In doing so, the worker sells his power of production to the capitalist. The alienation of the worker from his own labor gives a special viciousness to the class relations that characterize the capitalist mode of production (Marx, 1983a ). Second, Marx examined how the alienation of labor led to the accumulation of “surplus value,” the profit that accrued to the capitalist when the price of a good exceeded the wages the capitalist paid the laborer for its production. The wage laborer would only earn enough for their subsistence, but the capitalist would be able to take in the surplus, which would be much greater than that needed for the capitalist’s subsistence (Marx, 1983b ).

Vladimir Lenin’s tract, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism—A Popular Outline , brought Marxian thought into the global political economy. Lenin extended Marx’s predictions, showing how capitalism would spread around the world, leading to an ultimate contradiction of inter-imperialist conflict. As capitalism became more advanced, the accumulation of surplus value led to the concentration of ownership through the rise of monopolies. Bank ownership became concentrated and closely interconnected with the interests of monopoly capital. According to Lenin, the results were monopolistic “finance capital.” Further, the connections between capital and banks were “completed” by tight connections between each of these and the state. The consequence, Lenin wrote, was a shift in capitalism. “Under old capitalism, when free competition prevailed, the export of goods was the most typical feature. Under modern capitalism, when monopolies prevail, the export of capital has become the typical feature” (Lenin, 1982 , p. 62). He argued that the “superabundance of capital” in the advanced capitalist countries drove exports, and capitalism spread throughout the world. Furthermore, imperialism was the natural result, as finance capital moved to expropriate the raw materials of the colonies. The result was the immiseration of the masses, both within the advanced capitalist countries and abroad, “for uneven development and wretched conditions of the masses are fundamental and inevitable conditions and premises of this mode of production” (Lenin, 1982 , pp. 62–63 [emphasis in the original]). The ultimate contradiction between capitalism and monopoly and the push for domination eventually must lead, Lenin stated, to inter-imperialist rivalry and, finally, the decay of monopoly capitalism.

Where Marx saw the spread of the capitalist mode of production to all societies as inevitable, other critical scholars were concerned that capitalism was creating not models of itself but of a new kind of social order. Dependency scholars argued that instead of facilitating the growth of capitalism in the third world, capitalist and imperialist actions were leading to a system where real capitalism could not possibly develop. What we were witnessing, they argued, was “the development of underdevelopment” (Gunder Frank, 1969 ). Dependency scholars argued that capitalist interests often strengthened precapitalist forms of exploitation. Hence, large landowners would solidify their position in a society by reaping the benefits of a captive population of laborers in a system more akin to feudalism than capitalism, but without the internal contradictions that would lead to its transformation. The ability of one society to warp the subsequent developmental path of another, given the incentives that trade relations with capitalists offered, was described by Sweezy ( 1942 ), Baran ( 1957 ; Baran & Sweezy, 1969 ), Gunder Frank ( 1969 ), Cardoso and Faletto ( 1979 ), dos Santos ( 1970 ), and Amin ( 1976 ). Amin, for example, examined how accumulation differs in the core of developed countries and the periphery of developing countries. In the wealthier core, the masses are essentially co-opted through the production and availability of the consumer goods needed to satisfy them. In the periphery, production is focused on luxury goods and exports, thereby further enriching the dominant classes and leaving the needs of the masses unfulfilled and the people marginalized.

Marxist scholars considered this analysis to be flawed by its concern for actions taking place in the sphere of exchange (trade between core and periphery) and not the sphere of production (more class-based analysis). Supporters of the original Marxian formulation like Laclau ( 1971 ) and Warren ( 1973 ) produced critical analyses of dependency arguments. Brenner ( 1977 ) labels dependency and related schools of thought “neo-Smithian” in orientation and therefore fundamentally un-Marxian.

Dependency scholarship was quite popular given its ability to explain both underdevelopment and the failure of class politics to grow along traditionally identified Marxist paths. In the 1970s, Immanuel Wallerstein brought dependency and a desire to reconceptualize the developmental paths of the advanced industrial states in the long-term approach of Fernand Braudel ( 1982–1984 ) together to form world-systems analysis. Wallerstein ( 1974 ) dated the origins of the development of the “capitalist world-economy” to the long 16th century . He was able to add political and cultural conditions to the essentially materialist analyses of longer-term critical history. Wallerstein ( 2004 ) understands a world-economy as

A large geographic zone within which there is a division of labor and hence significant internal exchange of basic or essential goods as well as flows of capital and labor. A defining feature of a world-economy is that it is not bounded by a unitary political structure. Rather, there are many political units inside the world-economy, loosely tied together in our modern world system in an interstate system. And a world-economy contains many cultures and groups—practicing many religions, speaking many languages, differing in their everyday patterns. This does not mean that they do not evolve some cultural patterns, what we shall be calling a geoculture. It does mean that neither political nor cultural homogeneity is to be expected or found in a world-economy. What unified the structure most is the division of labor which is constituted within it. (p. 23)

Wallerstein also came under critical scrutiny for keeping “capitalism” at the core of his analysis. Scholars like Chase-Dunn and Hall ( 1991 , 1997 ) sought to push the elements of world-system analysis to earlier eras in explicitly comparative work. Others, like Gunder Frank and Gills, argued for the abandonment of “capitalism” as the core of global developmental concerns, and argued for the development of a world system history that would cover the last 5,000 years of human history (Gunder Frank, 1998 ; Gunder Frank & Gills, 1993 ). All these works are essentially emancipatory in their intent. They share the view that poverty is a central problem, that global inequalities should be addressed, and that remedies must be adopted.

Italian communist Antonio Gramsci continues to have a major influence on the field of international political economy. Gramsci, who was influenced by Marx, Lenin, and other socialist and communist thinkers, contributed the concept of Gramscian hegemony to the study of IPE. While in liberal and realist IPE, hegemony simply refers to a single state having a preponderance of power, Gramsci looked at the complex interconnection between the material and productive base of the social order (the structure) and philosophy, ideas, culture, and relationships (the superstructure). Hegemony is in place “in so far as it creates a new ideological terrain, determines a reform of consciousness and of methods of knowledge” (Gramsci, 1988 , p. 292). For Gramsci, a class is hegemonic when it is able to lead through the consent of those it controls, because of this complex set of dominant “ethico-political” ideas, and through force, in terms of ownership and organization of economic activity. Giovanni Arrighi ( 1994 ) summarizes Gramsci’s definition of hegemony as

the capability of a state to lead the system of states itself in a desired direction—that is, to set the rules for the system in ways that buttress rather than undermine the world power of the hegemon. [. . .] (p. 365)

Here we should remember Gramsci’s point that intellectual and moral leadership (Machiavelli’s consent) is as critical to the effective exercise of hegemony internationally as coercion pure and simple is at the national level. Henk Overbeek ( 1994 ), however, emphasizes that hegemony in the global political economy has to do more with dominance of a class—specifically of the capitalist class.

Another important Gramscian term is “historical bloc,” which refers to the dynamic dialectical relationship between the material and productive base and the superstructure of ideas. As Robert W. Cox ( 1999 , p. 5) explains, “Gramsci was less concerned with the historic bloc as a stable entity than he was with historical mutations and transformations, and with the emancipatory potential for human agency in history.” In short, the relationship between civil society and the state within any historical bloc will embody both the existing hegemony and the seeds of counterhegemonies. “Civil society was the ground that sustained the hegemony of the bourgeoisie but also that on which an emancipatory counterhegemony could be constructed” (Cox, 1999 , p. 3).

