Political Science Dissertation Topics | 70+ Ideas

Political science is a rich field that lets you examine ideas, movements, and decisions shaping the world. With so many directions to take, narrowing down your dissertation topic can feel challenging.

To help you move forward, here are 70 unique and engaging political science dissertation topics, grouped by theme for easy reading. These ideas are specific enough to support focused research while giving you room to develop your own argument.

Tips Before You Choose Your Topic

1. Decide if you prefer theory-based, empirical, or policy-focused research.
2. Check if data, case studies, or literature are available for your topic.
3. Discuss feasibility with your supervisor, especially if it involves fieldwork.

70 Political Science Dissertation Topics for 2025

1. Political Theory & Philosophy

• Analysing the concept of equality in modern liberal thought
• The influence of anarchist theory on contemporary social movements
• Justice and economic redistribution: philosophical perspectives
• The idea of citizenship in multicultural societies
• Examining critiques of democracy from a Marxist perspective
• Political obligation and civil disobedience in modern democracies
• Identity politics and its philosophical underpinnings
• The concept of the common good in 21st-century governance
• Human rights vs. state sovereignty: a normative analysis
• The role of utopian thinking in political philosophy

2. Comparative Politics

• Analysing voter behaviour in proportional representation systems
• Populism and its consequences for party systems in Europe
• The effectiveness of coalition governments in parliamentary democracies
• Comparing presidential vs. parliamentary systems: policy outcomes
• Ethnic conflict and power-sharing arrangements in divided societies
• Direct democracy in Switzerland: lessons for other democracies
• Civil society and democratisation in authoritarian regimes
• Electoral violence and its impact on democratic consolidation
• Media freedom and political accountability: cross-country evidence
• State-led development strategies in East Asia: a comparative study

3. International Relations

• The changing role of NATO in a multipolar world
• The influence of global trade agreements on national sovereignty
• Small states in the UN: influence beyond size?
• Analysing humanitarian interventions: when and why they succeed
• The role of international courts in conflict resolution
• Climate change negotiations and justice between developed and developing nations
• US–China relations: cooperation or competition?
• Cybersecurity and international law: addressing global threats
• Non-state actors in global governance: legitimacy and power
• The politics of foreign aid in fragile states

4. Public Policy & Governance

• Decentralisation and service delivery: evidence from Africa
• Regulatory policies and business compliance in the EU
• Evaluating anti-corruption strategies in South Asia
• Participatory budgeting and citizen engagement in Latin America
• E-government as a tool for increasing transparency in public administration
• Examining the politics of health care reform in the UK
• The effectiveness of education policy reforms in post-conflict countries
• Bureaucratic accountability and performance in developing states
• The role of think tanks in shaping policy agendas
• Public-private partnerships in infrastructure development

5. Conflict, Security & Peace Studies

• Post-war reconciliation processes in Rwanda and Bosnia
• Analysing terrorism laws and their effect on civil liberties
• The impact of drones on modern warfare ethics
• Peacebuilding in failed states: challenges and prospects
• Gender and conflict: women’s role in peace negotiations
• Refugee resettlement policies in Europe and national security debates
• Arms control treaties and their enforcement challenges
• Insurgency and counterinsurgency: lessons from Afghanistan
• The role of social media in radicalisation processes
• Private military companies and accountability in conflict zones

6. Political Economy

• The relationship between globalisation and income inequality
• Analysing resource curse theories in oil-dependent countries
• The political determinants of economic crises
• Tax policy and redistribution in welfare states
• The impact of austerity measures on democratic legitimacy
• Labour unions and their political influence in declining industries
• International debt relief and its political implications
• Trade wars and their domestic political consequences
• Financial regulation after the 2008 global crisis
• Migration and remittances: political effects on home countries

7. Environmental Politics

• The politics of renewable energy adoption in Europe
• Environmental justice movements and policy change
• Analysing the effectiveness of carbon taxes
• Water scarcity and its role in interstate conflicts
• The politics of biodiversity conservation in the Global South
• Climate refugees: legal and political challenges
• Public opinion and climate policy in democracies
• Energy security and geopolitics in the Arctic
• The role of city governments in addressing climate change
• Green parties’ influence on national policy agendas

Need a Unique Topic?

If none of these quite fits what you have in mind, we can help you design a unique political science dissertation topic that reflects your interests and available resources. Reach out to share your ideas, and we’ll help shape them into a solid research question.

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