• Interior of Scottish parliament

    Politics

    Our researchers are among the very best in their field. We welcome visiting scholars, postdoctoral researchers and often invite external speakers to take part in our seminar and lecture series.

The School of Government and Public Policy has a long history of producing world-class research. We're one of the founding members of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), the largest organisation of its kind in European political science.

We have a strong research culture that focuses on both individual and team-based research. We host three research centres:

Our research is supported by a number of grants from a variety of funding bodies, including research councils, national governments and international bodies, such as OECD and the EU.

a woman writes on a clear board with a black marker

Improving the quality of policy making & governance

We review and explain variation in performance in public policy making and governance, mainly through international comparisons.
Protesters in Greece

Public policy & governance in times of austerity & post-austerity

We look at the challenges posed by 'austerity politics' to the making of public policy, the performance of public policy programmes and prospects for a post-austerity world.
a ballot box with colourful ribbons saying 'vote'

Public opinion & political behaviour

We work with the Centre for Elections and Representation improving research on public opinion and political behaviour.
London skyline at night

Representational processes

This research programme focuses on aspects of institutions and processes that change policy demands into policy outputs.
United Nations flags flying against a blue sky

International relations & international organisations

We seek determine causes and consequences of interstate behaviour, both cooperative and conflictual, by examining the relationships between states and their relationships with international institutions.