Political Science and International Relations Dissertation Topics

Political Science and International Relations Dissertation Topics Ideas

Browsing dissertation topics before writing your actual dissertation is always a wise step in the right direction. Essayarsenal.co.uk offers free dissertation topics on numerous subjects that help you gain better understanding while choosing your research topic. We also offer help with your dissertation proposal or complete dissertation assistance from start to finish. It is critical that you select an appropriate dissertation topic. Making the right decision will increase your chances of getting a good grade. Essentially, you're tasked with selecting a topic and a question that will help you have a productive critical discussion about the issues you've chosen, while also demonstrating original insight and analysing and evaluating the existing literature in your field of study. There is a lot of academic interest in politics right now, especially with all of the significant political changes that will occur in 2020 and 2021, including Brexit, the coronavirus crisis, China's rise, and the ongoing tensions in Eastern Europe. Here are some international relations and politics dissertation topics to get you started: the post-September 11th world and terrorism; the United States' foreign policy; Britain's foreign policy; Africa's role in world affairs and international law. To assist you in making informed decisions, current geopolitical events are presented as questions.

British Foreign Policy Dissertation Topics

When it comes to sharing data on criminals and terrorists, how will Brexit affect the UK-European security cooperation?
To what extent did the UK's decision to leave the EU have free movement of people as a motivating factor?
Why is the UK-US'special relationship' still relevant in today's world, given the US' growing interest in the Indo-Pacific?
Is the United Kingdom a mere "pet" of the United States based on its foreign policy?
How much of an impact does British foreign policy have on Europe as a whole?
After Brexit, how can the UK use its economic, military, and diplomatic might to strengthen its global standing?
In the Middle East, what would a Labour-led government mean for British foreign policy?
Is it likely that Brexit will lessen British global influence, and if so, how?
After Copid, is a close relationship between the UK and China still feasible?
With significant post-Covid economic constraints ahead, is the previous interventionist approach to British foreign policy politically and economically sustainable?
How can the UK remain united in the face of Northern Irish and Scottish independence movements that threaten its unity?
After Brexit, what strategic security measures can the UK take to keep Northern Ireland stable?
Is the United Kingdom still an important and relevant ally for the United States, despite significant cuts to the British Armed Forces following the Covid crisis?
If trade and economic priorities are linked to diplomatic and security goals, how can the UK's foreign policy be revitalised?

US Foreign Policy Dissertation Topics

The US frequently refers to itself as the 'global policeman,' but could such terminology be interpreted as a cover for simple bullying?
Is the US always justified in pursuing its national interests under international law?
How, then, could the US be said to have overstepped its boundaries by interfering in the internal affairs of other countries?
The United Nations' relationship with the United States is ambiguous: to what extent do the United States' actions undermine the United Nations' role?
How does China's and other Asian countries' development of nuclear energy serve to reflect the negative aspects of US foreign policy?
In what ways does China's rise as an economic and military superpower pose a threat to the United States?
Twenty years of the war on terror, combined with tensions with Russia and China, has resulted in a militarised US foreign policy that benefits the military industrial complex, which frequently advocates for foreign intervention. Who, in fact, is in charge of US foreign policy?
What is the most significant external threat to the United States? How is this likely to affect future US foreign policy?
Historically, the United States' foreign policy has been characterised by liberal internationalism. How can liberal internationalism continue to guide US foreign policy in an unstable world where democracy and liberalism are under threat from China's growing power?
Will the current construction of the US-Mexico border wall have a negative effect on the global economy?
What does Russia's growing geopolitical power and influence mean for the direction of US foreign policy in the future?
How is the United States likely to approach Brexit, the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union?
With conflicting priorities in the Middle East, Western and Eastern Europe, and the Indo-Pacific, does US foreign policy lack strategic focus, and if so, how?
What are the long-term implications of Trumpism's rise for US foreign policy? How will the United States respond to the growing isolationist and anti-war sentiments within its own population?
To what extent will future Administrations continue or reverse Trump's policy of economic decoupling from China?

Africa in Global Politics Dissertation Topics

Has the West's involvement in Africa only served to exacerbate the situation?
How much did colonial rule contribute to today's political strife in Africa between communities and ethnic groups?
How much of the problems between African nations can be attributed to ancient tribal traditions and religious beliefs?
In what ways do conflicts between African countries affect their ties to the West?
Attempts to resolve tensions between warring African nations have been made by countries around the world. How much of a success have they had so far?
What is the outlook for relations between African countries in the future?
Is the African Union doing a good job of resolving Africa's problems and giving Africa a global voice?
How successful have negotiations and reconciliation efforts been between African ethnic groups at resolving their differences? What relevance do Western political ideals have in an African environment?
Can Africa be a destabilising force in global politics in various ways?
African politics are being transformed by the rise of a middle class.
What role do Islamist terror groups play in Africa's current conflicts?
Is Africa's counterterrorism effort still effective after a decade?
How has the international community treated Africa politically, and what can be done about it?

