Political Economy: Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Journal Highlights

Political Economy: Bridging Economics and Politics

Political economy is a vibrant subdiscipline in political science, examining the interplay between economics, politics, and society. This field seeks to understand the economic implications of political decisions, the political consequences of economic policies, and the complex mechanisms whereby power shapes the allocation of resources.

One of the flagship journals in political economy is the American Journal of Political Science (AJPS), which regularly features cutting-edge research on topics like political parties, interest groups, and public policy analyses. For example, a recent special issue of AJPS examined gender disparities in publishing patterns within political science journals, shedding light on the underrepresentation of women in the field.

Another crucial journal in this area is Political Science Quarterly (PSQ), published by the Academy of Political Science since 1886. PSQ provides analyses of policy issues, historical studies, and cross-national comparisons, with a recent example being a review article on the cascading effects of climate change on security in both fragile and strong states.

Other journals, such as The Journal of Politics, Frontiers in Political Science, and The Journal of Political Science, also contribute to the field of political economy by publishing interdisciplinary research, conceptual analyses, and policy reviews.

Research in political economy explores various themes and questions, including:

• The influence of power on economic inequality: Through case studies and comparative analyses, scholars investigate how political elites manipulate institutions, policies, and laws to maintain or expand their economic power.
• The effectiveness of economic policies: Political economy research examines the design of economic policies and their impact on societal outcomes, such as growth, poverty, and inequality.
• The impact of economic globalization on domestic politics: This research stream analyzes the effects of globalization on the domestic political institutions and processes of both wealthy and developing countries.

Political economy is a dynamic field with far-reaching implications, providing insights into the development of public policy, political decision-making, and the construction of more equitable and just societies. By blending economics, politics, and social science, research in this area sheds light on the complex relationships between economic policies and their political consequences, ultimately contributing to a better understanding of the world around us.