Like Gramsci, Karl Polanyi ( 2001 ) saw society resisting the negative consequences of capitalist markets. In The Great Transformation , he argued that a “double-movement” resulted from social forces pushing back against the aspects of a market-driven society. Polanyi also saw the relationship between society, markets, and the state as historically situated, with technological and policy innovations leading to changes in society. Polanyi traced the creation of the self-regulating market economy through the commodification of land, labor, and specie, social changes that made the industrial revolution and the rise of “haute finance” possible.

Both Gramsci and Polanyi have influenced a cohort of critical IPE scholars, including Robert Cox ( 1996 ), Stephen Gill ( 2003 ; see also Gill & Mittelman, 1997 ), Craig Murphy ( 2005 ), James Mittelman ( 2004 ), and Mark Rupert ( 2000 ). Gramscian global political economy has been particularly relevant to the study of globalization and the spread of liberal markets around the world. These approaches to global political economy suggest that the existing tension in the world between the antiglobalizers and the proglobalizers has at root a dialectical contestation between hegemonic and counterhegemonic groups. These authors focus on the importance of groups and other nonstate actors, as well as states, since civil society within the global political economy includes a variety of types of actors.

The global financial crisis of 2008 provided the impetus for Marxian-influenced scholarship focusing on globalization. Marxian analyses of global financial crises differ from their liberal counterparts in emphasizing the structural nature of these periodic crises. That is, Marxian theorists tend to locate the tendency for economic crisis in the very nature of the system, as a necessary and (relatively) predictable feature, impossible to explain by reference to the individual decision-making of leaders and firms alone (Harvey, 2010 ; Krippner, 2011 ).The tensions between a liberal and a Marxian analysis of capitalism’s crisis tendencies are displayed in the substantive critique of the liberal approach in Crashed by Adam Tooze ( 2018 ; see Anderson, 2019 ). Some of this research, as discussed in the section “ Postcolonial Approaches ,” emphasizes the consequences of capitalist crises in postcolonial societies (e.g., Krishna, 2009 ).

Feminist Global Political Economy

Despite the differences among them, the three most common approaches to global political economy (liberal/neoliberal, mercantile/economic nationalist, and Marxian) tend to assume that the buying, selling, and production of goods and services are what matter. Important actors in the analysis, be they firms and consumers, states, or classes, are all engaged in buying and selling, producing goods and services for sale, and seeking wealth (Tickner, 1992 ). Feminist approaches to global political economy highlight two important points that are usually overlooked. First, people are gendered, and gender is generally understood hierarchically, with men and activities that are understood as masculine (competing, making money) being valued more highly than women and women’s activities. Second, productive (i.e., market-based) activities are not the only things that happen in society; rather, society needs, but, again, does not value as highly, the activities of the reproductive economy—the unpaid work necessary to create a home life, provide leisure activities, and care for family members. These reproductive activities are almost universally associated with feminine characteristics and are not considered by mainstream global political economy analyses. As V. Peterson ( 2005b ) argues, however, understanding the analytical implications of gendered hierarchies provides a more complete understanding of processes of the global political economy (see also Griffin, 2007 ). The approach by J. K. Gibson-Graham ( 2006 ) to decentering and reconceptualizing the capital-labor relation opens an analytical space for feminist theorizations of GPE along these lines.

The marketization of the global political economy, including the integration of emerging market economies, also has important gender implications. As some scholars note, these changes are not necessarily simply good or bad. On the negative side, the informalization of labor—the changing nature of available jobs from regular, full-time employment to part-time, temporary, or independent contracting arrangements—adds significant uncertainty to households’ economic stability. The effect is more pronounced on women’s work and on the feminized jobs held by men. On the positive side, globalization has also brought increasing equity in educational opportunities and increased access to some jobs (Benería, Floro, Grown, & MacDonald, 2000 ; Peterson, 2005b ). Similarly, Jacqui True, in a case study of the Czech Republic, finds that “the commodification of gender is facilitating the extension of markets,” with the dual effect of “empower[ing] women as much as it subjects them to new forms of discipline and market civilization” (True, 1999 , p. 363).

Consequently, a further contribution of feminist GPE has been to challenge the pervasive association of the study of the global or the totality with a masculine drive to dominance. Instead of combatting the impulse to study the global by turning to a study of microrelations, feminist GPE has developed theories and methods for understanding gender as a mechanism of producing and rationalizing the inequalities within global capitalism (Bhattacharya, 2017 ; Fraser, 2013 ; Tepe-Belfrage, 2016 ). Hozic and True ( 2016 ) bring together a variety of feminist and queer perspectives on global financial crisis, highlighting how these concerns cannot be consigned to the margins of the study of global economic processes.

Postcolonial Approaches

A burgeoning literature in postcolonial political economy has emerged through critical conversation with traditional IPE. This literature mobilizes a critique of Eurocentrism in political economy and foregrounds the structural impact that colonial histories continue to exert on global economic life (Dirlik, 1994 ; Grovogui, 2011 ; Lowe, 2015 ; Shilliam, 2018 ). Another key contribution of postcolonial theory to political economy has been its critique of Eurocentric epistemologies and its attention to the knowledge traditions and economic formations of the non-West (Agathangelou & Ling, 2003 ; Blaney & Inayatullah, 2010 ; Ling, 2000 ; Shilliam, 2012a , 2020 ). Robbie Shilliam ( 2009 , 2012b ), for example, theorizes about Atlantic slavery and its consequences for our understanding of liberal and Marxian IPE.

Debates continue over whether Marxian theory is essential to a postcolonial project of emancipation and self-determination (Rao, 2017 ). On the one hand, the reading of Marx by Dipesh Chakrabarty ( 2008 ) has inspired new possibilities for the critique of the coloniality and the racism of capitalism’s history and present (e.g., Persaud & Sajed, 2018 ; Tilley & Shilliam, 2018 ). On the other hand, Hobson ( 2012 , 2013a , 2013b ) argues that Marx and Lenin’s theoretical edifice is too indebted to a colonial worldview in which the West represents the model of future progress and social development. An influential Marxian critique of postcolonial studies can be found in Chibber ( 2013 ). Notwithstanding these tensions, scholars continue to draw inspiration from both postcolonial theory and Marxian theory to construct critiques of contemporary global capitalism. For example, Anievas and Nişancıoğlu ( 2015 ) have brought the sensibilities of the Marxian tradition together with postcolonial theory to highlight the irreducibly global or intersocietal history of capitalism, and Khalili ( 2020 ) takes stock of the colonial echoes that resonate within global trade flows from the standpoint of the Arabian Peninsula.

Upon entering the third decade of the 21st century , three rapidly evolving areas of scholarship, discussed briefly in this section, are likely to continue to be of interest and grow in importance: China and the transition of the neoliberal world order, queer global political economy, and “precarity” of the global workforce.

