Political Science

The study of government, politics, and power, how they work, how they’re organized, and how they affect people’s lives.
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Political Science
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Updated May 12, 2026

Overview

This section provides a brief introduction to political science that explores the questions, topics, and fields that shape the study of governments, political systems, public policy, and political behavior. It also highlights related subjects and resources for learning more about the profession of political science.

Political science is the study of how people organize, distribute, and use power within communities, nations, and the international system. Political scientists study a wide range of topics, including the structure and function of governments, the implementation of public policies, the political psychology of individuals and groups, and the dynamics of political processes.

 

Political science explores how laws are made and enforced, how citizens choose their leaders, and how leaders and citizens interact to affect social, economic, and global outcomes.

 

For an in-depth description of the field of political science, see the free article provided by Encyclopedia Britannica's public website.

Political science combines theory and empirical research to examine government institutions, political behavior, and the ideas that shape political life at every level of society. Political science studies cover a wide range of topical areas, however, most universities traditionally divide political science into four main areas of study:

  • American government
  • Comparative politics
  • International relations
  • Political theory

Political science is one of the most interdisciplinary disciplines studied in the social sciences. It draws from law, history, economics, public policy, sociology, psychology, philosophy, and many other disciplines.

Political methodology is also an area of growing importance in political science. Political methodologists specialize in developing and applying quantitative and qualitative research methods in political science. Political science majors are required to take at least one political methods course that teaches them various research methods.

If you’re considering or just starting as a political science major, these resources will give you helpful background and direction. They explain what to expect from the major and the wide variety of career paths it can lead to.

Political Subfields

This section provides links to guides for the four main areas of study in political science, as well as to some of the most-studied subfields. Scroll through the listing or view all subfields.

American Government

The study of how the U.S. political system functions, including Congress, the Executive, and the Judiciary.

Biopolitics

The study of the intersection of politics and biology, examining how biological factors influence political decisions.

Comparative Politics

The systematic study and comparison of political institutions and the electoral and government systems of the world.

Elections and Voting

​The study of how people choose leaders, make decisions, and how different voting systems affect these processes.

Environmental Politics

The study of how governments, communities, organizations, and industries make decisions about the environment.

Human Rights

The study of the fundamental rights and protections owed to all people, and how laws and institutions safeguard those rights.

Political Communication

The study of how information is shared and exchanged between political actors, the media, and the public.

Political Data

The collecting and analyzing of data and information related to political activities to understand and predict political behavior.

Political Economy

The study of how economic production connects with, and is shaped by, social and political forces.

Political Psychology

The study of how political events and people’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors influence political decisions.

Political Theory

The study of the major historical and philosophical influences on the development of political concepts and thought.

Public Policy

The study of principles, objectives, and courses of action that a government pursues in addressing societal issues.

Political Reference

Political reference sources provide a convenient means of locating background information on major political events, key figures, key concepts, and significant political issues. This section lists major political science reference materials by type, beginning with Congressional Quarterly (CQ) Press Library, one of the most well-known databases for U.S. government reference information.

CQ Press Library

CQ Press Library is one of the best-known reference databases for U.S. politics and government research. Resources focus on the American government, U.S. politics, current affairs, U.S. political history, and public policy. It includes many unique reference databases, particularly useful for congressional research and locating basic data on voting and elections.

CQ reference
The following are some of the most comprehensive reference resources used by political science researchers. Images are linked to either publisher websites or Amazon pages, providing full descriptions of each resource.

Political almanacs provide information about political systems, elections, government officials, and related data. They include election results, biographical and professional details of current and past government officials, overviews of legislatures, profiles of major and minor political parties, and summaries of major policy issues.

Yearbooks, such as Europa World Year Book and The Statesman's Yearbook, are annual reference books that provide up-to-date information and statistics about countries and international organizations worldwide. They include political and economic overviews, information about governments, leaders, political parties, key economic statistics, and other factual details.

 

Atlases and maps provide valuable spatial and geographic context, helping scholars and researchers understand how geography, borders, resources, and territory influence politics, power, and international relations. Maps are especially important for revealing politically disputed areas, changing boundaries, and regions with overlapping claims.

 

Databases

 

 

ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World is a large, curated collection of authoritative geographic datasets, interactive maps, and analytical layers designed for use within the ArcGIS platform. Maintained by Esri, it provides global information on topics such as demographics, climate, infrastructure, land use, and environmental change, allowing users to incorporate reliable spatial data directly into maps, dashboards, and GIS analyses. Although ArcGIS requires a subscription, some layers on the site are public.

