Political science is a broad field of study, and the range of our research reflects its diversity. Faculty and PhD students have engaged in research across the spectrum of political science subfields. Many of our faculty work at the intersections of the five traditional subfields of political science:
Comparative Politics
Our faculty in the comparative politics subfield studies the social, organizational, and ideational bases of political mobilization and power across a wide variety of contexts.
Public Policy
Faculty research in public policy investigates the processes by which policy agendas are set, actors form policy coalitions, and policies are implemented and evaluated.
US Politics
Several of our faculty take a historical perspective on US politics and focus on culture and institutions.
International Relations
Our international relations faculty cover a wide range of substantive focuses, from national security affairs to international environmental politics and the politics of international trade and finance.
Political Theory
Our political theory graduate students have addressed topics including Indigenous politics, liberalism, historical memory, environmental politics, anarchism, and Southern slavery and oligarchy.
Researching Violence against Women
“Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is now recognized around the world as a serious human rights abuse. Many countries have passed legislation criminalizing VAWG, offered survivors of violence special protections, and created new institutions to enhance survivors' access to security and justice. But what happens after laws are passed? Do governmental reforms actually help women and girls—and if so, which ones? My research focuses here, exploring the impact of top-down VAWG reforms on diverse women across Guatemala, focusing especially on the impacts for women in rural areas, Indigenous women, and poor women.”
–Erin Beck, associate professor
Recent Publications
Read the latest research from the Department of Political Science.
Maintaining a Free Society
"The study of politics is the cornerstone of a free society. Learning how power is organized and to what ends helps us understand our world, and helps us imagine better ones."
–Joe Lowndes, department head and professor
