Political Science

Political Science

Information for Applicants

The doctoral study program in Political Science is organized by the Department of Political Science at IPS in cooperation with the Institute of Political Science, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, but applicants must always apply to a specific faculty. The program is accredited as a four-year program and provides variants of full-time and part-time study. The study is based on an individual study plan compiled by the student in cooperation with their supervisor, who is permanently assigned to a specific faculty. The individual study plan must contain the study obligations set out in the framework study plan.

The aim of the four-year doctoral studies is to prepare highly qualified experts, able to take part in basic and applied research in the academic field and at universities and also able to work in the public sector, take part in analytical activities of the state administration departments and work in various types of mass media and in the Czech or international private sector.

Doctoral studies at the IPS are based mainly on the independent scientific and research work of doctoral students. The research results in the submission of a dissertation thesis. Students should also publish at least two scholarly articles during the course of their studies, take part in scientific and research activities in the form of submission of grant applications, attendance at conferences etc. Doctoral students have also the opportunity to participate in the educational activities of the faculty. Detailed information concerning the rules of doctoral studies can be found here.

Full-time doctoral students are also offered to work as academic fellows at the Centre for doctoral studies (CDS), which can provide them with sufficient financial support for their research. At the CDS the students also participate in the organisational support activities of the doctoral studies at the Institute of Political Studies. The selection procedure to the CDS is held once a year and can be attended also by first-year students.

Information on the admission procedure and the requirements for the PhD application can be found here. For further information on the admission procedure, please contact Ing. Kristýna Trojanová -  kristyna.trojanova@fsv.cuni.cz from the Student Services Office. 

Branch programme/details


The doctoral study of political science as a multidisciplinary discipline equips its graduates with knowledge in the field of comparative political science, theory and analysis of democracy, multilevel governance (with emphasis on democratic governance at various levels, i.e., national, regional, and municipal), decentralization, separatism and other aspects of political science. Analyzes (e.g., political geography and analysis of European and world levels of governance in a historical context). The program also enables the profiling of doctoral students focusing on political theory and the history of political ideas.

Information on the admission procedure can be found on the university's website.

Approved supervisors

According to the rules of doctoral studies at Charles University, the following applies:

"A supervisor is mainly an academic or scientific worker (e.g. associate professor, professor or expert on a given issue) who should guarantee the quality and proper guidance of the student and take care of the University's reputation by his/her expertise in terms of national and international standards. At the same time, he/she has sufficient time to supervise the student. The supervisor is appointed and removed by the Dean of the Faculty on the proposal of the Board of Studies."

Approved supervisors at FSV UK are:

  • Brunclík, Miloš Doc. PhDr., Ph.D.
  • Kubát, Michal Prof. PhDr., Ph.D.
  • Perottino, Michel Doc., Ph.D.
  • Riegl, Martin Mgr., Doc., PhD.
  • Říchová, Blanka Prof. PhDr., CSc., dr. h. c.
  • Guasti, Petra Doc., PhDr., M.A. PhD.

Approved supervisors at FF UK are:

  • Barša, Pavel Prof., Ph.D.
  • Bíba, Jan Mgr., Ph.D.
  • Bílková, Veronika Doc., JUDr., Ph.D.
  • Doubek, Vratislav Prof., Ph.D.
  • Hesová, Zora M.A., Ph.D.
  • Kocian, Jiří Prof., PhDr., CSc.
  • Slačálek, Ondřej PhDr., Ph.D.
  • Štefek, Martin Mgr., Ph.D.
  • Wintr, Jan Doc., JUDr., Ph.D.
  • Znoj, Milan Doc. PhDr., Ing., CSc.

Potential dissertation topics for the academic year 2024/2025

 

 

doc. PhDr. Miloš Brunclík, Ph.D.

  • Problémy parlamentních a poloprezidentských režimů  / Problems of parliamentary and semi-presidential regimes 
  • Ústavní inženýrství / Constitutional engineering
  • Význam členství v politických stranách soudobých demokracií / The significance of partisanship in contemporary democracies
  • Role hlavy státu v parlamentních režimech / The role of the head of state in parliamentary regimes
  • Význam ústavních zvyklostí v soudobých demokraciích / The significance of constitutional habits in contemporary democracies
  • Technokracie a populismus a jejich vztah k demokracii / Technocracy, populism and their relationship to democracy

 

Doc. PhDr. Petra Guasti, M.A., Ph.D.

  • Polarizace / Polarization
  • Demokratizace/autokratizace (včetně demokratických a autokratických inovací) / Democratization/autocratization (including democratic and autocratic innovation)
  • Participativní inovace / Participatory innovation
  • Digitální inovace / Digital innovation

 

doc. Michel Perottino, Ph.D.

  • Členství v českých stranách dnes a zítra: teoretické a praktické perspektivy / Membership in Czech political parties today and tomorrow: theoretical and practical perspectives
  • Stranické organizace současnosti / Contemporary organization of political parties 
  • Povoláním politik – Teorie, diskurs a praxe / Politics as an occupation: theory, discourse and practices 
  • Socializace a stranická identita - hledání kořenů stranické kontinuity a stability / Socialization and partisan identity - looking for roots of partisan continuity and stability

 

PhDr. Martin Riegl, Ph.D.

  • Geopolitical effects of the new global paradigm: fragmentation of the Old World Order and New World Disorder
  • Teichopolitika: Reteritorializace politického prostoru (jako reakce na státní i nestátní hrozby)
  • Power Competition in Sub-Saharan Africa´s New Geopolitical Frontlines: Changing Geopolitical Landscape and Strategic Environment
  • Geopolitics of Secession and International Recognition: the Role of Strategic Interests and Case Studies
  • State-building in Sub-Saharan Africa and its Geographic Dimension
  • Territorial dimension of violent non-state actors´ competition and prot-states in Failed States

 

prof. PhDr. Blanka Říchová, CSc.

  • Národ a identita na přelomu 20. a 21. století / Nation and identity on the verge of 20th and 21st century
  • Regionální stranické systémy a jejich typologie (vliv decentralizace na vnitřní strukturu politických stran) / Regional partisan systems and their typology (influence of decentralization on inner structure of political parties)
  • Autonomie a nezávislost: problematika komparativního výzkumu regionálních hnutí v současnosti / Autonomy and independence: the issue of comparative research of contemporary regional movements