Political Science [Reddit] | News

How can we distinguish state capacity from national power when household welfare declines?
A state can collect taxes effectively, field a capable military and enforce its decisions while many of its households become less economically secure. Calling that state “strong” bundles together several different things.
Unpopular Opinion
Any views on Modern Democracy especially in developing world being a Sectarian Kleptocracy? Isn’t it time to bring on a new model? Being a liberal, I feel liberalism is in crisis all over. submitted by /u/Ideal_State [link] [comments]
I’m at such a low point career wise
I got my bachelors degree in political science in December of 2024 and I feel like shit because I can’t find stable work. I’ve been working in retail/ cosmetic sales for the past 5 years and I can’t get out of it. I feel trapped. I wanted to get a job as a paralegal or a legal intake specialist or even a legal assistant. Every interview I went to, I got rejected because they picked someone else.
Am I wasting my time with this RA position?
Hello all, so for some background I’m a second year in UG and really wanna go into studying race and ethnicity (more specifically race/legal consciousness), and I would like to hopefully lean further towards the behavioral analysis side of research.
Is there a science behind liberal migration from red states causing a more divided country?
I (31M) live in Missouri. Born and raised. Liberal. I live in a liberal city. For most of my life, Missouri has been a purple state. Until 2017 we had a liberal governor, we had liberal senators, every now and then we voted blue in presidential elections. Obviously 2016/2017 was a conservative takeover that we're still experiencing.
How would you define the left - right spectrum?
I was wondering why fascism is considered far-right, and the answer I found was it is anti-egalitarian, nationalist, and combats socialists and communists. But is egalitarianism a left wing view? Like there's no way the right wing just goes "yeah, people aren't equal"??? I thought maybe it's like egalitarianism vs hierarchy but that also didn't really work because meritocracy is hierarchial but there's no way that's a right wing view???
Anyone interested in an online class on the meaning and history of Populism?
I'm a historian who recently launched a platform that lets humanities PhDs design and host live online reading seminars. A teacher just listed a class that I thought you all might be interested in: "Populism Past and Present: How it Works and How to Deal with it," taught by Tobias Endler (PhD Heidelberg University). It explores the meaning, history, and techniques of populism, as well as strategies for engaging with populist discourse.
Is North Korea really a monarchy?
Hi Reddit! I don’t have any formal training in political science, I just am kind of interested in the subject. To me, an uninformed observer, North Korea looks a lot like a new monarchy, but everywhere I look online they call it a “hereditary dictatorship.” My question is…why?? According to North Korea’s constitution, the effective leader of the country is the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, and that role is meant to be fed by elections and served in terms of 5 years.
Government control survey!!
Hey! Take a minute to fill out my government control survey for an assignment! submitted by /u/Maximum_Bet5561 [link] [comments]
Third-year Politics & IR student who knows nothing due to mental health and interrupted study — need urgent advice on dissertation and coursework
I'll start with some context (not making excuses, just explaining my situation). Since primary school, I've never really cared about education or thought about my future. I've always felt disconnected from studying or working, partly because my parents never really taught me why education mattered, but I won't get into that. I chose a Politics degree because I didn't know what else to do and felt getting a degree was what you were "supposed" to do. In first year, I gradually stopped attending classes and essentially never studied.
Does any political scientist take ancient and medieval ideas that rulers should be just and virtuous seriously or have men like Machiavelli or Hobbes buried those antique ideas?
Obviously few if any kings, archons, presidents, popes, and countless other forms of ruler perfectly lived up to ideals like justice and piety, but my understanding is that in ancient and medieval times, popular ideas of rulers and political authors often emphasized that the powerful need to be just, obey the laws of their people, and be pious according to their customs, with moderm authors like Machiavelli amd Hobbes popularizing the open discussion of the brutality and hypocrisy that often comes with politics that, in their view,
What do you think of this idea for a French Sixth Republic?
