Program Presentation

The doctoral program in political theory falls within the field of Political Humanities and encourages pluralist approaches. It provides training in normative theory and in philosophical and moral doctrines, but also requires command of empirical analysis. Between the observation of facts, the study of their social embeddedness, and normative propositions, political theory as conceived at Sciences Po is a practical form of theory: it offers conceptual frameworks for reflection while also seeking to understand how these translate into reality. It proceeds through conceptualization, values normativity, and requires an interpretation of competing values. 

The doctoral program is supported by the Sciences Po research centers that host doctoral students: the Law School's Research Center, the Centre for Political Research at Sciences Po (CEVIPOF), the Centre for International Studies (CERI) and the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics at Sciences Po (CEE).

Objectives

This program trains students for research in the field of political theory and prepares them for academic careers (research and teaching), for intellectual professions in a broad sense (consulting, publishing), for high-level expertise (NGOs, international organizations, etc.), and for senior civil service positions.

Political theory, included in the French national competitive examination for political science (agrégation), has traditionally been one of the central approaches in foreig universities. Its aim is less to practice the history of philosophy or the history of ideas, to describe political phenomena or explain their origins and mechanisms, than to assess their implications and significance from the standpoint of values, drawing not only on the empirical data provided by the social sciences but also on the normative elements found in philosophical and moral doctrines. Indispensable in a world in which ends are often in conflict, political theory allows, if not to arbitrate, at least to guide reasoned deliberation.

The political theory program sets itself apart from the curricula offered in philosophy departments. Far from limiting itself to the study of canonical texts or the history of philosophy (both necessary), its courses seek to understand the political challenges of the contemporary world. From this perspective, political thought is both an object of knowledge and a guide for understanding and evaluating social reality in its conflictual dimensions.

Learning Outcomes

The program aims to develop research capacity and critical analysis, to cultivate very high-level expertise, and to ensure an excellent command of the discipline’s fundamental questions.

Program Structure

The program is divided into two years of Master’s study and three years of doctoral research.

These five years as a whole constitute the doctoral track.

The first year of the Master’s level is devoted to acquiring fundamental knowledge as well as to an initial introduction to research through specialized and thematic seminars. The course offerings are both specialized and multidisciplinary. Each year, we offer new exploratory courses in adjacent disciplines (law, psychoanalysis, history).

The second year of the Master’s program completes the curriculum with specialized courses designed to support the preparation of the research dissertation, which constitutes the culminating element of the Master’s and one of the main criteria used to evaluate students’ ability to continue toward a PhD. The final semester is traditionally devoted entirely to supervised dissertation writing (in a dedicated research and writing seminar).

Consult the curriculum for the two years of the Master’s program.

Admission to the doctoral program is granted by a committee, which examines candidates’ previous results and the quality of their Master’s dissertation in order to determine their capacity to embark on doctoral work. Admission is open not only to students trained at Sciences Po but also to holders of a Master’s degree from another French or foreign institution, upon presentation of a dissertation project.

During the three years of doctoral study, students are supervised by a dissertation advisor and integrated into one of the institution’s three political science research centers: the Centre for Political Research at Sciences Po (CEVIPOF), the Center for International Studies (CERI), or the Center for European Studies (CEE). Doctoral students must also complete at least three doctoral seminars, including the general seminar of their host center, the SPOT seminar, and the thesis seminar. The doctoral degree in political science is awarded upon completion of this coursework and the successful defense of the dissertation.

The teaching team

• Astrid von BUSEKIST, Professeure des Universités à l’IEP de Paris (CERI), Directrice de la Majeure
• Frédéric GROS, Professeur des Universités à l’IEP de Paris (CEVIPOF)
• Ariel COLONOMOS, Directeur de recherche CNRS/CERI
• Gil DELANNOI, Directeur de recherche FNSP (CEVIPOF)
• Samuel HAYAT, Chargé de recherche CNRS/CEVIPOF
• Annabelle LEVER, Professeure des Universités à l’IEP de Paris (CEVIPOF)
• Gloria ORIGGI, Directrice de recherche au CNRS/Institut Nicod
• Philippe PORTIER, Directeur d’études à l’Ecole pratique des hautes études (EHESS)
• Dominique REYNIE, Professeur des Universités à l’IEP de Paris (CEVIPOF)
• Julie SAADA, Professeure des Universités à l’IEP de Paris (École de droit de Sciences Po)
• Jean-Frédéric SCHAUB, Directeur de recherche au CNRS / EHESS
• Alessandro MULIERI, Directeur de recherche au CNRS
• Esther ROGAN, chercheuse associée au CEVIPOF

Visiting professors since 2004

• Lisa DISCH, Professor at the University of Michigan
• Alexis KELLER, Professeur à l’Université de Genève
• Tamar MEISELS, Professor at Tel Aviv University
• Ian SHAPIRO, Professor at Yale University
• Nadia URBINATI, Professor at Columbia University
• Yossi SHAIN, Professor at Tel Aviv University
• Mitchell COHEN, Professor at Baruch College
• Giacomo MARRAMAO, professor at the Univeristy Roma Tre
• Will KYMLICKA, Professor at Queen’s University
• Jean L. COHEN, Professor at Columbia University
• Mark LILLA, Professor of Humanities, Columbia University

Admissions

See the Admission to a PhD page.

Tuition fees

Mobility grants are available to PhD students to enable them to participate in conferences and carry out fieldwork and study visits abroad.

See the PHD Tuition Fees & Funding page

Contacts

Astrid von BUSEKIST
Scientific coordinator, 
Full Professor at Sciences Po (CERI)
 

Fathim Cisse
Administrative Officer
Ph.: +33 (0)1 45 49 72 06

Marie-Hélène Kremer
Political Science Programme Coordinator
Administrative Officer
Ph.: +33 (0)1 45 49 72 06

Pour en savoir plus

• Facebook page of political theorists at Sciences Po
• SPOT seminar (2024–2026)