How 9/11 Changed Global Politics Dissertation Topics

To what extent do the 9/11 events support Samuel Huntingdon's 'clash of civilisations' theory?
Was enough done immediately following 9/11 to avert future acts of terrorism in the West?
Were the United States' actions in the aftermath of 9/11 justified and proportionate?
In what ways can the 9/11 events be said to have influenced international relations?
How did 9/11 affect international relations between the West and the Arab world?
What are the critical political lessons that the West has learned in the aftermath of 9/11 and the subsequent war on terror?
How has international trade evolved in the shadow of the ongoing war on terror?
What is terrorism defined as? Is the use of force against terrorists, such as targeted killings and drone attacks, a legitimate response?
How has the fear of terrorism impacted Western countries' domestic security legislation in the aftermath of 9/11?
How have countries used the ongoing war on terror to justify their own security measures since 9/11?
Was 9/11 a catalyst for the Arab Spring's political upheaval?
How far has the current war on terror been used to repress civil liberties?
Does the spread of terror attacks in multiple countries in recent years mean that the war on terror has failed?
Has Western security policy begun to move on from the post-9/11 terrorism threat, to more conventional state-based challenges such as Russia and China?

How Second World War Changed International Relations Dissertation Topics

What role did the United States play in international relations and politics in the immediate aftermath of World War II?
Which extent of Europe's diminished position did the United States "take advantage" of after the war in order to increase its own power?
The Marshall Plan benefited or hurt Europe's economic recovery in the long run.
To what extent did the division of Germany reflect the current state of international relations? Would better international relations have resulted if Germany had remained "united"?
How did Europe's post-war state make many countries vulnerable to Soviet communist ideals and the Soviet Union?
What did the Allies hope to accomplish during World War II? Were they successful in achieving their goals?
What impact did the immediate post-war period have on European relations over the next half-century? What's the latest on this?
What were the initial causes of the 'Cold War'? Which aspects of international relations did it have the greatest impact on?
How did the 'Cold War's' consequences spread so rapidly? What steps were taken to resolve the situation?
What was the most significant development in post-war international relations?
How successful were the US reparations in protecting countries from the Soviet Union's threat?
What was the purpose of developing nuclear weapons? What were the ramifications of their actions on global relations?
How much did World War II contribute to the creation of the European Union?

Russia and Its Influence in Global Politics Dissertation Topics

What impact has the fall of the Soviet Union had on Eastern European-Western relations?
Has the EU's opening to Eastern European countries served to hinder or help the formation of a "Single Europe"?
What made the countries of Eastern Europe so vulnerable to Soviet rule? What's different now?
How well-integrated into the EU are the countries of Eastern Europe?
Russian-Western ties will be affected in what ways by the rise of China?
What are the EU's most pressing concerns now that Eastern European countries have joined?
In today's world, why is Russia still seen as a threat to Western values?
Is there any truth to the statement that the Cold War has ended?
How did Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for rebel forces in Ukraine lead to a rift with the West?
What role will 'hybrid war' play in the Russian threat to the West now that Crimea has been retaken by Russia?
Why does Russia seek to maintain a distance from the West based on past relations?
Why have Russia and the United States never declared war based on their current relations?
Has Russia's threat to Eastern European countries been overlooked?
How much of a role does Russia play in a European Union that is becoming increasingly fractious?
Russia's dominant role in Eurasian politics and security is under threat from China's rise. Will this continue?
To what extent is it realistic to expect a Sino-Russian military alliance to succeed, and how would that affect European security?
Are there any long-term consequences to Russian hacker attacks on US elections? During the Cold War, sabotage was a common occurrence. Do these attacks represent a new method of external political influence?
The Nord Stream 2 energy project is a hotly debated one. Increasing Russian-German reliance or simply increasing Russian leverage, as the US claims?

China and Its Role in International Relations Dissertation Topics

How much has China been influenced by Western politics and ideals?
Who knows why the Chinese government made the decision to 'open' an economy that had previously been very closed.
The Chinese economy has moved towards capitalism because of the reforms introduced by Deng Xiaoping.
What do people in the West think about China? Discuss.
What possible benefit could accrue to the West from China's rapid economic development?
The West has not made greater efforts to establish closer ties with the Chinese, which begs the question: why?
What evidence do we have that Chinese political ideals influenced Western policy? Is it for the better now or has it gotten worse?
When the Soviet Union was seen as a potential threat, why weren't more efforts made to topple China's communist government?
The West has done much to help China's rise, so how can it be viewed with such suspicion? Discuss.
What will be the long-term effects of the Covid crisis on the U.S.-China relationship?
What will be the long-term ramifications of China's repression in Xinjiang on relations with the United States?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of China attempting to militarily retake Taiwan?
What will the global economic, security, and political environment look like if China and India continue to be at odds?
How complicated are China-West relations as a result of the country's human rights record?
Is Russia in Siberia at risk from growing Chinese military might?
What policies of Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Xemin has President Xi Jinping reversed?
Has the appointment of Xi Jinping to rule 'indefinitely' affected China's democratic prospects?
The western view that "capitalism and democracy go hand in hand" is undercut by the Chinese model of state capitalism.

