I'm thinking of creating a small group of ** Political Science Students** who want something beyond the exam oriented discussion.

The idea is to create a space where we can **read, write and discuss political theory, research papers,** books, exchange useful academic resources, discuss research ideas, may work on them together, and maybe occasionally proper discussion on political concepts, contemporary issues and thinkers.

What we can do:

1. Pick a paper/ chapter / book evey week or two and discuss it.

2. Discuss political thinkers and different interpretations of their work (Hermenutics)

3. Share academic papers etc.

4. Help each other with research questions, literature reviews and methodology.

5. Help each other with feedback on papers, essays, research proposals etc.

6. Discuss academic opportunities, conferences which can be attended, publications, JRF etc.

7. Most importantly *understanding contemporary political developments with theoretical paradigms.*

It doesn't have to be a very formal group, but more of **a small reading community which eventually converts into a research community.**

If there are enough people, I'll setup the group and we can figure out the format together.

About me : I'm a 2nd year Master's student of Political Science in University of Delhi.

If interested, Drop me a message. Thank you :)

UPDATE: Woah, Quite overwhelming response, i wasn't expecting this. Those who still want to join, drop me a message, stating your name and academic background. I'll close this by tomorrow evening. Thank you everyone.

Hello everyone!

I would love to spur discussion among academics and fans of geopolitics. How to actually reserach geopolitics as an academic? I don't mean reading the foundational theories and reinterpreting them.

I am currently starting my PhD in polsci, and I decided to focus solely on geopolitics, as it was the lens that I enjoyed the most during four years or IR bachelor's and master's studies. I am now going through some basic books, but I often find that the way to conduct academic research in geopolitics isn't as clear as it is in IR theory or comparative politics.

So what is it? Is doing simulations of maritime routes distruptions a geopolitical research? Can text analysis be a form of geopolitical research (critical geopolitics)?

While reading books that present themselves as "Basics of Geopolitical Research" such as Geopolitics and International Relations by David Criekemans, I found out that "I have to pay attention to the history of borders, how they changed, also to people, which minorities live in the peripheries, and watch out for mountains and rivers" and other really basic information that is super intuitive.

Therefore, I want to ask: Are there any doctoral students in geopolitics, PhD researchers, or advanced researches in thinks tanks, etc., who have also puzzled themselves with this question and who have some kind of an answer? Also, if you have tips for books that present the field of geopolitics in an academic manner, please feel free to share them.

I am currently reading:

• David Criekemans - Geopolitics and International Relations
• Colin Flint - Introduction to Geopolitics (5th Edition)
• Colin Flint, Peter J. Taylor - Political Geography: World-Economy, Nation-State, and Locality (2025)

If you could have a new organization on the world level like the United Nations etc. ( but it'll actually work) what do you want?

Hi! Has anyone written their bachelor’s thesis on EU foreign policy? I really need some help, as my supervisor is currently dealing with an issue and isn’t able to help me at the moment.

What topics did you work on and what research problem do you think would be interesting to explore? I was thinking about doing something related to EU–Russia relations, but I can’t seem to come up with an interesting research hypothesis. I would like to prove a specific change in Russia determined something about the foreign policy of EUQ. I was also thinking about somehow connecting it to the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood.

I’m honestly a bit stuck at the moment and I mainly need some ideas for interesting research topics.

Thank you!

Two questions:
1. Is it possible to be a good President/Prime Minister/ Governor without the dirt?

1. Does being it holds the burden of not being liked by certain people/groups/orgs?

I hope this isn’t the wrong sub to ask, but I am doing research in (quantitative) political science and thought I could benefit from others' experience.

While I try to minimise AI assistance (in large part due to ethical reasons), unfortunately its use becomes increasingly necessary to not get ״left behind“ as the expected speed for delivery of output increases.

With that being said obviously it is still useful for lots of stuff e.g. when I try to find preliminary literature or when I have to do troubleshooting for codes in a statistics software.

What do you use in your research (preferably the free version) - Chat GPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, something entirely else, a combination ?

Appreciate any leads & opinions!

As the title says, how do I find research opportunities out of school? I have my BA and MA and after working in politics for a few years I've decided to go back for a PhD. However, I'm looking to get more experience with research as I didn't have the opportunity to do much in the past having to work through school. It looks like every research opportunity though is tied to being in school/in undergrad or is too advanced for someone with less than the expected amount of experience being post-graduate school.

Any suggestions on opportunities? Or is anyone looking for a research assistant/intern?"

Hi! I’m planning to conduct a research project and I have a methodological question. I would like to study the influence of gentrification on social polarization, but I’m not sure whether “social polarization” would be the most appropriate variable, or whether “social cohesion” would be more suitable.