Prior to the 1990s, research on China generally focused on processes of development and modernization of a peripheral country. As China made initial changes to its economy and began to participate more in global trade, new questions emerged. Jacobson and Okensenberg ( 1990 ), for example, examined the impact of the participation of China, a developing country with a command economy, in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank (it had been a member since 1980 ) and the likely consequences for the global economic order of its signing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. At the end of the 20th century , China’s economy underwent a major transformation, including the growth of its private sector, reliance on exports, and full engagement with international trade and finance. These changes spurred assessment of the IPE implications of China as a rising power. This research is consistent with mainstream IPE schools of thought, framing China’s opening and market reforms in terms of realist/economic nationalist expectations of conflict between China and the liberal capitalist countries (Layne, 2018 ) or liberal expectations that China will end up conforming to Western liberal capitalist norms (Deudney & Ikenberry, 2018 ; Ikenberry, 2009 ).

The new trend in the research moves away from this “binary orthodoxy” (De Graaff, ten Brink, & Parmar, 2020 ). Instead, this trend provides empirical and theoretical analysis of how China reshapes but does not necessarily remake global capitalism—not overturning global capitalism and the neoliberal order but rather exerting influence on and shaping its contours (Hung, 2009 , 2015 ). This stream of research avoids theorizing China as a unitary actor and instead looks closely at the global consequences of how the Chinese economy is organized domestically and in the global context. Hung ( 2008 ) assesses the overaccumulation of capital in China resulting from the state’s decentralization of regulatory authority, local actors’ overinvestment in productive capacity, and widespread underconsumption. China has been able to maintain strong growth and an export-driven trade policy in this unstable circumstance only because of overconsumption and debt in the United States. Other scholars have explored how China’s trade policy is both influenced by and promoted by transnational networks that Chinese elites have entered (de Graaff, 2020 ; Huo & Parmar, 2020 ). Disruption of neoliberal globalization is another important theme. For example, Hopewell ( 2016 ) argues that Chinese inconsistency—sometimes supporting and sometimes contesting neoliberal rules—is the root of its disruptiveness. Ironically, by supporting liberal rules, China shines a light on the “hypocrisy” of illiberal trade policies of the United States and other Western countries. Weinhardt and ten Brink ( 2020 ) suggest that explanation for this inconsistency can be found in domestic differences in the structure and degree of government intervention in sectors. McNally ( 2020 ) identifies the source of instability in the contradictions of Sino-capitalism, described as both neoliberal and neostatist and as organized top-down by the state and bottom-up through networks of entrepreneurs.

The second trend, queer global political economy, can be seen within the broader category of queer international relations (IR) theory (Weber, 2015 ), while overlapping substantially with feminist and other critical approaches. Queer IR theory uncovers and problematizes the political consequences of assumptions, grounded in naturalized cultural practices, of binary constructions of identity—of assuming the world is divided into male and female or similarly into normal and abnormal, heterosexual and homosexual, or other taken-for-granted dichotomies. Applied to the substantive domain of global political economy, this approach focuses attention on “heteromasculine and cissexist assumptions and biases” and “the differential—and productive—impact of processes and policies associated with neoliberal globalization sexualized and gendered subjects, practices, and kinship relations” (see article “Queer International Relations”). Peterson ( 2014 ), for example, explores “global householding,” a term that encompasses the many transborder processes of social reproduction necessary to sustain families and the wider society, especially in the Global North. These processes include “marriage/partnership, earning income, managing daily life, securing childcare, eldercare, healthcare, and education, acquiring domestic ‘help,’ relocating for retirement” (p. 606). Smith ( 2016 ) investigates how neoliberal policy responses to global financial crises disadvantage those whose lives differ from that of the presumed “normal” family, a husband and a wife and their children. “Imaginaries” of the family, she argues, reproduce the neoliberal economic order.

The growing “precarity” of the global workforce, the subject of the third new direction of research discussed here, has emerged as a grave side effect of the processes of globalization, a reality acknowledged by all the different schools of IPE. Guy Standing ( 2016 ) has introduced and popularized the concept of the “precariat,” which he regards as a new stratum of the working class marked by an extreme lack of job security and basic benefits like healthcare and paid time off. This class, according to Standing, represents a growing contingent of the global workforce, a verdict corroborated by many empirical studies, especially from a comparative political economy perspective (Agarwala, 2013 ; Kalleburg, 2018 ; Mosoetsa, Stillerman, & Till, 2016 ). This framing of the issue of precarious labor, however, is not without its critics. With a properly global analytic lens, some argue, precarity does not appear to be a new phenomenon at all but a condition that has characterized the Global South since its inception and which now threatens the North as well (Scully, 2016 ). Moreover, as Ritu Vij ( 2019 , p. 504) has argued, the idea of precarity as it is popularly conceived rests on “the pathologization of vulnerability,” an ideological process which normalizes a liberal individualist political economy and understands nonliberal forms of life as “abject.”

It is also worth mentioning a trend that seems to have petered out. At the time the original 2010 version of this article was drafted, communitarianism seemed to be a promising, emerging stream of normative research that would address problems of global capitalism. Largely associated with the work of Amitai Etzioni ( 1991 , 2004 ), communitarianism can be seen as a countertheory to the idea that liberal markets are natural and that men and women are naturally economically rational, self-interested agents. Etzioni’s communitarianism does not eschew liberal economics wholly, nor does he advocate a loss of individual freedoms; instead, he looks for a via media in which the interests of individuals are balanced by the interest of the communities of which they are a part. The local, national, and global political economies are in essence communities. The connection to community seems to draw on the feminist idea of an ethic of care (Tronto, 1987 ). William Galston ( 2002 ), in a similar vein, argues for a rejection of both socialist and laissez-faire economics in favor of an approach that he calls “mutualism”; the policy implementation would be a “progressive market strategy,” in which policies would promote “moderate self-interest, regard for others, and internalized norms” of responsibility. Communitarian global political economy, however, failed to gain traction, perhaps because other, more normatively progressive critical approaches came to the fore.

GPE Research Relevant to COVID-19

As this article was being prepared for publication ( May 2020 ), it became difficult to ignore the severe implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for the global political economy. The robust literature dealing with the global history of pandemics and the dangers that a new pandemic would pose in a world marked by increasingly intensifying processes of economic globalization are highlighted here.

A review of GPE’s engagements with the history of global pandemics reveals a wide variety of analytical lenses, including descriptive accounts of the impact of environment on society and more politically focused accounts of the differential impacts suffered by different peoples. The account by McNeil ( 1998 ) of the history of plagues is notable for its emphasis on intersocietal transmission, highlighting how the world’s peoples have been interconnected long before the emergence of 20th-century globalization. The work of Pirages ( 1995 , 1997 , 2007 ) deserves special mention for its wide historical and geographical scope and its sensitivity to the intersections between international politics, infectious disease transmission, and the coordinated social responses (or lack thereof) that have been implemented historically to combat the worst consequences of infectious disease. Work by Paul Farmer ( 2004 ) seeks to highlight how the social toll of pandemics largely depends on preexisting power relations and inequalities in society, which he theorizes in terms of “structural violence.” Another key scholar of pandemics is Mike Davis ( 2005 ), whose study on the Avian Flu offered a prescient warning of the political–economic threat of a new global pandemic. Davis ( 2020 ) has published an analysis of COVID-19 in a periodical issue focused on the pandemic (NLR Editors, 2020 ).

