Research
Research is at the heart of the Government Department at Wesleyan. Faculty and students work together to explore questions of power, institutions, and political behavior across the globe. From analyzing election campaigns in the United States to studying international organizations and political theory, research opportunities allow students to connect classroom learning to the world beyond campus.
Faculty Research
Faculty in the Government Department are active scholars whose work spans American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. Their research appears in leading journals, books, and media outlets, shaping debates on issues such as democracy, political communication, public opinion, international security, and the history of political thought.
As a student, you’ll have opportunities to learn directly from faculty who bring their cutting-edge research into the classroom and often welcome students into their projects as collaborators.
Wesleyan Media Project
The Wesleyan Media Project is one of the most prominent research initiatives in American politics. Co-directed by Professor Erika Franklin Fowler, the WMP tracks and analyzes political advertising in real time. It has become the leading source for data on the volume, content, and tone of political ads in U.S. elections, frequently cited by scholars, journalists, and policymakers. Students often contribute to coding and analysis, gaining hands-on experience with large datasets and media research.
Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life
The Allbritton Center connects research, teaching, and civic engagement. Many Government faculty and students collaborate with the center to investigate issues of democracy, governance, and social change. The center also hosts events, visiting fellows, and public programming that bring political research into dialogue with real-world issues.
Quantitative Analysis Center
Political science increasingly relies on data-driven methods. Through the Quantitative Analysis Center, Government majors can develop advanced statistical and methodological skills, conduct research with faculty, and participate in projects that integrate quantitative analysis into political studies. Courses such as Applied Data Analysis (GOVT 201) and research workshops equip students to design and execute their own projects.
The QAC Summer Apprentice Program provides opportunities for students to work alongside faculty on collaborative research while receiving intensive methods training. In Summer 2025, for example, Vlad Grass ’28 served as a QAC apprentice, working with Professor Matesan (Government) and Professor Gooyabadi (QAC) on a joint research project.
International Organization Lab
The International Organization Lab conducts empirical research on how international organizations operate. Our first project examines the bureaucrats who work at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Research assistants have collected biographical data on thousands of staff members, enabling new insights into how the diverse makeup of these institutions intersects with great power politics.Student Research Opportunities
Government majors have multiple ways to engage in original research:
Faculty Research Projects – Work alongside professors on topics ranging from campaign strategy to political theory.
Independent Studies and Tutorials – Pursue a focused research project under faculty guidance.
Upper-Level Seminars – Most require substantial research papers, building toward capstone or thesis work.
Senior Thesis and Honors Program – Conduct a year-long project of original scholarship under close faculty mentorship.
Paid Research Opportunities – Through initiatives such as the Center for the Study of Guns and Society, students can gain hands-on experience while contributing to faculty-led projects. The Center recruits about a dozen students each year for paid research positions.
Student Voices in Research
-
Leah Svyrydzenka, Belarus, the Last Dictatorship (Government)
-
Asija Qyteza, The Albanian Diaspora and the Communist Regime (Government) — University Honors
-
Miles Cohen, White Nationalist Symbolism (Government)
-
Amina Cecunjanin, Serbian Nationalism (Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies)
-
Andrew Li, AI and Democratic Governance (College of Social Studies)
-
Hannah Landel, Legacies of Mexico’s Haciendas: Income, Income Inequality, and Institutions (Government) — co-authored with Dolan; presented as a working paper at APSA 2022
-
Peter Rutland and Sun Boonbhati ’25, “Challenges and Opportunities: The Energy Transition in Central Asia.” Presented at a conference hosted by the Institute of Humanities, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, June 8, 2025.
-
Peter Rutland and Dasha Dubinsky ’18, “Russia’s Legal Arguments for the Annexation of Crimea: A Critique.” Journal of Soviet and Post-Soviet Societies 5 (1): 45–80, 2019.
