Research

Research at the Political Science Department

Research is a cornerstone of the Central European University (CEU) and a vital part of the Political Science Department's mission. We are committed to advancing knowledge through rigorous academic inquiry, interdisciplinary approaches, and the active engagement of our students in addressing complex social and political issues.

Interdisciplinary and Multimethod Research

At CEU’s Political Science Department, students are encouraged to tackle key social and political challenges using interdisciplinary and multimethod approaches. These methodologies equip students to analyze issues from multiple perspectives, enriching their research and enhancing their ability to contribute to scholarly and public debates.

Collaborative Research Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to collaborate with our distinguished faculty, participate in dynamic research centers, and join research groups that meet regularly. These groups organize training events, conferences, and seminars, often featuring international academics. Through these activities, students can exchange ideas, refine their research skills, and contribute to ongoing scholarly discussions.

Departmental Seminars

The Department of Political Science is proud to host an annual sequence of Departmental Seminars. These seminars provide a valuable platform for faculty and PhD students to present their ongoing research. Held weekly, these seminars are a cornerstone of our department's intellectual life, fostering an environment of rigorous academic exchange.

In addition to presentations from our internal community, the seminars regularly feature talks by prominent scholars from around the world. This provides our students and faculty with unique opportunities to engage with leading thinkers in the field of political science, discuss emerging research trends, and receive feedback on their work from an international audience.

Ongoing Research Projects

Our department is involved in several groundbreaking research projects that address pressing contemporary issues.

AUTHLIB: Neo-authoritarianisms in Europe and the Liberal Democratic Response

Researchers: Zsolt Enyedi, Carsten Q. Schneider, Franziska Wagner, Andrés Moles
Duration: October 2022 – October 2025
Funding: EU Horizon Europe - Research and Innovation Actions
AUTHLIB is a multidisciplinary project exploring the varieties of neo-authoritarian and illiberal ideologies in Europe. It examines their social, psychological, and historical causes, organizational backgrounds, and political implications. The project is a collaborative effort with eight institutions across Europe and aims to provide policymakers with tools to support liberal democracy.
Link: AUTHLIB

GOODINT: Good Integration―Goals and Bottlenecks of Successful Integration and Social Cohesion

Researcher: Zoltán Miklósi
Duration: August 2021 – July 2025
Funding: The Research Council of Norway
GOODINT investigates the successful integration of non-Western migrants in Europe, focusing on Hungary, Norway, and the UK. The project explores the definitional, realization, and normative aspects of integration, addressing equality of opportunity, cultural integration, and social cohesion.
Link: GOODINT

RE-EMERGE: Refugee Entrepreneurship in the EU: Sparking Grass-roots Innovation, Civic Empowerment and Transnational Connectivity

Researcher: Inna Melnykovska
Duration: June 2024 – May 2026
Funding: CIVICA
RE-EMERGE explores how refugee entrepreneurship in the EU can foster grassroots economic innovation, civic empowerment, and transnational connectivity. The project is particularly relevant in the context of the Ukrainian refugee crisis and is conducted in partnership with several European institutions.

LEVIATHAN: Taming the European Leviathan: The Legacy of Post-War Medicine and the Common Good

Researcher: Judit Sándor
Duration: October 2020 – September 2026
Funding: EU Horizon 2020 - ERC Synergy Grant
LEVIATHAN examines the post-war development of common good frameworks in Europe through the lens of medicine and health care. The project seeks to understand Europe as a unified entity by studying the genealogy of values attached to health and life sciences in both Western and Eastern Europe.
Link: LEVIATHAN

Brown to Green: The Political Economy of Risks, Voting, and Compensation Policies

Researcher: Anil Duman, Bjorn Bremer, Elisabetta Mannoni
Funding: CIVICA
The project examines the political economy of the green transition, focusing on its distributional implications, public support for green policies, and compensation policies that can enable decarbonization. By addressing socio-economic and political challenges, it aims to provide insights into how this transition affects labour markets, voting behaviour, and policy design across Europe.
Organised into three work packages, the team will first estimate the distribution of “green” and “brown” jobs across EU countries, examining sectoral and regional variations. Second, the project investigates green voting across Europe, exploring the relationship between occupational profiles and voting behaviour, as well as voters’ perceptions and the effectiveness of party messages on climate policies. The final work package will survey public opinion on land use changes to identify policies that can mitigate local resistance to decarbonization. The project aims to produce at least four peer-reviewed articles and inform policymakers, enhancing the understanding of the green transition’s impact on employment, economic prospects, and political dynamics. Additionally, it will improve collaboration between CIVICA partners and support data collection and public opinion surveys for future EU funding proposals.

Faculty Excellence

We are proud to highlight that Professor Zsolt Enyedi, a member of our department, was awarded the CEU Research Excellence Award in 2023. This recognition underscores the high caliber of research conducted within our department and serves as an inspiration to both students and faculty.

Zsolt Enyedi receives CEU Research Excellence Award

CEU Democracy Institute

Located in Budapest, the CEU Democracy Institute is a hub for research on democracy, governance, and social justice. Many faculty members from the Political Science Department are affiliated with the institute, contributing to its mission of advancing the study and practice of democracy. The institute provides a collaborative environment where students and researchers can engage in interdisciplinary projects that address the challenges facing democratic societies today.

CIVICA: The European University of Social Sciences

CEU is proud to be a member of CIVICA - The European University of Social Sciences, a unique alliance that unites ten leading European higher education institutions. CIVICA forms both a physical and digital inter-university campus that bridges teaching and learning, research and innovation, and societal engagement across national borders. This membership enhances our commitment to international collaboration and provides our students and faculty with access to a broader European academic network.

Financial Support for Research

To support the research efforts of our students, financial assistance is available for those working on their MA thesis. This support enables students to conduct in-depth research, participate in international conferences, and access resources that enhance the quality of their academic work.

Seminar