Research Methods in Politics and International Relations

Christopher Lamont is Assistant Dean of E-Track Programs and is Associate Professor of International Relations at the Institute for International Strategy, Tokyo International University. He has taught a number of research methods classes, including Research Design, Methodologies in International Relations, Methodologies and Research Practice, and Research Methods for Area Studies. He holds a PhD in Politics from the University of Glasgow (2008) and MSc in International and European Politics from the University of Edinburgh (2005) and a BA in International Studies from the University of Mississippi. Previously, Dr. Lamont was Assistant Professor of International Relations at the University of Groningen (2011-2018) and prior to that he was an R.C.U.K. postdoctoral fellow in the Transitional Justice Institute at the University of Ulster (2009-2011). His research interests include human rights and transitional justice, and he has published widely on the subject, including his monograph, International Criminal Justice and the Politics of Compliance (Ashgate, 2010), numerous peer reviewed journal articles and edited volumes.

Mieczyslaw (Mietek) Boduszynski is Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations at Pomona College in California, USA. At Pomona, he teaches courses on U.S. Foreign Policy, the Middle East, democracy and democratization, and Eastern Europe and the Balkans. He has advised dozens of undergraduate theses, an experience which has contributed greatly to this book. He has published two books, one on regime change in the Balkans and the second on U.S. policy in the Middle East, and is a recent contributor of op-eds and commentaries to international media. Prior to joining Pomona, Mietek was a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State with service in Albania, Kosovo, Japan, Egypt, Libya, and Iraq.

This is the perfect guide to conducting a research project in politics and international relations. From formulating a research question and conducting a literature review to writing up and disseminating your work, this book guides you through the research process from start to finish.

The book:

-        Is focused specifically on research methods in politics and IR

-        Introduces the central methodological debates in a clear, accessible style

-        Considers the key questions of ethics and research design

-        Covers both qualitative and quantitative approaches

-        Shows you how to choose and implement the right methods in your own project

The book features two example research projects one from politics, one from IR that appear periodically throughout the book to show you how real research looks at each stage of the process. Packed full of engaging examples, it provides you with all you need to know to coordinate your own research project in politics and international relations.

This is the perfect guide to conducting a research project in politics and international relations from start to finish, from formulating a research question and conducting a literature review to writing up and disseminating your work.