A special issue of Review of International Political Economy on Political Economies of Global Health, edited by Susan K. Sell and Owain D. Williams ( 2020b ), appeared online just a few months before the first reported cases of COVID-19. The issue focuses on global capitalism’s effects on the health of the world’s people across multiple scales and through multiple processes. Neoliberalism and policies insisting on free markets, Sell and Williams ( 2020a ) argue, have negative effects on global health through “regimes and institutions in areas such as trade and investment policy, austerity programs, pharmaceutical and food governance, and the rules that support globalized production and consumption” (p. 1). Though this observation focuses on health more generally, the global, national, and local responses to pandemics are certainly a part of the larger global health system. Three of the articles are especially relevant to the GPE aspects of pandemics and other instances of the spread of infectious disease. Rebecca J. Hester and Owain D. Williams ( 2020 ) ground their exploration of the political economy of the “somatic-security industrial complex,” upon influenza and its movement around the world. Stefan Elbe and Christopher Long ( 2020 ) explore global assemblages of medical molecules that become valuable for biodefense against disease outbreaks, bioterrorist attacks, and the like. João Nunes ( 2020 ) examines Brazil’s domestic political economy within the neoliberal order, the precarity of health workers’ jobs, and the consequences for Brazil during the Zika virus outbreak.

Much of the salient research on the global politics of infectious diseases prior to COVID-19 has occurred in fields of global health governance (Huang, 2014 ; Youde, 2018 ) and security studies (Davies, 2008 ; Price-Smith, 2009 ), and these studies will likely prove essential for future pandemic-related knowledge production in GPE. New materialist approaches that privilege the impact of nonhuman life processes will likely contribute in important ways to pandemic research (White, 2015 ).

Though COVID-19 was only recognized as a global pandemic in March 2020 , the sheer scope of the crisis resulted in immediate scholarly attention. Notable analyses of the pandemic and its reverberations in the global economy include the world-systems approach of Silver and Payne ( 2020 ) and a short but generative series of contributions to the journal of Foreign Policy (Walt et al., 2020 ). Certainly, many scholars of GPE will be turning to these contributions and constructing their own in responses to the global crisis of COVID-19.

Links to Digital Materials

  • Library of Economics and Liberty . Funded by a libertarian nonprofit educational organization, the online library has many key liberal texts available in an easy-to-read format.
  • Project Gutenberg . Volunteers upload plain text versions of public domain texts. A useful source for older, well-known works.
  • The Internet Modern History Sourcebook . Though focusing on history, several of the references here have relevance for international political economy.
  • Resources for the Study of International Relations . An excellent source of general international relations documents, with a broad selection of documents specifically relevant to international political economy. Collected by Vincent Ferraro.
  • International organizations of importance to IPE/GPE include the World Bank , the International Monetary Fund , World Trade Organization , and the Organization for Cooperation and Economic Development .
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  • Benería, L. , Floro, M. , Grown, C. , & MacDonald, M. (2000). Globalization and gender. Feminist Economics , 6 (3), 7–18.
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  • Tepe-Belfrage, D. (2016). Feminist critical theory in global political economy: Interrogating social totality . Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield International.
  • Tickner, J. A. (1992). Gender in international relations: Feminist perspectives on achieving global security . New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
  • Tilley, L. , & Shilliam, R. (2018). Raced markets: An introduction. New Political Economy , 23 (5), 534–543.
  • Tooze, A. (2018). Crashed: How a decade of financial crises changed the world . Harmondsworth, UK: Penguin.
  • Tronto, J. C. (1987). Beyond gender difference to a theory of care. Signs , 12 (4), 644–663.
  • True, J. (1999). Expanding markets and marketing gender: The integration of the postsocialist Czech Republic. Review of International Political Economy , 6 (3), 360–389.
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  • Viner, J. (1948). Power versus plenty as objectives of foreign policy in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. World Politics , 1 (1), 1–29.
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  • Wallerstein, I. M. (1974). The modern world-system: Capitalist agriculture and the origins of the European world-economy in the sixteenth century . New York, NY: Academic Press.
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Related Articles

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Topics in Comparative Political Economy

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PS 210: Topics in Comparative Political Economy

Translating substantively significant political economy issues into researchable research problems is a challenge. The course objective will be to consider how these topics can provide the basis for research projects and dissertations in comparative politics and comparative political economy. Each class will explore both the substance of a particular problem to identify significant issues and the relation of those issues to questions of general interest in political economy and political science. The final course assignment will be a research paper that can be a master’s essay, an elaborated research design such as a draft dissertation prospectus, or a dissertation chapter.

Topics will include:

· The politics and the transformation of finance: Has the evolution of finance affected how governments and business interact. Was the transformation an inevitable result of technology and globalization or a policy choice? Was the crisis of 2008 the first financial collapse of the digital age?

o Financial systems, once principally national and rooted around domestic deposits and investments, have been transformed. They are now both market-based and often global in character. Arguably this transformation, facilitated by Information Technology tools, is at the root of the financial collapse of 2008, and more generally has consequences for the politics of domestic economic governance and strategies for growth.

· Green Growth, Energy Transformations, and the Climate Debate: Domestic and International Issues

o While the Climate problem is “global”, the solutions will lie in major part in the transition of domestic energy systems from high carbon low efficiency to high efficiency low carbon. That transformation will be costly in the short run and does not produce automatic or evident economic gain. Why do some countries pursue strategies to transform energy systems while others do not? Can Green Sustain Growth?

· The Third Globalization and the Commodity Trap: Can Wealthy Countries Stay Rich in the face of emerging market competition? There are an array of questions here.

o The decomposition of production and the transformation of services force us to reconsider the logic of value creation and, consequently, the dynamics of political economy. As production is outsourced and off-shored, where are jobs and who captures the value? Nationally rooted vertically integrated companies were the focus of debate and concern in the 20 th century. They have given rise to cross national production net works. Services once feared to be the black hole of advanced economies have, enabled by information technology, become productivity drivers. For advanced countries these developments have created at once both a commodity trap potentially limiting productivity and wage increases, and escapes from that trap. These developments have also influenced the distribution of gains from growth.

§ For emerging markets we consider how the fragmentation of production and the evolution of finance creates diverse points of entry into the global economy. What are the politics of Rapid Innovation Based Growth that has been central to growth strategies?

§ For advanced countries the expanded competition across the value chain makes everything seem like a commodity and puts pressure on prices. Advanced country work forces face competition, thus, from increasingly diverse and skilled work forces in a variety of places.

– Are there escapes from the commodity trap? How can firms create and capture value in the advanced countries?

– The jobs producing an Apple product may be in China, but the value add is in the US. But can workers in the US share in that Bonanza?

§ Will cloud computing, which is an ICT evolution of significance and not just an advertising slogan, make the commodity trap worse? Or will it provide advance countries a way out? The answer is not in the technology, but in the policies and politics of adoption and diffusion.

· Technology, International Trade, and Policy: What drives jobs, income and wealth?

o What policies can affect the distributive outcomes of the transformation of work?

· Globalization with Borders: Will borders evaporate, change meaning, or be redrawn in a era of globalization? Is the world flat, or was Christopher Columbus right?

o Europe and the Euro Crisis: Have politics created an economic crisis, or, conversely, has economic misjudgment generated a political debacle? Does the current crisis have implications for our understanding of the origins and evolution of the European community?

o How does a nation’s regional neighborhood matter to its political and economic trajectory?

o Are tribal challenges to state authority in Iraq and the Catalan challenge to Spanish authority part of the same larger story.