HistoAtlas is an open-access, collaborative digital atlas that uses historical Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to map how human societies and political landscapes have changed over time. Histo Atlas reconstructs world history through interactive maps, allowing users to explore how political borders, cultural regions, and major historical events evolved across time within a shared geographic framework.

The Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection provides digitized historical and contemporary maps covering global regions, thematic maps, and country maps. Hosted by the University of Texas, this collection includes historical world maps organized by region and theme that are useful to political and international relations researchers.

Sovereign Limits is a detailed digital repository mapping out every internationally recognized land and maritime border. It offers both an interactive web map and downloadable GIS data. Each border in the database is accompanied by a “Boundary Brief,” which outlines the boundary’s history, key legal/treaty documents, and annotated maps. 

 

Print Books

 

A bibliography lists the sources referenced in a research project, including books, articles, documents, websites, and other academic materials used in the research.

Dictionaries are important for understanding and contextualizing words, concepts, and terminology. Various political science dictionaries provide clarity when exploring complex political concepts, systems, and theories, offering clear definitions of key political terms.

Subject encyclopedias are specialized reference sources that provide detailed information on topics within a particular academic discipline. Unlike general encyclopedias that cover many fields broadly, subject encyclopedias concentrate on one area, offering in-depth, expert-written entries. For encyclopedias focused on specific political science subfields, consult the Reference section in that specific political subfield guide.

 

Handbooks provide authoritative overviews, in-depth analyses, and critical discussions of a particular academic field, discipline, or topic. The following are important general political science handbooks. For handbooks focused on specific political science subfields, consult the reference section of that specific political subfield guide.

 

Introductions provide brief but comprehensive introductions to a subject. Written by experts, introductions present key ideas, theories, and debates understandably. The following books are ideal for readers new to political science, providing foundational knowledge without requiring prior expertise.

 

Literature Reviews in Political Science

After choosing a topic, conducting a literature review is the next step of the writing process for every social science discipline, including anthropology.  These resources are designed specifically to help scholars quickly understand the key debates, theories, and major publications in a field.

The Annual Review of Political Science is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes comprehensive literature review articles in political science. Each year, a new volume is released, consisting of articles written by leading experts in the field, providing overviews of the most important and influential research and scholarship in political science.

Oxford Bibliographies provides scholarly bibliographies in most social science disciplines, including political science.  Each bibliography includes authoritative books, journal articles, websites, and other materials selected and organized by academic scholars. These bibliographies can also help researchers begin building literature reviews by identifying important authors, major debates, foundational studies, and key publications on different political science topics.

When searching for literature reviews in your discipline, don’t overlook dissertations found in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. Doctoral students are typically required to write extensive literature reviews that examine major debates, theories, methods, and key publications related to their research topic. These literature reviews can help you identify important authors, foundational studies, useful keywords, and gaps in the existing research.

General Databases

Academic libraries subscribe to a diverse range of research databases of which EBSCO and ProQuest are two of the largest providers. Most colleges and universities offer access to one or both platforms. Here are some key insights about each:

  • Both are multidisciplinary research databases covering multiple disciplines.
  • Both provide access to dozens of subject databases with a single search interface.
  • Both provide a varied mix of e-books, scholarly journals, peer-reviewed journals, trade publications, magazines, images, and newspapers.

EBSCOhost is a major research database platform that allows users to search multiple EBSCO databases simultaneously. The difference between EBSCOhost and Academic Search is that Academic Search can be searched as part of the EBSCOhost platform or searched separately if your institution has a subscription. To check if your institution subscribes to EBSCOhost, use EBSCO’s Find your institution page.

ProQuest is a major database vendor and platform that provides access to hundreds of database collections. The ProQuest platform provides a multidisciplinary search with access to scholarly ebooks, journals, video and audio, newspapers, and more, all searchable simultaneously. ProQuest is unique in providing dissertations and theses, historical newspapers, and other primary sources.

Scholarly Databases

Scholarly research databases provide peer-reviewed academic journal articles, book reviews, and other scholarly resources authored by scholars, researchers, or academics who are experts in their fields. Unlike magazines (Time, Newsweek, etc.) focused on current events, news, and general-interest stories written by journalists, articles in scholarly journals undergo rigorous review before publication. The following is a list of the most important multidisciplinary scholarly research databases.

Google Scholar is a free academic search engine that helps researchers and students find scholarly literature across disciplines. It indexes journal articles, books, conference papers, theses, patents, and other resources from academic publishers, universities, and professional organizations.

The International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS), compiled by the British Library of Political and Economic Science at the London School of Economics, provides access to a vast collection of scholarly literature in the social sciences. Covering multiple disciplines, IBSS includes references to journal articles, books, newspapers, and dissertations, with records dating back to 1951.

