
RESEARCH
Political Science faculty is active in research centers around campus, including the Asian Studies, Latin American and Latino/a Studies, Human Rights and Democracy, and Middle East Studies centers.
Research Areas
Comparative Politics
Scholars of Comparative Politics study the politics of countries all over the world. They examine how political processes and structures vary and analyze the political behavior of both political leaders and ordinary citizens. Major themes include democracy, dictatorship, economic development, public goods provision, governance, electoral systems, political representation, voting, public opinion, ethnic politics, civil wars, and more.
Faculty Research
Our faculty’s work has been published by the discipline’s leading book presses and journals such as the American Political Science Review and Comparative Political Studies. It is supported by prestigious funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation.
Faculty Research
Our faculty’s work has been published by the discipline’s leading book presses and journals, including the American Political Science Review, the American Journal of Political Science, International Organization, International Studies Quarterly, and the Journal of Conflict Resolution.
Faculty Members
International Relations
The field of International Relations examines how states, international organizations, NGOs, and other global actors interact with each other. It is particularly interested in explaining how and why these actors cooperate with one another or engage in conflicts. Research on international security often investigates the causes of war and the making of peace, but the field is equally interested in understanding the politics of international trade, finance, aid, the environment, human rights, culture, international law, and more.
Faculty Research
Our faculty’s work has been published by the discipline’s leading book presses and journals, including the American Political Science Review, the American Journal of Political Science, International Organization, International Studies Quarterly, and the Journal of Conflict Resolution.
Faculty Members
Public Law
The Political Science field of Public Law seeks to broadly comprehend how legal systems and actors influence and are influenced by politics and society.
What factors influence the decisions judges make and how do judicial decisions influence other actors in the political system? How do social movements influence the development of law over time? How and why are some groups disadvantaged in the legal system more than others? How and why do legal systems operate similarly and differently in different states and countries? These are among the many questions addressed by students and scholars of Public Law.
In addition to developing advanced critical thinking skills, students taking courses in Public Law through our Pre-Law Concentration gain the foundational knowledge necessary for thriving in law school and all law-related professions.
Faculty Research
Our Public Law faculty members research judicial politics from both an American and comparative angle. Their areas of interest include federal and state judicial selection, judicial decision-making, the influence of courts on economic and social policy, the role of litigants and outside actors, international law, transitional justice and constitutional theory. Our faculty work has been published in the discipline’s leading journals and book presses and has been supported by prestigious funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation. This scholarship has been cited in leading media outlets.
Faculty Members
American Politics
American Politics courses use historical and contemporary examples to understand the political system the founders established, and the ways it has shaped politics. We examine institutions, parties, voting, protest, the media, social values, policy processes, law, inequality and group diversity — as well as how these interact to create the dynamics of American politics today.
Faculty Research
Our American Politics faculty’s research interests include political institutions, political behavior and communication, campaigns and elections, legislative behavior, and judicial politics. Their work has been published in the discipline’s leading journals and book presses and has been supported by prestigious funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation and Fulbright Program. The American Politics faculty routinely serve as invited commentators on state and national election coverage shows, and their scholarship has been cited in leading media outlets.
Faculty Members
Political Theory
Political Theory helps us better understand the concepts that have shaped our politics, including freedom, equality, individuality, democracy and justice. Importantly, Political Theory is the part of Political Science that explores what a better political world would look like and how we can create it. Political Theory frequently involves critiques of our present political reality and may even take explicitly political positions.
Whether we study philosophical treatises, political pamphlets or speeches, Political Theory always involves a reflection on one’s own and others’ political principles. The hope is that such critical reflection can contribute to all of us becoming more engaged citizens.
Faculty Research
Our Political Theory faculty’s research interests include modern and democratic political theory, political philosophy and higher education. Their work has been published in the discipline’s leading journals and book presses.
Faculty Members
Zoukis Research Collaborative
The Zoukis Research Collaborative encourages and supports scholarly research into all aspects of mandatory sentencing and related tough-on-crime policies.
Sona System
Research pool participation is critical to the production of high-quality research generated by the faculty and graduate students in the Department of Political Science.
Political Survey Research Lab
The Department of Political Science at Georgia State offers the services of our state-of-the-art polling center to companies and organizations outside of the university.
Robinson Country Intelligence Index
The RCII is a unique, interactive tool that incorporates four broad dimensions: Governance, Economics, Operations, and Society (GEOS).
Contact Us
Department of Political Science
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Department Chair
Associate Chair
Undergraduate Director
M.A. Program Director
Graduate Director
PPE
Department Specialist
Office / Delivery Address
Georgia State University
Department of Political Science
38 Peachtree Center Ave SE, Room 1023
Atlanta, GA 30303
USPS Mailing Address
Georgia State University
Department of Political Science
P.O. Box 3965
Atlanta, GA 30302