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Political Science Research Paper Topics

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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.

iResearchNet Custom Writing Services

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research paper topics political economy

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Topics in Political Economy

Module code: ec417c, module title: topics in political economy.

  • ECTS Weighting : 10
  • Semester/Term Taught : Hilary Term
  • Contact Hours : 22 hours of lectures and approximately 4 hours of seminars
  • Module Personnel : Lecturer - Professor Nicola Mastrorocco

Module Content

Hilary Term: This part of the module uses the skills and concepts acquired in the first semester to analyze a set of concrete topics which are at the frontier of the research in political economy.

Topics discussed during Hilary Term include:

  • Media Bias and its impact on politics and economics
  • The political economy of social media
  • The political economy of immigration
  • The political economy of organized crime
  • The political economy of conflict
  • Redistribution and Taxation
  • Inequality and Public Goods

Module Learning Aims

The course will introduce students to the field of political economics, which applies the toolbox of economic analysis to the study of politics. The course will be organized around a series of topics: starting with the economic analysis of voting decision, it will then focus on the selection and motivations of politicians and their impact on public policy, and on questions such as political accountability and corruption; it will then examine the role of mass media and its impact on electoral politics and policy-making, as well as the issue of political distortions through examples such as patronage politics, lobbying, and political connections; finally, it will discuss issues related to organized crime, conflict and violence, as well as the origins, persistence and impact of political institutions

This module aims to:

  • provide students with an exposure of the fundamental ideas in the field of political economy. The course will cover both theoretical and empirical papers
  • introduce student to the variety of ways in which economists think about political economy and, more precisely, at the interplay of political science and economics.
  • provide students interested in interdisciplinary work with a bridge between subjects as diverse as economics, political science, sociology, history, and philosophy;
  • Political economy uses tools from economics (mainly game theory and econometrics) to study how political actors, institutions, and choices shape economic or political outcomes. Hence, students will be exposed to various concepts in game theory (e.g., Nash Equilibrium, Perfect Bayesian Equilibrium) as well as methods in empirical analysis (OLS, Instrumental Variable, Panel Data).
  • provide students with the skills to write and argue coherently and persuasively; and provide students with the intellectual foundations on which an undergraduate dissertation can be written.

Learning Outcomes

  • Analyze the effect of Mass Media on political outcomes, individual perceptions and voting decisions. How do media shape individual opinions and therefore their voting decisions? How does media affect citizens’ capacity to hold politicians accountable?
  • Analyze the effect of Organized Crime and Corruption on political outcomes, economic decisions (public goods, fiscal policy) and social cohesion?
  • Study the political economy of immigration in an era of refugees’ crisis.
  • Analyze the most important political economy theory on redistribution and fiscal policies.

Recommended Reading List

The course will be primarily based on the reading of recent research academic papers and the in-depth discussion of their theories, empirical methods, and results.

The following books are recommended as supplements to what is covered in the lectures.

  • Besley, Timothy: Principled Agents? Oxford University Press [2006] (henceforth: Besley)
  • Mueller, Dennis: Public Choice III, Cambridge University Press [2005] (henceforth: Mueller)
  •  Persson, Torsten & Guido Tabellini: Political Economics, MIT Press [2000] (henceforth P&T)
  • Shepsle, Kenneth: Analyzing Politics, Norton [2010] (henceforth Shepsle)

Module Pre Requisite

This course is open to a multi-disciplinary audience. However, students should have completed one module in intermediate Economics (equivalent to EC2010) successfully. Exceptions to this rule are to be discussed with the Lecturer.

Assessment Details

Single-term students will hand in one problem set (10% of the overall grade) a reaction paper (10% of the overall grade) and  awritten essay based on their reading of the literature for this term, accounting for 80% of the overall grade.

Module Website

Blackboard.

International Political Economy

  • Yuhki Tajima , Field Chair
  • Mitch Kaneda , Curricular Dean

Please see the SFS Bulletin for all major requirements .

The International Political Economy (IPEC) major investigates the rich intersection between economics and politics in the global environment. It typically goes beyond the constituent disciplines by combining traditional economic concerns about efficiency with traditional political concerns regarding distributional issues and legitimacy in market and non-market environments. The resulting combination of insights provides a means of better understanding complex interactions at the local, national and international levels.

The special character of international political economy derives in part from the methodological and substantive overlaps between the traditional disciplines of economics and political science. Methodologically, political economy combines formal modeling, comparative methods, and statistical techniques to analyze and evaluate competing theories of economic and political phenomena. In addition to using methods standard in the constituent disciplines, political economy has pioneered in developing new tools for the study of collective action in the presence of conflicting private interests.

Substantively, International Political Economy analyzes how international and domestic political factors interact with economic factors to determine outcomes in a wide variety of areas, e.g., legislation, elections, government regulation, and policy formation in response to international phenomena; unilateral and multilateral activities involving international trade, finance, aid, and natural resources; local and international growth, development, and income distribution; and the interaction between business, governments, and diplomacy. The scope of inquiry ranges from mature capitalist countries, to developing economies to nations making transitions to capitalist systems. In all cases, the focus is on issues that cannot be properly understood without insights gained from both international economics and international politics.

Goals of the Major

The International Political Economy (IPEC) major is designed to provide students with the multi-disciplinary, methodologically rigorous tools needed to understand and analyze the interaction between political and economic forces around the world. These tools, as well as the substantive knowledge gained, will serve students who pursue graduate work, or careers in the private, public, or non-profit sector, international or non-governmental organizations. The IPEC major derives in part from the overlap between economics and political science, and the substantive knowledge gained by students in the IPEC major will partly reflect this. But the IPEC major also goes beyond these constituent disciplines and will provide students with knowledge of a variety of areas, including but not limited to the problems of globalization, the processes of economic development and reform, and the role of political power in economic policymaking.

Students will acquire both analytical tools and substantive expertise through unique core courses as well as through foundational courses from International Economics and International Politics on economic theory, econometrics, and international political economy. Students will also gain further expertise on specific areas by specializing in subsequent courses. All students, finally, will apply analytical tools to a particular topic of interest by writing a senior thesis.

Objectives of the Major

Substantively, International Political Economy analyzes how international and domestic political factors interact with economic factors to determine outcomes in a wide variety of areas. The scope of inquiry ranges from mature capitalist countries, to developing economies to nations making transitions to capitalist systems. In all cases, the focus is on issues that cannot be properly understood without insights gained from both international economics and international politics. This requires an understanding of the methods and principal issues animating the areas in which these fields intersect.

To do this, students will learn:

  • Quantitative and qualitative methods to make causal inferences regarding political-economic phenomena
  • The ways in which states and state-institutions help or hinder economic prosperity How collective action in the presence of conflicting private interests can shape legislation, elections, and policy
  • The nature of unilateral and multilateral factors shaping international trade, finance, and aid.
  • Original research and writing that identifies a puzzle, derives testable hypotheses, selects appropriate methodologies, gathers empirical evidence, and offers conclusions.

Writing in the Major

Students majoring International Political Economy learn how to apply analytical tools to a particular topic of interest by writing a senior thesis and how to produce original research and writing that identifies a puzzle, derives testable hypotheses, selects appropriate methodologies, gathers empirical evidence, and offers conclusions.