International Law Dissertation Topics

What impact has EU law had on the relationships between its members? Is this something that's always been good?
Because some countries are punished for breaking the law, but others aren't. Discuss.
How effective has the United Nations been in enforcing the law?
Is the United States exempt from international law? Give examples to back up your claims.
China and Russia have gotten away with breaking international law, but Iraq and Afghanistan are held accountable.
Do you think the United States' actions in Iraq and Afghanistan were justified?
Is international law ever justified in using force?
What international law reforms are required to enhance international relations? Are such alterations likely to take place?
Is it possible for international law to be universally applicable in the face of such complex politics?
Exactly how equal are all countries under the law?
Does international law play a role when it comes to the use of drones?
How effective is international law in the digital age?
When it comes to the Syrian conflict, why has international law failed to provide a viable solution?
With so many Great Powers routinely flouting international law, how can it be enforced against them?

Israel, Palestine and Middle-East Conflict Dissertation Topics

What obstacles have stood in the way of the establishment of a Palestinian state?
Who is more influenced by US-Arab relations than who is more influenced by US-Israeli ones?
What is the root of the Arab-Israeli conflict?
What is the single most important event that exemplifies the deterioration of Arab-Israeli relations?
Attempts by the West to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict have been largely ineffective.
How far can Israel and Palestine move toward a two-state solution while settlements are still being constructed on Palestinian land?
Are the chances of a two-state solution vanishing because of the growth of Israeli settlements?
Is it possible that a Palestinian State will be recognised in the future?
What do you think the chances are of gaining recognition for a Palestinian State compared to Tibet?
What happened when the Arab-Israeli conflict erupted into a bloodbath?
To what extent should the UN try to resolve the Israeli-Arab conflict?
How far-reaching was the impact of former President Trump's announcement to move the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem?
What has been the impact of the Arab Spring on relations between Arabs and Israelis?
Is it possible to consider the Palestinian Authority a sovereign state government in its own right?
The UAE has recognised Israel, so does this mean that an Israeli-Palestinian agreement is possible?
Israel's relationship with Russia and its implications for Syria and the Middle East as a whole.
What happened to the early promises of the Arab Spring?
What will be the Middle East's long-term consequences of the Arab-Iranian conflict?
How well prepared is the Arab world for a world without oil?

European Union Dissertation Topics

What are the EU's shortcomings in terms of fostering closer political ties among its members?
What would make the EU a bad place to build relationships with nations outside of it? I don't understand how it could be called a 'boys club.'
In what ways has the EU's recent rapid expansion impacted previous ideals and relationships between EU members already in place?
How much has the historical understanding of the US' formation influenced the EU's formation?
When it comes to international relations, what aspect of the EU is the most detrimental. Why? What does this imply for the Union's political future?
Is NATO in jeopardy because of the EU's shift to "shared security"?
Is it appropriate for the EU to have state symbols and tools like a flag, anthem, and legislature?
Is a "Single European Entity" actually a reality? Is this a positive development in international relations?
What happened to the idea of a "Single European Entity" earlier in the process? What was it about international relations that didn't allow this to happen before?
To what extent is the EU similar to the Soviet Union in structure and function? Was the Soviet Union a good thing, then?
Was the decision by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union a game-changer for other countries?
What role does the EU play in Northern Ireland's peace? In Europe, how does this compare to NATO's role?
To what extent has the rise of populist movements on the European far right impacted the Union's stability?
What impact has mass migration from the Middle East had on Europeans' overall satisfaction with the EU?
Compared to other member states, does the EU have a foreign policy that favours Germany and France too much?
How much do energy projects such as Nord Stream 2 and the ongoing race for Middle Eastern oil highlight the need for Europe to rethink its energy strategy?
In what ways has the EU's erroneous response to the Covid scandal impacted the public's view of the EU in general?
If so, did each European country receive an equal share of the Coronavirus vaccines distributed throughout Europe? Delays in vaccine deployment and distribution will likely have an impact on politics.
Will the European Union be able to withstand the current Coronavirus outbreak? Has the EU suffered because of the public's perception of a slow response to the Coronavirus?

India in International Relations Dissertation Topics

What can the rest of the world learn from India's counterterrorism experience?
What are the benefits to the UK of maintaining a close relationship with India after Brexit?
For the 'Quad' to be effective in balancing China, what role can India play?
What impact has the export of Covid vaccines had on how the world views India?
Does the conflict between India and Pakistan have any effect on the security of the United Kingdom?
What are the reasons for India's democratic success?
What impact did colonialism have on Indian perceptions of the West after World War II?
To what extent can India achieve economic growth while also dealing with security concerns in its immediate neighbourhood?
What role could India play in helping to keep Afghanistan stable?
Are there any implications for Indian security from the growing Russian-Chinese relations?

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