Research centres, groups and chairs
The Department of Political Science considers research very important. Our professors work on their own interests and collaborate on different research teams.
Two Canada Research Chairs were created recently, underscoring our researchers' sterling reputation, as do the many grants they receive and their publications in leading journals.
Canadian Centre for German and European Studies
The Centre, an initiative of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), is attached to the Université de Montréal and York University. It brings together some 20 professors in the social sciences and humanities with the goal of fostering higher education, research and awareness at the national and international levels.
The Centre organizes research trips to Europe, as part of a complementary diploma in European and German studies leading to a PhD or master's degree.
Its research currently focuses on 3 areas:
- The relevance of the philosophy of Max Weber in today's world
- Relations between the Balkans and the West
- Construction of collective memory and identity
Canadian Centre for German and European Studies members include Charles Blattberg, Magdalena Dembinska, Jane Jenson, Laurence McFalls, Frédéric Mérand, Augustin Simard, and George Ross, professors in our department.
Centre d'études de l’Asie de l’est (CÉTASE)
CÉTASE oversees the co-ordination and development of research, teaching and other activities at UdeM related to East Asia.
The Centre includes over 20 experts in East Asian languages, literature, film, history, politics, philosophy, economics, geography, anthropology and communications. Its study programs, resources, research activities, documentation centre and scholarships let professors and students remain in the forefront of East Asian studies.
Centre for International Peace and Security Studies (CIPSS)
CIPSS is an interuniversity centre (Université de Montréal and McGill University) devoted to teaching and research in the field of international security.
The Centre's research focuses on current issues that affect Canadian security policy and seeks to contribute to basic theoretical and historical knowledge. Vincent Arel-Bundock, Dominique Caouette, Magdalena Dembinska, Theodore McLauchlin, Frédéric Mérand, Françoise Montambeault, Lee Seymour, Jean-Philippe Thérien, Simon Thibault, and Marie-Joëlle Zahar, all professors in our department, work at CIPSS.
Research Centre on Public Policy and Social Development (CPDS)
The CPDS, a research group on social development and policy, brings together professor-researchers from the Department of Political Science and the Department of Sociology, and others from related disciplines at the Université de Montréal and other institutions in Quebec and the rest of Canada.
The Centre studies the connections and interactions between public policy and social development, in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada, but also from a comparative and international perspective. Its activities revolve around 3 general research aims:
- Studying public and institutional policy
- Studying issues affecting social development and social movements
- Analyzing the dynamics associated with globalization and governance, from various angles
In the Department, Laurence Bherer, Gérard Boismenu, Dominique Caouette, Pascale Dufour, Jane Jenson, Erick Lachapelle, Theodore McLauchlin, Françoise Montambeault, Éric Montpetit, Martin Papillon, Christine Rothmayr Allison, Denis Saint-Martin, and Jean-Philippe Thérien are CPDS members.
Jean Monnet Centre Montréal
The University of Montreal and McGill University have jointly promoted research and teaching on the European Union since 2000. Heir to the first Jean Monnet Chair established outside Europe in 1993, the Jean Monnet Centre Montréal brings together diverse researchers and students who work in a bilingual environment and are engaged with decision makers, the business world, youth, and civil society.
Professors Laurie Beaudonnet, Magdalena Dembinska, Frédéric Mérand and George Ross are members of the Jean Monnet Centre Montréal.
CÉRIUM
The Centre for International Studies (CÉRIUM) seeks to promote the understanding of international issues. This knowledge is accomplished through research, study, and outreach programs and activities.
CÉRIUM consists of a community of scholars specializing in the study of international issues. Their research is addressed to academics and to all circles interested in the evolution of contemporary international relations. They are structured through three transversal research axes - Economy, Environment and Securtiy among CÉRIUM's research poles. Our research is disseminated through scientific publications, conferences and colloquiums.
Since its creation in 2004, CÉRIUM has established connections with multiple partnersfrom academia, NGOs, governments and international institutions, with whom academic events and research projects are organized. CÉRIUM’s research activities are financed by internal funds as well as external granting agencies.
Professors Dominique Caouette, Laurence Bherer, Laurie Beaudonnet, Magdalena Dembinska, Graciela Ducatenzeiler, Pascale Dufour, Mamoudou Gazibo, Jean-François Godbout, Jane Jenson, Erick Lachapelle, Pierre Martin, Laurence McFalls, Théodore McLauchlin, Françoise Montambeault, Éric Montpetit, Marie-Ève Reny, George Ross, Christine Rothmayr Allison, Lee Joseph Marshall Seymour, Denis St-Martin, Jean-Philippe Thérien, Simon Thibault, and Marie-Joelle Zahar are members of the CÉRIUM. Professor Frédéric Mérand is Director of the CÉRIUM.
Canada Research Chair in Electoral Democracy
Ruth Dassonneville, Chairholder
The ambition of the Chair's research program is to fill an important gap in the literature by examining the consequences of the erosion of partisanship on 1) the vote choices of citizens, 2) the behavior of political parties and 3) the congruence between citizens and parties. These three elements constitute the three research lines of this program and are investigated using representative voter Survey-data, party-level data, and Survey experiments.
The Chair offers Financial support for students who wish to pursue and MA of a PhD degree on élections as well as those who wish to undertake postdoctoral research in this field.