IPEC majors are introduced to analytical tools and theories through the following required classes:

  • ECON 101 Intermediate Microeconomics
  • ECON 121 Economic Statistics
  • ECON 122 Intro to Econometrics
  • GOVT 261 International Political Economy
  • PECO 201 Analytical Tools for Political Economy

Students are exposed to research topics and research methods through reading of academic papers and conducting their own research projects presented in courses such as:

  • IPEC 312 Research Topics in International Political Economy
  • IPEC 328 Political Economy of Inequality and Distribution
  • IPEC 332 Political Economy of Institutions and Development
  • IPEC 250 IPE Quantitative Research Lab
  • INAF 383 Applied Econometrics for Development: Stata Practicum
  • ECON 484 Political Economy of Trade Policy

Finally, students are trained to produce original research and writing conducted in the mandatory capstone course:

  • IPEC 401 Senior Capstone Seminar

Honors in the Major

Students can earn Honors in the IPEC Major by submitting a letter of intent during the junior year, writing an honors quality thesis based on original research during the senior year, earning an A grade in the Senior Seminar, earning a major GPA of at least 3.67, and earning a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.

IPEC Requirements

IPEC majors must satisfy the following requirements.

All students must demonstrate proficiency in mathematics by one of three means: Passing MATH-035 Calculus I with a score of 4 or higher in AP Calculus, or passing the Math Department Calculus I waiver test.

The Mathematics Department waiver test is an option suitable for students who studied calculus in high school but did not have the opportunity to take the AP exam. It is administered during the New Student Orientation period just before the beginning of the fall semester. Note that calculus is a prerequisite for Intermediate Microeconomics and Economic Statistics.

It is recommended that students satisfy the calculus requirement before the beginning of the sophomore year.

Requirements for the Class of 2022 and Beyond

  • Prerequisite: Calculus I or equivalent
  • Corequisite: GOVT-040 Comparative Political Systems
  • Corequisite: GOVT-060 International Relations
  • Corequisite: ECON-243 International Trade
  • Corequisite: ECON-244 International Finance
  • ECON-101 Intermediate Microeconomics
  • ECON-121 Economic Statistics
  • ECON-122 Introduction to Econometrics
  • GOVT-261 International Political Economy, GOVT-262 International Organization, GOVT-267 International Trade Law, or GOVT-268 Political Economy of Development
  • PECO-201 Analytical Tools for Political Economy or ECON-459 Game Theory
  • Two IPEC Core or Supporting courses, at least one of which must be IPEC Core
  • IPEC-401 Senior Thesis Seminar*

*Students who are not pursuing Honors in the IPEC major will be able to choose between the following: Option I: Taking IPEC 401 and writing a thesis in it. Option II: Taking an additional IPEC Core category course to substitute IPEC 401, and submitting a research paper written in a 300 or 400-level course that can count for the major. Notes: (a) IPEC 401 is required for all students seeking Honors in the IPEC major and remains open to all students in the major. (b) For Option II, you cannot double-count a single IPEC Core course to satisfy both the capstone requirement and an IPEC Core requirement. (c) For Option II, the research paper is to be submitted electronically to Dean Kaneda before the last day of the semester’s classes (not the last day of exams) if you are graduating in May or December, and before the last day of the second summer session’s classes if you are graduating in August. (d) For Option II, the research paper can be from any of the 300 or 400-level courses that are attributed as IPEC Core or IPEC Supporting category courses. Not all IPEC Core/Supporting courses have a research paper requirement. (e) For Option II, the research paper is expected to analyze a theoretical or empirical puzzle relevant to IPEC. It must be a completed and conclusive paper, and not a research proposal. The student must have earned a passing grade for the course in which the research paper was written.

Requirements Up to and Including the Class of 2021

The following 4 preparatory courses. These courses should be taken before senior year.

  • ECON 122 Introduction to Econometrics

ECON 101 should be completed during sophomore year since it is a pre-requisite for PECO 201. ECON 121 should be completed by the first semester of junior year since it is a pre-requisite for ECON 122. GOVT 261 targets sophomores and juniors. It is offered once a year, in either of the semesters. Students going abroad in the junior year should look into taking GOVT 261 in the sophomore year, as long as GOVT 060 International Relations has been completed.

Two Interdisciplinary Courses in Political Economy.

  • PECO 201 Analytical Tools for Political Economy (offered every fall)
  • IPEC 401 Senior Seminar in Political Economy (offered every spring)*

PECO 201 is ideally completed during junior year. IPEC 401 must be completed at Georgetown.

  • Four courses from the IPEC Core and IPEC Supporting course lists, at least two of which must be IPEC Core courses.

*Students who are not pursuing Honors in the IPEC major will be able to choose between the following: Option I: Taking IPEC 401 and writing a thesis in it. Option II: Taking an additional IPEC Core category course to substitute IPEC 401, and submitting a research paper written in a 300 or 400-level course that can count for the major. Notes: (a) IPEC 401 is required for all students seeking Honors in the IPEC major and remains open to all students in the major. (b) For Option II, you cannot double-count a single IPEC Core course to satisfy both the capstone requirement and an IPEC Core requirement. (c) For Option II, the research paper is to be submitted electronically to Dean Kaneda before the last day of the semester’s classes (not the last day of exams) if you are graduating in May or December, and before the last day of the second summer session’s classes if you are graduating in August. (d) For Option II, the research paper can be from any of the 300 or 400-level courses that are attributed as IPEC Core or IPEC Supporting category courses. Not all IPEC Core/Supporting courses have a research paper requirement. (e) For Option II, the research paper is expected to analyze a theoretical or empirical puzzle relevant to IPEC. It must be a completed and conclusive paper and not a research proposal. The student must have earned a passing grade for the course in which the research paper was written.

SEQUENCING IPEC majors urged to have fulfilled the Calculus I prerequisite (course, advanced credits, or waiver test) before the sophomore year. ECON 101 Intermediate Microeconomics and ECON 121 Economic Statistics are best taken during the sophomore year. You can consult the curricular dean for individualized planning.

QUANTITATIVE METHODS Analyzing data, whether to test hypotheses or to summarize trends, is an important part of studying international political economy. As a result, all majors are required to take statistics and econometrics and are encouraged to do so as early as possible, preferably no later than the end of their junior year. (Statistics and econometrics are essential in writing the senior thesis in IPEC-401.)

December Graduates: Some students who have accumulated sufficient credits elect to graduate early. To do so, students need to plan ahead, especially if honors in IPEC is to be pursued. All IPEC Honors candidates must take the senior seminar, IPEC-401, which is offered only in the spring semester.

IPEC Course Lists:

The list of IPEC core and IPEC core and supporting courses can be searched for in the Registrar’s Schedule of Classes for each semester by selecting all for “Subject” and selecting SFS/IPEC Core Courses or SFS/IPEC Supporting Courses for “Attribute Type.”

Study Abroad

A substantial fraction of students choose to spend part or all of the junior year abroad. Although studying abroad has clear benefits, it also has costs. A successful balancing of these costs and benefits requires advanced planning. PECO-201 is offered in the fall semester. As this course builds a foundation that will be used in later courses, it is best to take it before the senior year. Students spending one semester abroad should consider the spring rather than the fall semester. Those spending a year abroad should consult with the field chair and the curricular dean.

Penn State University Libraries

Pl sc 412: international political economy (world campus).