What do you think of a Japanese university student’s idea for a French Sixth Republic? First, before anyone asks: no, I am not a supporter of Jean-Luc Mélenchon. I am a Japanese university student who has only taken a small amount of political science at university, so I am by no means an expert. Still, I tried to imagine what a French “Sixth Republic” might look like if France were ever to adopt a new constitution in the future.
On complex political issues, most Americans take shortcuts to simplicity
Paper published in PNAS on September 28, 2026. Berkeley News coverage here. submitted by /u/UCBerkeley [link] [comments]
Political Theory Reading Suggestions
Hey everyone, I’ve been trying to find a solid way to study political theory as an interconnected intellectual history—looking at it as a genealogy of crises and responses rather than just a massive list of isolated, biographical thinkers. The problem I keep running into is scale. If you try to cover every thinker from Plato to Foucault, it either turns into a dry encyclopedia or feels overwhelmingly disjointed. I'm not even sure if that's the right approach. I want to map it into three epochs to keep the core thread visible:
Does methodology courses matter post-university?
I go to a university that places great emphasis on methodology courses - over my polsci bachelor, I’ll end up doing 6 courses, each 5 ECTS, in different methodologies - an overall on, a qualitative, a quantitative, philosophy of science, advanced social sciences analysis methods (2 of these).
Political Economy in the Economics Department vs. Political Economy at a Politics Department for Graduate School
Hello everyone, I am interested in doing a PhD/DPhil in Political Economy and I've run into a bit of a hurdle in trying to figure out which \*make\* of a Political Economy program would be the best fit for me. I'm wondering between economics and politics departments how does the political economy field change? I mean this in a sense of asking the question what kinds of topics would be present at both departments.
Humanities graduate looking to switch to business / management
Im a moroccan students with a bachelor’s in English studies , specialising in cultural studies and diplomacy, which included political sciences, international relations and communication related courses. I want to switch to a business related master’s (since political sciences masters is not going to give me a real job ) in Belgium or Spain , preferably in management, business analytics, economics or supply chain. I work with my dad as an accountant and an assistant for 2 years now.
"Shared pain" theory and topics
Hey folks I've had a bit of a pet theory that shaped during the last US government shutdown, it felt to me like the shutdown ended fastest once flights were becoming particularly impacted. Flights and flight controller issues are something that regularly seem to make headlines and prompt rather quick reaction. My simple theory and assumed rationale is that this is one of the few public services used by the country's wealthy and elites. You can be as rich as you like, you still rely on flight controllers.
Italy is proposing a new law- coalitions who win more than 42% of the vote get bonus seats...what?
https://www.reuters.com/world/key-points-italys-new-electoral-law-2026-10-08/ Looking to people who study voting systems. Awarding free bonus seats in representative bodies? Whats this, ive never heard of this before? Also, a major democracy changing its electorial system without a referendum or super majority, and for the upcoming election. What? Aren't such things fundamental to a regime entrenched? Whats going on here. Im not so much interested in if the change is good or bad. I just dont understand how it could come about.
EU foreign policy
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.
I don't understand what is happening in the country!
I (25f) have not grown up reading news, neither do I remember a lot of History of India or Politics / Economics of India. Objectively, how do I sort of get to speed to understand what's happening, why is it happening and form my opinions? My attention span is shitty (i have Type 3-ADHD and Anxiety) but I know I cannot be ignorant and I would like to learn and be opinionated, I want to feel curious and organically gravitate towards reading the news, understanding, digging deeper.
Would a bachelors in Political Science benefit me?
Hi.. I’m currently majoring in social work. I originally thought I wanted to be a licensed clinical social worker / therapist, but I’m not so sure anymore.
Estudo sobre política
Com tudo que está acontecendo, identifiquei a urgência de solidificar a minha base sobre política. Preciso de indicações de curso, livros, pessoas que falam sobre isso. Preciso construir a base, sendo assim precisa ser de nível fácil a médio. O que indicariam ? submitted by /u/geh__dias [link] [comments]