I’m also considering using triangulation, combining semi-structured interviews, non-participant observation, and content analysis. However, I’m not sure whether I should also conduct interviews with people who have been displaced from the area.

I would really appreciate some advice on how you would approach this research and what methodological choices you would make.

I should mention that this is only for a university presentation and is not intended for publication.

Thank you!

^ says everything

I am a 15-year-old in year 10 in the UK.
It would be highly appreciated if you could provide feedback on my research paper that I have done.
Copy of European Integration and Strategic Autonomy: Assessing the Case for a Neo-Gaullist European Union - Google Docs

Hey! Take a minute to fill out my government control survey for an assignment!

Hi everyone! I’m conducting a research study on India–Vietnam relations, ASEAN, and the South China Sea. I’d really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to fill out my questionnaire. Your responses will be valuable to my research. Thank you for your time and support! 🙏

I am currently writing a argumentative thesis on how the ratification of the seventeenth amendment fundamentally changed the structure of the U.S. government, and why I think a lot of modern problems trace back to it. The Founders did not design the U.S. as a pure democracy. The House represented the people, while the Senate represented the states as sovereign political entities. That’s why senators were originally appointed by state legislatures. The Senate was supposed to be a check on federal power and protect state sovereignty. Once senators became directly elected, they stopped representing state governments and started representing national parties, media narratives, donor networks, and popular opinion. The Senate became less of a “states’ chamber” and more like a second House of Representatives. As states lost direct influence in Washington, federal power rapidly expanded and politics became increasingly nationalized. The 17th Amendment made the system more democratic, but it also weakened one of the Constitution’s biggest protections against centralized power. I would like to have some opinions on this topic, because it's something I am truly a believer of.

What political literature should I read in order to make sure I am as politically competent as possible? Currently, my reading list is The Republic, The Communist Manifesto, Wealth of Nations, State and Revolution, The Conquest of Bread, On Liberty, and The Souls of Black Folk.

What else should I do to ensure that I’m as politically competent as possible? Any specific topics/historical context I should read into before reading my literature?

What’s the best way to ensure my research is efficient? I’d hate to spend a ton of time on reading things that will bring me nearly no benefit in a political discussion. I’d also like to make it clear, I do not mind reading multiple perspectives on things. I see issues in the world today and want to be competent enough to come to a reasonable conclusion on nearly any topic.

Thank you in advance!

URGENT

LF Thesis Instrument Validator. Must have Masters or PHD in Political Science or any related field.

I've been thinking about this project idea but I'm unsure if there's enough of a theoretical gap that would warrant publication so I wanted to hear folks' thoughts.

There's sort of been this debate in Canadian Political Behaviour on whether Canadian political culture is best stratified by province, region (e.g., the Prairie provinces), or regional cluster (e.g., Suburban Toronto and Vancouver). Provinces have traditionally been the default because political culture has been considered a product of distinct provincial institutions (Simeon & Elkins, 1974; Elkins & Simeon, 1980). However, Henderson 2004 pioneered some work that found "regional [cluster] cultures possess different political attitudes and behaviours that cannot be explained by the existence of provincial boundaries." Meanwhile, work by those such as Anderson, 2010 and McGrane & Berdhal, 2013 has found region to be more important.

My question: is there enough of a theoretical gap to explore which stratification best explains Canadians' environmental attitudes? Is applying this debate to environmental attitudes enough of a gap?

Somewhat besides the point, but my hypothesis would be that provinces are more important because of how institutionally dependent environmental policy is and also things like the "joint decision trap" (when "the least ambitious (and most fossil fuel-dependent) provinces vetoed national solutions" (Harrison, 2023)). I guess one limiting factor could be if less informed people take social cues from geographically closer areas over provincial policy knowledge.

Anyways, enough rambling. Many thanks in advance for your thoughts on this!

P.S. If anyone thinks this, or something similar, is a good idea, I welcome serious collaborators. Bet no one's done that on Reddit before.

References below:

Anderson, Cameron. "Regional heterogeneity and policy preferences in Canada: 1979–2006." Regional and Federal Studies 20, no. 4-5 (2010): 447-468.
Elkins, David J., and Richard Simeon, eds. 1980. Small Worlds: Provinces and Parties in Canadian Political Life. Toronto: Methuen.
Harrison, Kathryn. “Climate Governance and Federalism in Canada.” Chapter. In Climate Governance and Federalism: A Forum of Federations Comparative Policy Analysis, edited by Alan Fenna, Sébastien Jodoin, and Joana Setzer, 64–85. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023.
Henderson, Ailsa. "Regional political cultures in Canada." Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique 37, no. 3 (2004): 595-615.
McGrane, David, and Loleen Berdahl. "‘Small worlds’ no more: reconsidering provincial political cultures in Canada." Regional & Federal Studies 23, no. 4 (2013): 479-493.
Simeon, Richard, and David J. Elkins. "Regional political cultures in Canada." Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique 7, no. 3 (1974): 397-437.