  • Getting Started
  • Exploring Topics
  • Search Strategies Exercise
  • Journal Articles
  • Data Sources
  • Specialized Sources

Term Paper Overview

  • You will write a term paper on a relevant topic of interest to you.  The basic idea is for you to apply a theory or small set of theories to an issue in international political economy to drive predictions regarding the likely course of events over the next 5-10 or 10- 20 years. You will work on the paper in stages and be graded on your work over the course of the semester.  After submitting a rough draft, you will review another student’s paper and get peer feedback on your draft.

Term Paper Stages

1.  Research Paper Topic : You will write a short paragraph outlining the general topic of your research paper. General topics include, but are not limited to, trade relations, hegemony, the exchange rate, development and globalization. You will then describe the specific subtopic you are interested in. If, for example, your general topic is globalization, some subtopics might be sweatshops or the effect of globalization on the environment.

2.  Research Question: You will write one short paragraph that first presents your initial research question. Make sure that your research question asks what factors, variables, or conditions affect some aspect of your subtopic and focuses on cause-and-effect relationships.

  • You should avoid descriptive and prescriptive questions.  The former leads to research papers that simply describe a process or an event, while the latter results in research papers that tell us what we can or should do to change, fix, or prevent some undesirable situation.
  • For example, if your subtopic is the effect of globalization on the environment under the general topic of the globalization, an appropriate research question might be “under what conditions will countries cooperate to reduce pollution?” Inappropriate research questions might be “which states are the biggest polluters?” and “what should be done to reduce pollution?”

3.  Bibliography: You will submit a preliminary bibliography that should consist primarily of scholarly works associated with your research topic, such as books, journal articles, and other published studies that have been subjected to peer review. University presses, as well as many other reputable publishers, produce peer-reviewed books.

  • American Political Science Review
  • American Journal of Political Science
  • International Organization
  • International Studies Quarterly
  • World Politics International
  • Journal of Political Economy
  • Your bibliography must follow the guidelines found in the American Political Science Association’s Style Manual for Political Science.  (See the Citations page of this guide for link.)

4.  Theory Overview : The reading you do will allow you to become acquainted with different theories (or "models" as they are often called) about the phenomenon that you’re interested in. Review the most prominent or compelling theories. If there are competing theories, highlight their distinguishing factors.

5.  Thesis Statement : You will write one or two sentences that represent your thesis statement. This thesis statement should be a concise summary of your research paper’s argument or analysis. In other words, the thesis statement summarizes your findings, your predictions and your argument. It is “the punch line” of your paper and what follows fills out and supports this statement.

6.  Detailed Outline : You will provide a detailed outline of the various sections of your research paper. These sections may include, but are not limited to, the introduction (including your thesis statement), theory review, analysis, and conclusions.

7.  Rough Draft : You will submit a rough draft of your research paper for peer review. This draft does not have to be perfect. It simply represents your first attempt to put your thoughts in final form. However, the more work you put into this rough draft, the more likely it is that you will receive useful feedback from the peer review. You will get full credit for submitting the draft. (I will not be grading content at this point.) If you do not submit the rough draft you WILL NOT get any credit for completing a peer review.

8.  Peer Review:   You will provide constructive feedback on one classmate’s rough draft.  Using track changes and the insertion of comments, offer as much constructive criticism on your classmate’s paper as possible.  Constructive criticism is criticism that is intended to improve the paper and often identifies solutions to problems in a positive and productive way.  You might want to think about this peer review as a valuable opportunity to improve your own writing; as you edit and comment upon your classmate's work, you might discover things that you should or should not do in future essays and research papers. You will not get credit for this portion if you do not submit a rough draft yourself.

9.  Final Paper: Your final paper must be between 6-8 pages in length, double-spaced with 12-point Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins. Your paper must also include proper parenthetical citations and bibliography, following the guidelines found in the American Political Science Association’s Style Manual for Political Science.  (See the Citations page of this guide for link.)   Please upload your paper in Word (or Pages), not pdf.

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  • Last Updated: Jun 16, 2023 12:23 PM
  • URL: https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/WorldCampus/PLSC412

Topics in International Political Economy

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The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations .

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Most americans continue to say their side in politics is losing more often than it is winning.

As the 2024 presidential campaign heats up, most Americans (71%) say that, on the issues that matter to them, their side in politics has been losing more often than winning. Just a quarter say their side has been winning more often than losing.

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis as part of our ongoing research into how Americans feel about current politics. For this analysis, we surveyed 5,140 adults from Jan. 16 to 21, 2024. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATP’s methodology .

Here are the questions used for this analysis and its methodology .

Trend chart over time showing that just 25% of Americans now say that in politics, their side is winning more often than losing in politics; 71% say their side is losing

  • This is not a new sentiment. Since 2016, a majority of U.S. adults have expressed the view that their side is losing more often than winning.
  • The share of adults who say their side is losing more often than winning is up 15 percentage points since early 2020. But it has stayed roughly the same since September 2022, when 72% said this.

Majorities of adults in both parties say their side is losing more often than winning. Today, about eight-in-ten Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (83%) say this – little changed since 2022.

However, when Donald Trump was president, more Republicans thought their side was winning. In February 2020, 69% of Republicans said their side was winning more often than losing, while just 29% said it was mostly losing.

Trend chart over time showing that majorities of Republicans and Democrats continue to say their side in politics has been losing more often than winning (83% of Republicans say this, and 62% of Democrats)

Democrats, who currently control the White House, are more positive than Republicans about their political standing.

Still, about six-in-ten Democrats and Democratic leaners (62%) say their side is losing more than winning on the issues that matter to them. This is slightly lower than the 66% who said this in 2022.

In early 2020, and at earlier points in Trump’s presidency, much larger majorities of Democrats said they felt like their side was losing more than winning. For example, 80% of Democrats said this in February 2020.

Ideological differences

Trend chart over time comparing the percentage of Americans by ideology who say that in politics, their side has been winning more often than losing. Most conservative Republicans said they were ‘winning’ under Trump; fewer liberal Democrats feel that way today

  • Today, about four-in-ten liberal Democrats (38%) say their side is winning more often than losing, up from 29% who said the same in 2022.
  • About a third of conservative and moderate Democrats (35%) say their side is winning more often than losing, nearly identical to the 34% who said this in 2022.
  • Both groups of Democrats are more positive about how their side is doing politically than they were during the Trump administration, but less positive than they were at the end of Barack Obama’s presidency.

Republicans

  • Today, just 12% of conservative Republicans say their side has been winning more often than losing on the issues that matter to them. This is little changed from the 15% who said the same in 2022, but down from 76% in 2020, during Trump’s presidency.
  • About two-in-ten moderate and liberal Republicans (21%) currently say they have been winning more often than losing – identical to the share who said this in 2022. In 2020, by comparison, a 58% majority of these Republicans said their side was winning more than losing.
  • Views among both ideological groups of Republicans are roughly similar to what they were in 2016, when Obama was president.

Note: Here are the questions used for this analysis and its methodology . This is an update of a post originally published on Oct. 3, 2022.

research paper topics political economy

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Public sees black people, women, gays and lesbians gaining influence in biden era, economy and covid-19 top the public’s policy agenda for 2021, 20 striking findings from 2020, our favorite pew research center data visualizations of 2019, most popular.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .

Making a Song and Dance About It: The Effectiveness of Teaching Children Vocabulary with Animated Music Videos

Programs that engage young children in movement and song to help them learn are popular but experimental evidence on their impact is sparse. We use an RCT to evaluate the effectiveness of Big Word Club (BWC), a classroom program that uses music and dance videos for 3-5 minutes per day to increase vocabulary. We conducted a field experiment with 818 preschool and kindergarten students in 47 schools in three U.S. states. We find that treated students scored higher on a test of words targeted by the program (0.30 SD) after four months of use and this effect persisted for two months.

This work was supported by J-PAL. This study was registered on the AEA RCT Registry (AEARCTR-0002631) and received approval from the Social and Behavioral Sciences IRB from the University of Chicago (IRB17-1609). We are grateful to the staff at the Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab, led by Michelle Park Michelini, for invaluable effort in implementing this intervention, and Harkirat Kaur for excellent research assistance. We are grateful to Shane DeRolf for his efforts not only in developing the Big Word Club but also in enthusiastically embracing the evaluation process. We also thank participants at the Advances with Field Experiments and AEFP conferences for helpful comments. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

MARC RIS BibTeΧ

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  1. 57 Best Political Economy Dissertation Topics ideas in 2023

    Here are some potential political economy dissertation topics that you might consider: Good Political Economy Research Titles The political economy of taxation in developing countries The impact of trade policy on economic inequality The political economy of monetary policy The effects of government regulation on financial markets

  2. Journal of Political Economy

    Volume 132, Number 1 January 2024 Previous issue Current Issue Ahead of Print Just Accepted For selected items: Free Front Matter PDF First page Articles Evaluating the Success of the War on Poverty since 1963 Using an Absolute Full-Income Poverty Measure Richard V. Burkhauser, Kevin Corinth, James Elwell, and Jeff Larrimore pp. 1-47 Full Text PDF

  3. Globalization and Politics Research Paper Topics

    See the list of 50 political science research paper topics related to globalization and politics. Globalization, as a process of global economic integration, has dramatically reshaped the political landscape of the world.

  4. 100+ Research Topics In Politics (+ Free Webinar)

    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

  5. Comparative Politics Research Paper Topics

    See the list of 50 political science research paper topics related to comparative politics. Comparative politics is a subfield of political science that examine ... Comparative analysis of political economy can reveal the ways in which economic structures and processes influence political decision-making and outcomes, as well as the ways in ...

  6. Insights in Political Economy: 2022

    Insights in Political Economy: 2022 Overview Articles Authors Impact About this Research Topic Manuscript Submission Deadline 31 October 2022 Manuscript Extension Submission Deadline 30 November 2022 Guidelines Frontiers is organizing a series of Research Topics to highlight the latest advancements in research across the field of political economy.

  7. International Political Economy: Overview and Conceptualization

    Summary The concept of international political economy (IPE) encompasses the intersection of politics and economics as goods, services, money, people, and ideas move across borders.

  8. Topics in Comparative Political Economy

    72065 Course Description PS 210: Topics in Comparative Political Economy Translating substantively significant political economy issues into researchable research problems is a challenge.

  9. PDF Essays on Political Economy and Macroeconomics

    Essays on Political Economy and Macroeconomics Abstract This dissertation consists of four essays on a range of topics in political economy and macroeconomics which are united by having current policy relevance. The first essay studies the effects of social policy laws on beliefs and attitudes held by the public.

  10. Working Papers, Political Economy Research Institute, University of

    Contact information of Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Postal: 418 N Pleasant St, Amherst MA 01002 Phone: (413) 545-6355 ... Curated articles & papers on economics topics. MPRA . Upload your paper to be listed on RePEc and IDEAS. New papers by email . Subscribe to new additions to RePEc.

  11. 800 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.

  12. International Political Economy

    31 answers. Apr 28, 2016. A chapter of Paul Krugman's book Pop Internationalism (1997) is titled The Illusion of Conflict in International Trade. In this chapter, Krugman contends that trade ...

  13. Topics in Political Economy

    The course will be organized around a series of topics: starting with the economic analysis of voting decision, it will then focus on the selection and motivations of politicians and their impact on public policy, and on questions such as political accountability and corruption; it will then examine the role of mass media and its impact on elect...

  14. International Political Economy Dissertation Topics

    Example international political economy dissertation topic 1: The work of Susan Strange - A commentary To many Susan Strange is the academic mother of international political economy.

  15. International Political Economy

    IPEC 312 Research Topics in International Political Economy; IPEC 328 Political Economy of Inequality and Distribution; ... For Option II, the research paper is to be submitted electronically to Dean Kaneda before the last day of the semester's classes (not the last day of exams) if you are graduating in May or December, and before the last ...

  16. Political Economy

    Political Economy The Political Economy Program examines the interactions among political institutions, participants in the political system, such as voters and elected officials, and economic outcomes broadly defined. Read summaries of presentations at the latest program meeting Read the latest Program Report Affiliated scholars Program Directors

  17. Term Paper

    1. Research Paper Topic: You will write a short paragraph outlining the general topic of your research paper. General topics include, but are not limited to, trade relations, hegemony, the exchange rate, development and globalization. You will then describe the specific subtopic you are interested in.

  18. Topics in International Political Economy

    Topics include political/economic cooperation, the politics of trade, and the politics of adjustment. Topic titles: 1 Political Economy of Decisions 2 BRICS in the Global Economy 3 Canadian Pol Institutions 4 Intellectual Property Issues ... Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, ...

  19. (PDF) Essays on political economy and development

    Abstract and Figures. This thesis contains three independent research papers on political economy of development with a unified focus on leadership and decision makings within real world ...

  20. Topics

    Innovation-Driven Entrepreneurship. Financial Innovation in the 21st Century: Evidence from U.S. Patents. The Diffusion of New Technologies. More research on this topic. Trade. Included in this topic. Challenges of Globalization in the Measurement of National Accounts. Trade-Policy Dynamics: Evidence from 60 Years of U.S.-China Trade.

  21. Research Topics

    About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions.

  22. Topics & Regions

    Explore economic issues facing the world economy, as well as regions and countries, including the pandemic, prospects for growth, inflation, energy and the environment, inequality, labor issues, emerging markets, and the impact of new technologies, with research by the world's leading experts at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

  23. Discrete Choice, Complete Markets, and Equilibrium

    Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings ... Political Economy; Productivity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship ... This paper characterizes the allocations that emerge in general equilibrium economies populated by households ...

  24. 100 Original Political Science Research Topics

    Updated 02 Feb 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.

  25. Most Americans say their side is losing in ...

    Pew Research Center conducted this analysis as part of our ongoing research into how Americans feel about current politics. For this analysis, we surveyed 5,140 adults from Jan. 16 to 21, 2024. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center's American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through ...

  26. Making a Song and Dance About It: The Effectiveness of Teaching

    Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, ... Political Economy; Productivity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship; Public Economics; Working Groups. ... Working Paper 32132

  27. Iraq: Signs of Stability in a Volatile Region

    With two in five Iraqis struggling to afford food (39%) and shelter (40%), and the International Monetary Fund projecting a slowdown in Iraq's GDP growth in 2024 due to oil production cuts -- on which the economy is heavily reliant -- there is still considerable room for improvement in Iraqis' economic perceptions. Bottom Line