The Department of Political Science is committed to conducting research of the highest possible quality within the broadest possible spectrum of political science disciplines. High priority is given to actually communicating our research findings, whether to researcher colleagues in Denmark and abroad or to other audiences that might be interested in our work and results. Our research is communicated through a number of international publication channels, Danish research journals and books, TV and radio, newspapers and various online media - and, of course, through lectures and conference papers.

Main fields of research

The Department's research addresses a range of specific topic areas, divided into the following main disciplines:

• Danish politics in all its varieties and on several levels
• International relations (both as a system and with a focus on individual countries)
• EU - Issues related to the European Union
• Public administration issues at central as well as local level
• Public policy - its creation, implementation and effects
• Political (and other) sociology, including media-related problems
• Political theory

PhD students contribute to broad research profile

An important factor contributing to the Department’s extensive research profile is its many talented and committed PhD students. The PhD students are involved as much as possible in the daily life and activities of the Department and their research is a vital component of our research profile.

International research cooperation essential

The Department of Political Science has always attached great importance to ensuring extensive international research collaboration and to maintaining international standards of excellence in its research.

Considerable resources are therefore devoted to cooperation with political and social scientists in other countries and to publication in international journals and international anthologies. For the same reason, our faculty members give high priority to attending international conferences and presenting their research findings on such occasions.

These initiatives help disseminate knowledge of Danish political research to a worldwide audience and, at the same time, facilitate the involvement of Danish researchers in international research collaboration.

Research and teaching are inextricably linked

It is a key principle for the Department of Political Science that, wherever possible, teaching is undertaken by faculty members, that is by active researchers. This is to ensure that teaching in each particular subject always builds on the most recent research findings and newest insights.

For detailed information on our research activities, please see:

• presentations of larger research projects currently taking place at the Department
• our individual staff profiles, where you will find information on specific research areas and topics currently being investigated by our researchers. You find the individual homepages by going to the department staff list and clicking on the relevant names
• Aarhus University's "Find-a-researcher" facility, where you may search by either research topic or researcher name

Information on specific research topics

Detailed information about specific research topics can be found via the links below:

• Our individual staff profiles provide an overview of each researcher's specific research areas and publications. Go to the Department staff list and click on the relevant researcher's name to view the information.
• Detailed descriptions of major research projects can be found on the Department website under "Major research projects"
• Expert lists - Department of Political Science - Aarhus University
• Aarhus University's "Find-a-researcher" facility makes i possible to search by research topic as well as by researcher name.
• Earlier research (up to and including 2006) are presented in the Department's annual reports: Go to www.au.dk/da/sam/statskun/arsb2006.htm and choose the desired year (NB: the reports are in Danish only)