‼️RECRUITING CURIOUS YOUTHS INTERESTED IN PUBLISHING SOCIO-POLITICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL RESEARCH ‼️

- Publish your research, case studies, and thought experiments on a dedicated website + let others debate respond

- Collaborate and debate with fellow students on systems, societal-political commentary, world issues

- Work together to design an alternate society and utopia

Hi, I'm a high school senior building The Youth Manifesto --- a Youth-Led, Nonprofit Independent research independent research and ideas laboratory exploring how societies can become better through the lens of designing a utopia from studying past, current systems, or exploring possible future ones, grounding it in real socio-political research. We're making a dedicated website where members can explore questions about society through research, political and philosophical writing, commentary, case studies, thought experiments, and real-world analysis.

A big part of the website is 🌏The Better World Project🌍, where you can publish your own research and ideas about what a better society could look like through an essay, thought experiment, or even publish various studies on our current society. ❗But what differentiates the Youth Manifesto is that it's also an ongoing exchange of ideas and open dialogue. There people can respond to, challenge, expand, or propose alternatives to other contributors’ work ❗. The project is ultimately about youth voices, independent learning, constructive disagreement, and collective thinking—giving curious young people a space to research things they genuinely care about, share their perspectives, and learn from people who think differently.

📣📣I’m currently looking for people to help me build the foundation of the project. I’d especially love to connect with people interested in politics, sociology, philosophy, economics, international relations, research, writing, history, or just exploring big questions about how society works and how it could be different. You don’t need to be an expert, just curious and willing to contribute.

If you're a student interested in publishing your own ideas and research, feel free to reach out!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2wWKZnABckQEAquOLpSRz2rl_HWesxnljT0oSLlHrQlTo8g/viewform?usp=publish-editor

I want the opinion of different groups of people, black white, liberal, pro right as everyone is guided by some form of narrative directly or indirectly through social media.

I don’t know much about it, but i really want to learn and understand it better. But how do i start?

Introduction:

I am currently exploring a political science framework analyzing the ongoing legislative shifts regarding gender segregation in Israel's public sectors (transportation, academia, and the removal of female imagery from public signage). While traditional analyses view these developments through the lens of generic patriarchal dominance or coalition concessions, I want to propose a structural biopolitical and somatic explanation.

​The Core Thesis:

My thesis argues that the insular religious enclave's institutional stability is fundamentally threatened by biological non-compliance among its adolescent and young adult male demographics—specifically regarding strict halachic compliance surrounding personal sexual purity (Shmirat Habrit). Because the leadership cannot alter human biology or eradicate the physical impulse, they must externalize the compliance costs onto the secular state infrastructure.

​Therefore, the systematic restriction of women’s civil rights and their physical erasure from the public square is not a random byproduct of religious zealotry. It is a rationalized, calculated spatial engineering project designed to act as an environmental quarantine. By legally sanitizing the public road of any visual female presence, the leadership attempts to eliminate the external stimuli that trigger involuntary physical reactions in male citizens.

​Questions for the Subreddit:

​Does this specific application of Foucault’s Biopolitics (the state regulation of physical bodily fluids and somatic outputs via environmental policing) hold up methodologically, or is it too reductionist?

​Are there cross-comparative studies of other fundamentalist enclaves (e.g., historical Puritanism, extreme sectarian groups) utilizing state architecture to manage localized biological compliance?

​How would you recommend sharpening the causality mapping between the textual religious directives and the explicit language of current 2026 Knesset legislative proposals?

: I am an Israeli political science student of Jewish descent. English is my third language, and due to dyslexia and dysgraphia, I use AI to polish my grammar and format my thoughts into clear, standard academic English.

I’m 17 and I’ve never really been interested in politics before however lately I’ve started developing a strong interest towards that, also soon I am turning 18 which means that I’ll be able to vote in my country, so I think it’s important to start engaging in topics regarding national and international politics. I would really appreciate that if you give me some advice on where to start, which topics to look into, some reliable sources and etc. Thanks in advance!

Drop your scores of ugc net political science score to guess the cut off !

I recently switched my major to poli sci. I fear I’m not getting an in depth understanding of the political climate and how the way things work. I’d really like some literature that I can just order online. I heard Chomsky is a good one.

I just think the fact that Obama ran as an outsider with respect to the Democratic establishment and won is really interesting, perhaps the only available template for such outsider runs.