JSTOR is an important scholarly research database for the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. It provides the full text of articles from thousands of influential academic journals. In addition to journal articles, users can access eBooks, book chapters, images, and primary source documents. JSTOR also provides an AI research tool that provides key points and arguments of articles.

Project MUSE offers online access to a vast collection of scholarly journals, books, and academic resources in the humanities, social sciences, and arts. As a leading provider of digital humanities content, it features high-quality, peer-reviewed publications from prestigious university presses, scholarly societies, and academic publishers.

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses is a database of dissertations and theses from universities worldwide. It provides access to millions of full-text works across many disciplines, including the social sciences, humanities, sciences, and business. Each dissertation includes an abstract or summary that provides a concise overview of the research, its methodology, and key findings.

ScienceDirect is a leading full-text scholarly scientific database that provides journal articles and book chapters from more than 2,500 peer-reviewed journals and more than 11,000 books. It covers over 24 major subjects in the physical sciences and engineering, life sciences, health sciences, social sciences, and the humanities.

Social Sciences Full Text provides access to a wide range of scholarly literature in the social sciences. It covers many disciplines, including sociology, psychology, international relations, political science, anthropology, economics, and education.

Web of Science is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary research and citation index that provides access to a wide range of scientific, technical, social science, and humanities research. It maintains rigorous criteria for the journals and publications it indexes, ensuring that only high-quality, peer-reviewed content is included. Web of Science includes 98 million papers dating back to 1900.

Political Science Databases

Searching general databases can sometimes yield an overwhelming number of results. To refine your search, consider using a subject-specific research database. The following research databases specialize in political science, covering topics like international relations, comparative politics, public policy, and political theory.

Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO) is a comprehensive public policy resource for the study and practice of international relations, global policy, and diplomacy. Developed by Columbia University Press, CIAO provides scholarly journals, policy briefs, conference proceedings, working papers, and e-books produced by leading think tanks, research institutes, and publishers worldwide. CIAO also provides case studies, country profiles, and interactive datasets.

EBSCO Political Science Complete is a full-text research database providing comprehensive coverage of political science literature, including journals, books, conference papers, and other publications. It encompasses various sub-disciplines within political science, such as political theory, comparative politics, international relations, public administration, and more.

Overton is the world’s largest database for tracking the influence of research on public policy. Overton provides policy documents, official reports, guidelines, and parliamentary records from governments, think tanks, and international organizations worldwide. It has the largest collection of policy-related material, hard-to-find resources, and gray literature linked to academic research.

The PAIS® Index is a public policy database that tracks scholarship and policy research in public affairs, social sciences, and international relations. First developed in 1914 to organize literature on important public issues, PAIS provides a comprehensive index of journal articles, books, government documents, statistical reports, conference proceedings, and gray literature from around the world.

Policy Commons is a public policy database that provides access to policy reports, working papers, briefs, and other publications from think tanks, NGOs, research institutes, and international organizations. It contains millions of documents covering topics such as economics, governance, environment, health, and international affairs. It also includes archived content from organizations that no longer maintain their own websites.

Policy File Index is a ProQuest database that provides public policy research and analysis produced by think tanks, nongovernmental organizations, research institutes, and university centers. It covers topics such as economics, foreign policy, security, environment, education, and social issues. It also includes materials such as policy briefs, reports, and working papers, which are primarily published in the United States.

The Political Science Network  sits on SSRN  an online repository and preprint server where researchers can upload working papers. It is an open-access service that provides “early print” research and working papers before they are published in journals. SSRN includes exploratory investigations, book chapters, PhD dissertations, course and teaching materials, presentations, and research posters.

ProQuest’s Political Science is a major political science database providing access to high-quality, full-text articles from over 500 leading scholarly, peer-reviewed political science and international relations journals. ProQuest Political Science also provides access to recent, full-text political science dissertations from U.S. and Canadian universities and current working papers from the Political Science Research Network.

ProQuest Trends and Policy compiles primary source documents related to U.S. government policy. It includes congressional hearings, committee prints, reports, legislative research studies, and other materials that document the development of public policy over time. The resource is organized around the following key topics:  Civil Rights, Civil Criminal Justice, Environment, Healthcare, Immigration, Taxes, and the IRS.

Worldwide Political Science Abstracts provides citations, abstracts, and indexing of the international serials literature in political science and its complementary fields, including international relations, law, and public administration. 67% of the monitored journals are published outside the United States, and nearly 500,000 records beginning in 1975. Coverage includes general political science, international relations, and comparative politics.

