Below are some of the topics students have written papers about in previous semesters.
- Do the structure of U.S. primary elections affect partisan polarization?
- Why do some U.S. states use the death penalty while others do not?
- Why do some countries in Latin America have more legal protections for indigenous people than others?
- Why do some countries have an official language?
- Why do some Republican Senators support immigration more than others?
- Why do some U.S. states have stricter animal welfare laws than others?
- Why do some cities in the U.S. spend more on public schools than others?
- Why do some countries have more permissive abortion laws while others are more restrictive?
- Why do minority groups in some countries rebel?
- When do female politicians run for higher office?
- What kinds of gun laws lead to more black market gun sales?
- Does the U.S. get political influence from its arms sales?
- When do mass movements mobilize against authoritarian regimes?
- Why do some countries have higher quality public education systems?
- Did leaks of NSA programs damage U.S. foreign relations?
- Does international conflict lead to more sports violence?
- Do social welfare programs in the U.S. influence family structure?
- Does negative campaigning reduce voter turnout?
- Why do countries change their electoral rules?
- What causes terrorism?
- What causes civil wars to start?
- Do European Union membership conditions improve the rule of law in Eastern Europe
- When do large sporting events promote tourism?