Key papers in Political Science and International Relations
Pofolia’s corpus holds 64 papers from the Political Science and International Relations subfield (1993–2026). The list below starts with the most cited.
Most cited
Ranked by citation count. Because citations accumulate over time, this list naturally leans towards work published a few years ago; for where the field is now, see “recently added”.
The Interpretation of Cultures
Macat Library eBooks · 2017 · FWCI 537.93 · 16,564 citations
Clifford Geertz revolutionized anthropology by proposing that cultures are 'webs of meaning' and advocating for 'thick description' as the method to understand them.
Anarchy, State, and Utopia
Princeton University Press eBooks · 2018 · FWCI 2058.89 · 6,698 citations
Robert Nozick's "Anarchy, State, and Utopia" is a seminal work that critically examines and challenges prevailing political and social ideologies.
Justice and the Politics of Difference
Princeton University Press eBooks · 2012 · FWCI 538.37 · 6,270 citations
This book challenges the dominant philosophical focus on distributive justice, arguing instead for a framework that addresses group-based oppression and promotes inclusive democratic participation.
Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty
Asean Economic Bulletin · 2012 · FWCI 1103.15 · 5,303 citations
This abstract describes the Journal of Southeast Asian Economies (JSEAE), formerly the ASEAN Economic Bulletin, as a peer-reviewed publication for economic research relevant to the ASEAN region.
Academy of Management Journal
Academy of Management Journal · 2013 · Q1 · SJR 10.00 · 4,991 citations
Male academic scientists are nearly twice as likely as females to join corporate scientific advisory boards (SABs), even when controlling for professional achievements and network ties.
The United Nations Development Programme
Oxford University Press eBooks · 2017 · FWCI 2806.34 · 4,924 citations
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has attempted to integrate a rights-based approach across its programming, with notable success in areas like access to justice and transgender rights, but varying results elsewhere.
Activists beyond Borders
Cornell University Press eBooks · 2014 · FWCI 469.85 · 4,662 citations
Transnational activist networks, operating across national borders, have significantly influenced global human rights and environmental politics, and are emerging as a force in campaigns against violence against women.
The Politics and Poetics of Infrastructure
Annual Review of Anthropology · 2013 · Q1 · SJR 1.00 · FWCI 273.21 · 3,863 citations
This article synthesizes anthropological literature to theorize infrastructure not just as material networks for exchange, but also as aesthetic and sensorial forces that structure politics and meaning.
Populism: A Very Short Introduction
2017 · FWCI 288.56 · 3,485 citations
Populism is defined as an ideology that pits a 'pure people' against a 'corrupt elite' and prioritizes popular sovereignty, posing an increasing challenge to democratic politics.
Formations of the Secular
Stanford University Press eBooks · 2020 · FWCI 216.64 · 3,300 citations
This book proposes an anthropological perspective on secularism, examining its concepts, practices, and political formations.
Perception and Misperception in International Politics
Princeton University Press eBooks · 2017 · FWCI 154.15 · 3,220 citations
This seminal work applies cognitive psychology to foreign policy, arguing that leaders' perceptions, once formed, shape how they interpret all subsequent information, leading to common misperceptions in international relations.
The Origins and Consequences of Affective Polarization in the United States
Annual Review of Political Science · 2018 · Q1 · SJR 6.00 · FWCI 600.47 · 3,173 citations · Open access
A new form of political division, affective polarization, has emerged where ordinary Americans increasingly dislike and distrust members of the opposing party, extending beyond issue-based disagreements.
New York University Law Review
2017 · FWCI 1191.06 · 2,882 citations
This abstract clarifies John Rawls's concept of "overlapping consensus" as the foundation for a stable constitutional regime in a pluralistic society.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary
Oxford University Press eBooks · 2021 · FWCI 1341.32 · 2,880 citations
This is a collection of philosophical and literary essays by Adam Smith, including his autobiography, letters, and treatises on human understanding, passions, morals, and religion.
Cultural Backlash
Cambridge University Press eBooks · 2019 · FWCI 358.48 · 2,764 citations
Authoritarian populist parties gain support by exploiting a backlash against a "silent revolution" in values, shifting policy agendas in the US and Europe.
Second Treatise of Government
Princeton University Press eBooks · 2018 · FWCI 1662.26 · 2,757 citations
John Locke's "Second Treatise of Government" argues that legitimate government arises from individuals consenting to a social contract to protect natural rights to life, property, and liberty, with strict limits on governmental power.
Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens
Perspectives on Politics · 2014 · Q1 · SJR 2.00 · FWCI 748.25 · 2,667 citations · Open access
Economic elites and organized business interests significantly influence U.S. policy, while average citizens and mass-based groups have minimal independent impact, according to a multivariate analysis of 1,779 policy issues.
Affect, Not Ideology
Public Opinion Quarterly · 2012 · Q1 · SJR 2.00 · FWCI 153.17 · 2,607 citations
American partisans increasingly dislike and loathe their opponents, suggesting polarization is driven by negative feelings rather than extreme policy views.
Welcome to the experience economy
University of Twente Research Information · 2019 · FWCI 913.60 · 2,567 citations · Open access
This abstract describes the creative process of a writer who drew inspiration from his extensive experiences as a taxi driver, including approximately 160,000 conversations with fares.
Theories Of The Policy Process
2023 · FWCI 172.07 · 2,291 citations
This article is a comprehensive primer introducing major contemporary theoretical frameworks in policy process research, authored by leading scholars.
Recently added
A importância da metodologia científica no desenvolvimento de artigos científicos
E-Acadêmica · 2026 · FWCI 12412.17 · 509 citations
Scientific articles are crucial for disseminating knowledge, fostering expertise, and enabling societal development by improving reasoning and language skills.
Deliberative Democracy or Agonistic Pluralism?
2026 · FWCI 148.65 · 1,300 citations
Western societies face growing disaffection with democratic institutions, partly due to dominant political theories that are individualistic and rationalistic, failing to grasp the nature of pluralistic public spheres.
Researching Society and Culture
2025 · FWCI 169.49 · 1,534 citations
This book provides a comprehensive overview of research methodologies in social sciences, covering philosophical underpinnings, diverse research designs, and practical case studies.
Theories Of The Policy Process
2023 · FWCI 172.07 · 2,291 citations
This article is a comprehensive primer introducing major contemporary theoretical frameworks in policy process research, authored by leading scholars.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary
Oxford University Press eBooks · 2021 · FWCI 1341.32 · 2,880 citations
This is a collection of philosophical and literary essays by Adam Smith, including his autobiography, letters, and treatises on human understanding, passions, morals, and religion.
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