Political Science Journals

Journal Citation Reports (JCR) is widely regarded as the leading subscription-based resource for identifying high-quality, peer-reviewed journals and assessing the impact, influence, and quality of scholarly journals across disciplines, including anthropology. To learn more about Journal Citation Reports and journal impact, go to Journal Databases.
To review the entire list of most highly cited political science journals, go to Journal Citation Reports and choose Categories > Social Sciences, General >Political Science. Below are the ten most-cited political science journals in the latest rankings.

American political science review

The American Political Science Review is the most cited journal in the field of political science, publishing peer-reviewed research and review essays across all major subfields, including political theory, American politics, public policy, public administration, comparative politics, and international relations.

Journal Site

American journal of political science

The American Journal of Political Science publishes research across all major areas of political science, including American politics, public policy, international relations, comparative politics, methodology, and political theory, advancing knowledge of citizenship, governance, and politics.

Journal Site

Journal of politics

The Journal of Politics, published for the Southern Political Science Association, is a general-interest political science journal featuring diverse research from all major subfields, including American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and methodology.

Journal Site

International Organization

International Organization (IO) is a top peer-reviewed journal in international affairs. It publishes articles that develop broad theories, advance social science research, and present new empirical findings on the wide range of topics that shape international relations and global politics.

Journal Site

Comparative political studies

Comparative Political Studies is a leading journal in comparative politics, publishing research on methodology, theory, and cross-national political issues. It provides in-depth analyses on a wide range of topics, including democratic consolidation, electoral systems, human rights, regional integration, and political economy.

Journal Site

Journal of european public policy

The Journal of European Public Policy (JEPP) is a leading publication in public policy, European politics, and EU studies. It publishes analytical, theoretical, and methodological articles that explore the dynamics of public policy in Europe through a variety of social science approaches. 

Journal Site

Journal of public administration research and theory

The Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory (JPART), the official journal of the Public Management Research Association, is a top publication in public administration, featuring high-quality theoretical and empirical research. Multidisciplinary in scope, it covers organizational, managerial, administrative, and policy-based studies that advance public administration theory.

Journal Site

Political psychology

Political Psychology, the journal of the International Society of Political Psychology, explores the intersection of psychology, politics, and governance. It publishes high-quality research using a wide range of methods and topics, from studies of public opinion and political elites to analyses of democratic and non-democratic systems and international relations.

Journal Site

Annual review of political science

The Annual Reviews are peer-reviewed academic journals that publish comprehensive and critical literature review articles in many academic disciplines. The Annual Review of Political Science publishes literature reviews of major developments across the field, including political theory, international relations, political economy, political behavior, American and comparative politics, public administration, public policy, and research methodology.

Journal Site

Public Opinion Quarterly

Public Opinion Quarterly (POQ) offers high-quality interdisciplinary research. It publishes influential theoretical work on opinion and communication, analyses of public opinion, and studies on survey methodology, including sampling, questionnaire design, interviewing, and administration methods.

Journal Site

Political News

You are likely already familiar with major media sources that provide the latest news, opinions, and analyses of political events. These include The New York Times, MSNBC, NPR, CNN, The Washington Post, The Hill,  and, The Wall Street Journal. However, several subscription news sources that scholars and academics use are crucial for staying up-to-date with political and government issues.

Congressional Quarterly Magazine, or CQ Magazine (formerly CQ Weekly), is a political publication that provides in-depth coverage of the United States Congress and the federal government. It offers up-to-date analysis, news, and insights into congressional activities, legislation, elections, and politics.

Congressional Quarterly News, or CQ News, provides up-to-date news and coverage of the United States Congress, congressional legislation, and government affairs. CQ News provides comprehensive reporting, policy news and analysis, legislative tracking, and news on legislative activities, policy developments, elections, and political news at the federal level.

The Economist is a weekly British international magazine that provides up-to-date news and information on global politics and the economy. Widely regarded as one of the most influential magazines in the world, it covers current affairs, politics, business, finance, science, technology, and culture.

Foreign Policy focuses on global affairs and international relations. Founded in 1970, it is one of the leading publications in the field. Foreign Policy covers geopolitics, diplomacy, security, economics, human rights, development, relations between countries, the decisions governments and individual leaders make, and how global forces such as war, trade, climate change, technology, and diplomacy shape everyday life. Major regions covered include Asia and the Pacific, China, the Middle East and Africa, the Americas, and Europe.

The National Journal is a political publication focused on politics and policy in the United States. It provides in-depth analysis, insights, and reporting on a range of issues, including government, legislation, campaigns, and political trends. The online subscription includes Hotline, a daily newsletter that provides analysis of U.S. politics, focusing on elections, campaigns, and political trends; and Almanac+, which provides in-depth political and demographic data and analysis of politicians and Congress.

POLITICO.com is a major news organization that specializes in political journalism. It covers U.S. and international politics, policy, and government affairs, providing breaking news, analysis, and in-depth reporting. Most articles and general news on the POLITICO.com website are accessible without a subscription. POLITICO Pro is a premium, subscription-based service providing in-depth policy analysis, real-time alerts, and exclusive reports. It provides specialized coverage across multiple policy areas such as healthcare, technology, energy, and defense.

Roll Call is a news publication focusing on the U.S. Congress, politics, and government affairs. It provides in-depth coverage of legislative activities, policy developments, elections, and the inner workings of Capitol Hill. Roll Call is considered an important source of information for anyone interested in the insider politics of Congress, with frequent coverage on congressional members and political trends.

Roll Call

The World Politics Review is an online magazine that provides in-depth analysis on global politics, foreign policy, and international relations. It covers a wide range of topics, including conflicts, economics, diplomacy, and the impact of global political trends. World Politics Review offers articles, reports, and special features written by experts.

Country Profiles

When studying political science, country profiles are great sources for locating factual information, data, and background information on the historical, political, institutional, and economic conditions of countries and territories. Listed below are some of the best resources for country profiles.

BBC News Country Profiles provides historical overviews, economic conditions, institutional backgrounds, and a summary of current political events. Information provided includes current heads of state, major political figures, population, capitals, monetary units, and major religions.

CountryWatch is a geopolitical and global subscription news resource providing country reports for nearly 200 countries.  It provides regularly updated publications for each country, including demographic, political, economic, business, cultural, and environmental information. Topics covered include political and economic conditions, current events, business, and history.

The CQ Political Handbook of the World, published by SAGE Congressional Quarterly, provides country-level data for more than 200 nations. It offers detailed information about political history,  social movements, economics, and current issues. Users can browse by political and electoral systems across seven categories, including regime type, democracy, type, Freedom House Rating, election rules, party, system, and system of government.

EIU Viewpoint (formerly Viewswire) is the new EIU platform that combines three products: Country Analysis, Financial Risk, and Operational Risk. Access to individual products depends on an institution’s subscription. EIU Viewpoint provides political, policy, and economic analysis and data. It includes in-depth country reports, forecasts, analysis, and expert opinions on matters of economic and geopolitical significance.

Europa World Plus is the online version of the famous reference source, Europa World Year Book. It provides political, economic, and historical information for over 250 countries and territories, including statistics. Europa World Plus also contains the nine-volume Europa Regional Surveys of the World series. Europa provides up-to-date government lists and recent election results for every country in the world, as well as a who’s who of major political figures.

Freedom House is a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in the United States that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political rights, and civil liberties worldwide. Freedom House – Countries and Territories provides ratings of citizens’ access to political rights and civil liberties in 210 countries and 15 territories, ranging from 1 (most free) to 7 (least free).

The Statesman’s Yearbook provides country profiles, with information on key historical events, demographics, city profiles, social statistics, climate, recent elections, current leaders, defense, international relations, economy, energy and natural resources, industry, international trade, religion, culture, and diplomatic representatives, and more.

World Bank Country Profiles are comprehensive reports and data summaries that provide an overview of the economic and social conditions of individual countries. These profiles are published by the World Bank, an international financial institution that provides loans and technical assistance to developing countries for over 150 nations.

Political Science Methods

Research methods are the specific strategies, tools, and techniques researchers use to collect and analyze information to answer questions or solve problems. Research methods can be qualitative ( interviews or observations), quantitative (numerical and statistical), or a mixture of both. Most social science students are required to take at least one research methods course as part of a department's core curriculum, which introduces the basics of how research is done in a specific discipline. 

Sage Research Methods

Sage Research Methods is a major subscription database that guides users in understanding research methodologies across different academic disciplines. It provides electronic access to reference books, journal articles, instructional videos, and other qualitative methods resources.

Sage Research Methods Top 500x556
The following resources provide in-depth information on various research design concepts, methodologies, and techniques specific to anthropology.
Do You Know
Diplomat, playwright, and historian Niccolò Machiavelli (1469 – 1527), author of The Prince, is considered the first modern Western political scientist. Learn more
Political Theory: Painting of Niccolò Machiavelli, Florentine diplomat, author, philosopher, and historian called the father of modern political theory and political science.
Source: Portrait by Santi di Tito, c. 1550–1600.